Finance Blog

To many children, a birthday is the single most important day of the year. And to many parents, it’s a day of both celebration and stress, as they strive to make their child’s special day a memorable event. Crafting a fun, unique party for your son or daughter isn’t always easy especially if you’re feeling pressured to measure up to the over-the-top events hosted by the parents of your child’s peers. But rest assured, there’s no need to spend big bucks in order to throw a bash you, and your child, will be proud of; all it takes is some planning, imagination, and a little elbow grease. Here are a few tips to get you on your way to hosting a memorable birthday party for your son or daughter, without blowing your budget.....

Are you having a difficult time stretching your paycheck to cover all of your monthly expenses? If so, you are not alone. With our economy in its present state, millions of people are struggling to make ends meet and do not have the luxury of being able to save money.....

Achieving financial freedom is not as difficult as you imagine - however, there are 3 absolute things you must DO and 3 absolute things you must AVOID to achieve it. If you write these down, paste them somewhere you can see everyday and then follow through, financial freedom is yours to have and enjoy!....

Bad spending habits is often the underlying cause that prevents most people from becoming financially free. However, the good news is: you can prevent this.....

Facing a mountain of debt? Hiding from collection agencies? Dreading the phone ringing? There isn’t a way to magically make all your debt go away but there can be relief. Consider credit counseling. Because of the state of the current economy, more and more people are choosing to utilize this service. You are certainly not alone in your decision.....

In July 2008, The New York Times posted a large interactive chart showing that debt levels in the US have reached more than $100,000 for some consumers. It’s hard to decipher who the post was describing. That is, it’s unclear whether the chart was talking about the average household, homeowner, or consumer. Regardless, the message is clear- debt levels for many consumers have increased in recent years. ....

When consumers get in over their heads in debt, many of them turn to some form of unsecured credit card debt consolidation as a method dealing with mounting bills. Unfortunately, the debt consolidation process can be extremely confusing for the average person.....

The Bank of England will be more able to reduce interest rates once the “spike” of inflation has passed, it has been claimed. A spokesperson for the Council of Mortgage Lenders predicted that the Bank’s monetary policy committee will not yet be able to reduce interest rates, as inflation is still a cause for concern.....

Many Americans are foregoing luxury expenses like high car payments, vacations, and gym memberships in order to combat the struggling economy and rising costs of everyday expenses like food, gasoline, and other essentials. Fast food restaurants are beefing up their value menus in attempts to lure budget-conscious consumers through the door, and people everywhere are feeling the crunch of fewer and fewer resources. But being on a tight budget doesn’t mean you have to abandon your fitness regimen, or skip a healthy meal for a cheaper, high calorie alternative. Instead, follow these simple tips to maximize your budget without sacrificing your health, or the health of your family.....

A few years ago, I designed a game to teach people how to master wealth creation. For this, I used the basic Monopoly game but changed the rules somewhat to create a situation that follows the six stages of the Money Program. In my version of Monopoly, in order to win, the players need to negotiate between themselves in order to obtain a complete street before they can build houses and hotels.....