Prosperity

In the Balance

jbloustein — Wed, 06 May 2009 10:39:48 -0500

I was standing in the kitchen trying to come up with an idea for dinner. My husband, Bob, walked in, trailed by our kids, Daniel, Philip, Bethany, Jonathan and Joshua. The kids looked really excited.

“How about McDonald’s tonight?” Bob suggested cheerfully.

“Yeah!” echoed the kids.

I shot a look at the six of them. And not the happy look of a wife suddenly freed from cooking. “Bob, it’s Thursday!” I exclaimed.

“Huh?” Bob said.

The kids’ faces fell.

Start Saving!

mcherkezian — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 09:14:29 -0600

Are you worried it’s too late to save for retirement? Think you’re doomed because of recent downturns in the economy? Stop worrying; start saving! You’ll be amazed by how much can be done now to improve your future and enrich your golden years. Here’s how to get on track:

Dive in.
Forget about past mistakes and dive into saving! Focus on the years ahead. Set up a savings account now. If your employer offers retirement benefits, sign up for them. Take advantage of every program that can boost your savings.

How I Paid Off $35,000 in Debt, and How You Can Too

admin — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 07:56:00 -0500

Last December, after 20 years of owing money, I finally paid off all of my debt (except the mortgage—and I'm working on that).

Expert Advice: Work It Out

admin — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 09:44:53 -0500

Working with your husband or wife can be a challenge. First, you have to decide what your roles are and agree on them. Ultimately, who's in charge? If it's going to be just one of you, then which one? It can be frustrating if that's not clear. My wife, Marylyn, works for me at eHarmony and her skills as an organizer, a problem solver and a manager are incredible…much better than mine! Yet I'm still the top of the pecking order.

Spend Smart

admin — Tue, 01 May 2007 07:35:00 -0500

You just came into some money—a performance bonus or an inheritance, say. Whoo hoo! Time to splurge on that second honeymoon, right? Not quite. Financial experts say the first thing you should do is actually what seems the least natural: Fight the urge to spend it. Put the money in a savings account and don't touch it until you take time to figure out how to make that windfall work best for you. Some tips:

1. Exercise mental discipline.

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Get Financially Fit!

jbloustein — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 17:01:04 -0600

Are you struggling with debt? Not sure how to manage your money? Here are some keys to help you take control.

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Your Road to Financial Wellness

admin — Sat, 01 Jan 2005 10:36:00 -0600

Nice clothes, shiny Jaguar, platinum credit card. No one would have guessed I was in a hole. Deep!

I didn't have cash to spare for a tank of gas. Instead, that day in 1988 I handed the filling station attendant my gas card and stood there at the pump asking—no, begging—God, I just need a few gallons. Please don't let my card get turned down.

I was so broke and debt-ridden I didn't know if my wife, Sharon, and I could ever recover.

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A Matter of Perspective

admin — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 12:08:00 -0600

Taxes, mortgage payments, credit card bills, medical expenses. Every day I hear from people who are anxious or frustrated or just plain worried sick about their finances. Is money the answer? I always tell them the same thing: Money can't make you happy. But how we relate to money has an awful lot to do with our outlook on life. Believe me, I know. I've been there.

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The Good Life

admin — Mon, 01 May 2006 08:04:00 -0500

Nowadays, people call me "the Ann Landers of personal finance." Back in 1982, if anyone had told me that someday I'd write a newsletter—and a book!—to teach people how to get out of debt, I wouldn't have known whether to laugh or to cry. The only thing I was an expert on was getting into debt. My family was on the brink of financial ruin. We had run out of credit. We had no savings. No income. Nothing.

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