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Back in March I did an article about the disappointment of having to get a credit card after I noticed my credit score dropped 50 points. This was because I had no credit available to me since I had cancelled my cards while on the Debt Management Plan , and one of my long-term cards had been cancelled...

As a child I can remember my mother diligently putting $5 a week away in a holiday club account at our credit union. Every week, the same amount, and every week it was done. These days, the amount has increased to a whopping $10 a week. Although this doesn't sound like much, if you multiply $10/week...

Every year we start out with new financial goals. In 2011, mine were to: Increase my retirement contribution Increase my long-term savings account Increase my emergency fund Increase my stock market investments In addition to increasing my overall savings, my boyfriend and I also started looking for...

Did I catch your attention? No, I'm not talking about selling yourself. I do, however, want you to think of your body as a financial asset. Whenever I see blogs or articles about planning for your future, I usually read some similar tips: 1. Invest in a 401(k) or IRA. 2. Create an emergency fund. 3....

The last three years have been great! Being debt free, I've been able to save a bit toward retirement, travel, and things I've needed, without worrying about where money will come from, etc. I have recently made a decision, however, that will change my financial future, and that is to go to law school...

Have you ever heard of the book, "The Millionaire Next Door?" The authors were surprised to find that the millionaires they interviewed lived and dressed quite modestly despite the amount of money they had. Warren Buffet, one of the wealthiest people alive, has lived in the same modest home since 1958...

We've all seen it: one neighbor gets a new car, so the other neighbor goes out and gets a new car. One neighbor strings up lots of Christmas lights and the other neighbor has to string up more Christmas lights. It's the sense of competition. We all want to be the best. And while that may be healthy when...

For those of you struggling to stick to a budget who can't wait for the day you're debt free, I know how you feel. It seemed like my world without debt was another world away. And in some ways, it was. The best way I can describe being debt-free is freedom. Having the freedom to do what you want with...

As a manger for a company, I am usually required to report my department's finances to my boss on a quarterly basis. Although this is sometimes tedious, I make sure it gets done so I'm not in trouble with the boss. When it comes to my own finances, however, it's easy to procrastinate because I'm not...

Reading some of the forums, I see many people asking about whether or not it's possible to buy a car on the Debt Management Plan (DMP ). Since my car died only a few months into the program, I wanted to share my experience and some tips I learned. First, let me start by saying that if you are in debt...

While I was on the DMP, I swore to myself I would never use a credit card ever again. If any of you out there have told yourself the same thing, I have some news. As a DMP graduate going on almost three years of being debt free, I was very surprised when I checked my credit score and saw it had dropped...

I've never been a person who felt they had to keep up with the "Jonese's", despite the fact I live in Los Angeles where designer clothes, cars, and handbags are everywhere. This could be because of my frugal upbringing, but I have to say I really have never cared about what other people have or don't...

Bringing up financial issues with your spouse or significant other is never easy. In many relationships, couples differ when it comes to finances. Usually, one person likes to spend, while the other likes to save. For some, differences in spending habits can grow out of control and eventually lead to...

Your final payment has been made, and you've contacted your CareOne representative to let them know you will be finished with your plan. Wow! You are officially debt free! It's so exciting that you can hardly contain yourself. That one payment you had been struggling to make for years is now yours -...

Some people make New Years resolutions. As an exercise instructor I see this peak hit every year from January until mid February, and then it dies out completely by March. The mistake, I usually find, is that the resolution is too big to attain. For example, I might hear someone say, "My resolution is...