Beyond Paycheck to Paycheck

at June 19, 2009 in Media. 0 Comments

Father’s Day Financial Lessons

Earlier this month, I wrote a detailed article Three Financial Reminders For New Dads over at FiLife (a joint venture between The Wall Street Journal and IAC. I’m sharing it with you in honor of Father’s Day. How are you (or the Dad in your life) celebrating? I’m going to the Red Sox game - can’t wait!

A LifeTuner Interview

I was recently interviewed by LifeTuner.org, a new web site from AARP geared at (are you sitting down?) young people. It’s a great site for several reasons I’ll probably get into sooner or later but for now, just go check it out because there’s some great discussions, great experts (okay, I’m slightly biased there), but not a lot of people yet because they’re still in beta. As a result, you can get a lot more help (for free and from true experts) there than nearly anywhere else on the web.

Here’s my hour-long interview with LifeTuner where I answered questions ranging from saving strategies to 529 plans and from health insurance to the new credit card legislation. I hope you enjoy it. Please let me know either way!

"financial education"

7 Things You Need to Know About the Home Buyer Tax Credit

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at June 4, 2009 in Housing and Media. 0 Comments

In conjunction with what has turned into what could be the world’s largest Q & A session on the first time home buyer tax credit (a fact I have not attempted to verify), I recently wrote about the 7 Things You Need to Know About the Home Buyer Tax Credit at Mint.com.

You may already realize that mint.com is a huge provider of online financial software with over one million users (It was also named the best online personal finance tool by Money Magazine.) What you may not know, however, is that they also have one of the most widely read personal finance blogs on the Internet (or anywhere else, since I really don’t think you can have a blog offline). Anyway, it’s a thrill to share some of my personal finance education with their audience. Plus, let’s be honest: the software is free and they disclose their compensation sources on their “About” page. What’s not to like?

"financial education"

Are you (still) paying for college education? Share the pain with your uncle

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at May 29, 2009 in Media. 0 Comments

Earlier this month, I wrote a detailed article about the Tax Breaks for Higher Education Expenses over at FiLife (a joint venture between The Wall Street Journal and IAC).

Did you know that the Hope credit, once limited to the first two years of college expenses, is now significantly more widely available? Less important, but still worth three points, did you know it also has a new name?

Whether you’re in college now, still paying for your glory days, or are supporting a child doing either, check out the Tax Breaks for Higher Education Expenses. And let me know what you think.

"financial education"

Five dangers of tapping your retirement money early

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at May 20, 2009 in Media and Retirement. 0 Comments

I recently wrote More Than the 10% Penalty - The Dangers of Early Retirement Account Withdrawals for FiLife, a joint venture between The Wall Street Journal and IAC. The dangers are real, starting with taxes, ending with lost growth and a bunch of other financial pain in between. Before you ask for that distribution check (or even think about it), check out my article over at FiLife.

"financial education"

What do extra loan payments, toilet paper, and Monopoly have in common?

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at May 18, 2009 in Carnivals, Cash Flow, Debt management, Investing, Media, Ranting, Retirement, Saving Strategies, Tax and Uncategorized. 3 Comments

One of the best parts of the weekly personal finance carnivals, including this week’s carnival hosted by WiseBread, it the wide variety of personal finance topics covered. In addition, I always take the time to enjoy an article or two that I’ve been meaning to write myself but just haven’t gotten to. This week was no exception, even if my post about The New Frugality made the cut. Here are my three favorites of the week:

J. Money from Budgets Are Sexy presents Paying extra towards your loans now, goes a long way later! This is so true it hurts. How much pain? As J. Money says, “It’s like kickin’ compound interest in its head and getting away with it :)” How could you not enjoy?

Another favorite: Save Money By Buying the “Good” Toilet Paper by That One Caveman. Two very important lessons from this title. First, you can never go wrong putting “toilet paper” in a blog posting title, something I learned a while back when I wrote Toilet Paper As an Economic Indicator last fall - still is a bizarre way to look at the world. Second, sometimes paying for quality is actually cheaper than paying for quantity. (Amazingly, this was also the theme of the toast my brother gave for my wife and I at our wedding, but that’s another story for another day.)

Money Lessons from Monopoly is another wonderful article. Free Money Finance reminds us that Monopoly is a great teacher not only of the importance of cash-flow (how much fun is it to mortgage our properties?) but also of luck (the frustration of your opponent consistently missing your hotels as he marches around the board).

