Personal Finance Advice

Lately I’ve been thinking about getting the Target Red debit card. (Note that this post is strictly about the debit card. Target also offers a credit card which offers similar benefits to the debit card, but also acts like a credit card in that you are charged interest on unpaid balances.) I became interested in [...]

I hear from people who are struggling with money that one of the things that bothers them the most is their inability to financially help their favorite nonprofits and charities. The view that the only way to help these organizations is through a monetary donation is one that is far too prevalent. I hope this [...]

Ah, the season of giving. Magic in the air, Christmas carolers echoing throughout packed shopping malls, Salvation Army collection bells ringing — it’s the most wonderful time of the year to do good for others…right? With your family’s jam-packed social schedule, endless check-out lines and troops of hungry house guests on the way, it may [...]

We know that those of us who are fortunate enough to have extra money should give some of it back to society. Not only is it good for others, it’s good for us. We get a feeling of satisfaction and goodwill from giving that’s hard to duplicate. Giving is part of a healthy financial plan. [...]

Although I am frugal, I like to at least think that I am neither stingy nor greedy. I am quick to spend if it will make my family happy and I have always been quick to donate to a good cause. When I go through the checkout line at my grocery store, I always try [...]

I spend a lot of time thinking about the holidays with thoughts about Christmas, cheap dates at Christmas (the holiday dates section), and the benefits of artificial Christmas trees among others. Whether you agree with my ideas or not, I believe that thinking about the holidays and how they affect your wallet is important. I [...]

Today’s question to get your morning rolling is, Should you wait until you have a lot of money before giving to charity or should you give to charity even when you don’t have a lot? I have two good friends that have opposing view on the best way to give to charity. One never gives [...]

During the last Christmas season, Disney’s Club Penguin website allowed children who played its online games to donate their virtual earnings to help the environment, improve children’s health, or assist children in developing countries. Though players could use the coins to purchase virtual items to enhance the games, more than 2.5 million of them chose [...]