Personal Finance Advice

If you’ve lived in your house for any length of time, you may find yourself bored by your home. If you watch too many shows on HGTV your own home can start to look unappealing by contrast. Maybe you’re tired of the carpet or paint colors, you hate the yard, or you’re frustrated by the [...]

Most people only consider the cost of cigarettes when they calculate how much smoking is costing them. It’s easy to calculate this cost as you know exactly how much you are handing over in cash for each pack of cigarettes you purchase. The truth, however, is that the cost of cigarettes is only a small [...]

This is a guest post from Little Miss Moneybags If you’re house-hunting, a mortgage pre-approval is a great thing to have in your back pocket. It shows real estate agents and sellers that you’re serious, and can help move the final home-buying process along much more quickly. Here’s an overview of how to get pre-approved, [...]

In the last year, quite a few houses have gone up for sale in my neighborhood. Several have sold and several have languished. While price plays a big role in what sells and how quickly, most of the houses that languished in my neighborhood were priced competitively. So what made them unappealing to buyers? One [...]

I may be late to the party, but I discovered the Tiny House Blog the other day. The author features all kinds of tiny houses, including homes made from storage sheds, campers, freight cars, and other unconventional materials. At first glance, you probably think, as I did, “How can anyone live in a space that [...]

Furniture is expensive. Even “cheap” furniture is expensive, and if you want high quality furniture prepare for sticker shock. While many people have an ultimate goal of having a nicely furnished home, some people don’t share that desire or have the means to pay for expensive furniture. Those just starting out likely don’t have the [...]

A friend of mine told me a sad story yesterday. Her parents are going to have to move in with her sister who lives in a different state. I assumed that the reason was because the parents had become frail or because they wanted to be nearer to their grandkids. But, no. The reason the [...]

Last week I wrote about cases where taking a pay cut might make sense. This week I want to give some suggestions for how you can adjust to a decrease in pay. Some pay cuts will require no adjustment, or very little. If you take a pay cut but get a shorter commute, move to [...]

Normally I write about ways to save and make money. It’s a necessary part of life, particularly if you want to live responsibly and well. But today I am reminded that, while money may matter, it is far from the most important thing in life. My area was hit by deadly tornadoes this week. The [...]

Many people mistakenly believe that caring for a septic tank is expensive. I’ve seen several people refuse to buy houses that they loved because they had septic tanks. There is an illusion (perpetuated by the people who want you to buy chemicals and have your tank pumped) that you have to buy all kinds of [...]

One of the hardest things for many people to see in relation to their finances is how their actions today are robbing them of future wealth. It’s easy to focus on today and think that if you can make the payments on that living room set that it’s okay. It’s easy to think that borrowing [...]

Houseplants are an inexpensive way to improve the appearance and health of your home. Sure, you can invest in all sorts of expensive air purifiers, air fresheners, and decor to accomplish the same thing but houseplants are cheaper, don’t consume electricity, and give you additional benefits that you just can’t get from air fresheners or [...]

Traditional flooring is expensive. Tile, carpet, and even vinyl can all cost big bucks. Add in the cost of installation and you can quickly use up most of your decorating budget. If you’re strapped for cash, there are alternatives to traditional flooring. You have to be a little creative and use some DIY skills make [...]

I choose to be homeless. I am what is often referred today as a digital nomad. I travel full time although I do have a few “home bases” with family and friends where I’ll stay for a week or two in between my travels to new places. Most people who meet me for the first [...]

Many people are tightening their belts in these uncertain economic times. One of the first places we often look to save money is finding projects around the home that we can do ourselves rather than calling the professionals. All do-it yourself projects are not created equal, though, and there are times when you are better [...]

A fire is not only emotionally devastating and life threatening, it can be financially devastating, as well. Even with great insurance you may find yourself having to pay out of pocket for things you didn’t have covered or for unexpected expenses. If you don’t have insurance, or not enough enough insurance, you could be out [...]

This has been a hot year in many parts of the country. I recently heard from a friend who was at her wits end because of the extreme heat. She cannot afford to run the air conditioner all day and was asking me if I knew of any budget ways to beat the heat. Obviously [...]

We just bought some new living room furniture. Our old furniture was just that: Old. While it was still serviceable, it was no longer that comfortable. Yes, we could still sit on the couch, but the couch had lost a lot of its support and comfort. It was also no longer a great match for [...]

My parents are getting older. Dad will be 83 in a few months. Mom will be 72. Dad suffered a fall a couple of months ago and, although he has recovered, a full recovery was in doubt for quite a while. He is also close to being deaf and can hear only with the help [...]

Last year was the year the I finally decided I’d had enough of my lawn. The grass only grew in certain places, no matter how much we watered or which grass breeds we tried. We tried everything to get a lush, green lawn. We fertilized, tested the soil, watered, planted grass breeds indigenous to our [...]