Quick FYI: The Total Candor web site was featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer over the weekend for savings help. Did you see it? If not, see it now.

"financial education"

Be, read, view, judge

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at March 10, 2009 in Carnivals and Media. 1 Comment

A few random tibits today:

First, Jeremy Simon - a reporter for Credit Cards.com - is looking for consumers who have used extreme ways to pay off credit card debt (earning money from medical experiments, selling family heirlooms, etc.). The wilder the better. If any of you might be interested in sharing their stories on this topic with him, reach out to Jeremy.

Second, this week’s Carnival of Personal Finance has nearly 100 articles including my post Using points or miles vs. paying cash. My favorite article of the carnival is Steadfast Finances’ 20 Reasons Why I Love the Recession. It’s a good read, and an excellent reminder for all of us that there’s always a silver lining. Just make sure your eyes are open wide enough to see it.

While I was technically on vacation last week, I appeared on NBC Boston sharing some saving strategies. Ah, the miracle of the several-week tape delay. I feel like the Michigan field hockey team . . . joined already in progress.

Last, I’m about to head out the door to judge the New Hampshire semi-finals and finals of LifeSmarts, a unique consumer knowledge competition designed for teenagers in grades 9 – 12. The school that wins today will represent the state of New Hampshire in the national finals held in St. Louis next month. Locally, New Hampshire Jump$tart is the coordinator for the event, a high-quality non-profit organization helping with financial literacy. What a cause! I’ll share some any interesting highlights soon.

"financial education"

Quicken podcasts are available, Carnival too

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at March 4, 2009 in Cash Flow, Debt management, Investing and Media. 0 Comments

I recently recorded a second series of podcasts with the Quicken team. Topics included:

You can also listen to them on itunes by searching for Quicken. Or download them and listen to them later, like when you’re not supposed to be working.

Always welcome your feedback for new topic suggestions or anything else you have to say.

Free Money Finance hosted this week’s Carnival of Personal Finance featuring my post Economic Stimulus - What’s in it for me? where I answer the question “Is the new stimulus a big deal for you?”

"financial education"

Financial literacy, recovery rebate credits, and living in balance

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at February 2, 2009 in Balance, Carnivals, Media and Tax. 3 Comments

I had a great trip to Chicago last Friday and Saturday, keynoting a financial literacy event to a large group of students ranging in age from 16 to over 50. The best part: a most enthusiastic crowd, many of which had traveled two hours of more for the education. Talk about self-selection for success!

I’m not sure financial literacy has ever been more important than today. More people get it everyday (”It” being the importance more so than the education, unfortunately, but I am working to change that.)

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Not surprisingly given what’s going on in the world, my post from several weeks ago, Economic Stimulus Payments are now Recovery Rebate Credits - will you get yours? continues to get a ton of traffic and frequent comments/questions. If you didn’t receive the maximum economic stimulus payment last year (that special check often for $600 or $1,200), find out if you’ll get it this year. You might be surprised at the answer.

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I just finished reading through this week’s Carnival of Personal Finance, hosted by Funny About Money and featuring my article Roth IRA Contribution Limits: Your Earnings, Income, and Marital Status Matter - a good primer as we enter the time of year when most people make their IRA contributions.

The best “other” article of the carnival this week is by Kate at The Paycheck Chronicles, titled 5 Reasons That Not Saving Money is Saving Me Money. It’s a great reminder of the importance of not sweating all the small stuff, and, more importantly, of living in balance, a key component of living Beyond Paycheck to Paycheck.

Enjoy and have a great week!

"financial education"

Did you make a resolution to cut debt this year?

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at January 16, 2009 in Media. 0 Comments

If you did, let me know by commenting below or by sending me an email A reporter friend of mine is working on a story related to that topic and would love to talk with you!

[January 21 note: The reporter has the source he needs. Thanks!]

"financial education"

Carnival, US News

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at November 12, 2008 in Carnivals and Media. 1 Comment

Aloha from Hawaii. Just reading through this week’s carnival of personal finance.

You: From Hawaii? Pathetic.

Not arguing. Nonetheless, I was excited to see that my post Toilet Paper as an Economic Indicator was there. Also, an interview I did with Kimberly Palmer at her US News Alpha Consumer blog was posted last night. In it, I speak extensively about writing Beyond Paycheck to Paycheck, the importance of emotional connetion, and ways to enjoy free stuff. It’s a good read - check it out.