Plan It - Getting Started

Family Budget Basics 

              Getting Started

ecent economic circumstances can teach us a thing or two about the importance of being on a family budget. We take a look at some family budgeting basics.

Some people don't budget because they don't realize the purpose of family budgeting. The best reason to be on a family budget is to keep track of your family’s income and expenses. It’s much easier to see what’s coming in and going out when you put it in a family budget plan, rather than keep track of it in your mind.   Read more...

The Importance of an Emergency Fund 

When you face a financial emergency, like an auto repair or unexpected medical bill, how do you pay for it? If you’re like many Americans, you don’t have the cash on hand, so you pull out your credit card and worry about paying the balance another day. Unfortunately, some people don’t have access to credit, or can’t make new charges because of maxed out balances. Desperate, many of these people are forced to rely on expensive payday loans or cash advances. But, there’s another way.    Read more...

Debt Management Consumer Counseling - Making a Plan By Benjamin Brook

As the famous saying goes, "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." The key to managing your consumer debt is to make a debt management plan. Debt management consumer counseling can help you make a debt management plan that is right for you.   Read more...

The Motley Fool Personal Finance Workbook A Foolproof Guide to Organizing Your Cash and Building Wealth  - Book Review

By David Gardner, Tom Gardner, Dayana Yochim, Robert Brokamp

What would it be like to know that you were making the very best decision for every dollar you spent or saved? Can you imagine balancing your budget by the beginning of next month? Wouldn't it be great to know whether a pro's advice is right for your situation? How valuable would it be to have a customized financial plan that would serve you for life?   Read more...

Retirement Planning for Recent College Grads

So you've survived college. You head out into the working world with your fresh diploma in hand and land a plum job making more money than you could've ever imagined. Your first instinct is to go get that big screen TV or plush ride that you've been eyeballing for the past year. After all, why not? You're making the cash now, you can afford it, can't you? But wait. Before you take the plunge on that big ticket item, practice that old safety adage they taught you way back in elementary school about crossing the street: 'Stop, look and listen.   Read more...

Budgeting - Where Do I Start?

The thought of putting yourself and your family on a budget can often feels overwhelming for many. The truth of the matter is that not having a budget, operating with financial blinders on, is much more overwhelming than creating and sticking to a budget.

Before you even get started thinking about a budget, you'll probably want to spend some time assessing your attitude to money. Money is not an evil or a bad thing. In fact money is wonderful! Money enables you to have a roof over your head, to feed your family and pets, to keep you and your family healthy, and to wear the clothes that help you tell the world who you are and what you're about. Money buys education opportunities, cultural experiences, and money enables you to help others in need. Think positively about your money. You certainly wouldn't think money was bad if you were giving it to Katrina victims or the parents of a child with a debilitating disease.

The Clock is Ticking: Retirement Planning Later in Your Career

Are you ready for retirement? Sure, you're mentally prepared to leave the everyday rat race, to throw your alarm clock in the garbage, and to spend your days doing whatever you so please. The question is: are you ready financially? If you're like most Baby Boomers, the answer is probably "no".
A recent study by the Employee Benefits Research Institute showed that over 50 percent of workers ages 45 to 54 have less than $50,000 saved for retirement. The Center for Retirement Research (CRR) at Boston College completed a study that showed nearly 54 percent of low income Baby Boomers born between 1955 and 1964 are at risk for missing their retirement savings goal.

The Budget Kit: The Common Cents Money Management Workbook - Book Review

Does your credit card balance climb higher and higher every month? Are you overwhelmed by outstanding loans? Do you wish you had a better handle on the future, whether it’s college funds, retirement savings, investments, or even short-term goals?

No matter your financial goal, a well-defined budget is the first step to meet it. The bestselling classic The Budget Kit has helped hundreds of thousands of people across America develop effective budgets and gain financial freedom. In this fully updated and revised edition, you will gain the skills to control your money—and your future.

Investment Tips for Beginners

Everyone knows by now that the economy is not doing well and businesses are going down and so it might not be the best time to invest. But is it so? The fact is, there are some very great deals now just because of the fact that the prices are down. So let the professionals offer you these investment tips that can help you profit in a poor economy. Read: Finance Help: Investment Tips for Beginners.

Personal Finance For Dummies, 5th edition - Book Review

By Eric Tyson
Too many personal finance consultants offer financial advice that ignores the big picture and instead focuses on investing. You need much more than that to plan your future. You need a broader understanding of personal finance that includes all areas of your financial life in order to become financially sound.

The Top 10 Ways to Take Back Control of Your Finances

If you're like many people these days you have a least some issues regarding your personal finances. Far too many people are living paycheck to paycheck and are barely keeping their heads above water. These people often find themselves being just one missed paycheck from financial disaster.
Read more...