K. W. Calhoun
K. W. Calhoun is a former hotel manager turned freelance writer and stay-at-home dad. He has had articles published by Chicago Parent Magazine, Stressfree Living Magazine, Life123.com, Poweropt.com, and many more.
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Degree in business management from Indiana University with a minor in criminal justice.Motto
Efficiently. Effectively. Economically.
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Welcome Back to Illinois! Here Are Your New CostsHere are the three big items we’ve stumbled across already (one of which came only minutes into our entering the state) in what has been just our first week back. -
Having a Child: Financial Factors in Staying Home or Going Back to WorkIt can be a tough call when deciding whether to go back to work or stay at home with your little bundle of joy after having a child. It was a choice that my wife and I made together, but not one we made without considering numerous factors first.
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Cash4Books.Net: Supporting Schools with Charity EventCash4books.net CEO, Jim Smith, recently reached out to me to help promote the company’s efforts to raise money for schools. Here is a portion of the press release he sent me.Also published on:
- Yahoo! US News
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5 Simple Things I Do to Secure My Financial SafetyIt seems like every time I watch the news or open the Internet, I’m seeing something new about identity theft or threats to the security of my personal and financial information.
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Burger King Considering Delivery Service: Is it Worth It?So what do you think? Is Burger King delivery service worth it? Will it work here in America?
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Why I Hate TaxesIn a recent poll published by the Pew Research Center, people were asked what bothers them most about taxes. The results were not what I expected, but were interesting nonetheless.
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My Survivalist Travel StrategyWhen I travel, I enjoy the fact that I do so being as prepared as reasonably possible for a variety of scenarios. When I am on extended travels especially, a lot can happen in two or three week’s time. -
My Wallet EconomicsI guess I’m just old fashioned, but I still like carrying cash in my wallet. In fact, I think that carrying cash actually saves me money, and might even save you money if you consider a few of my theories. -
My Real Estate Agent’s Recent Housing Market ExplanationI recently got one of the regular monthly newsletters that our real estate agent (the one we bought and sold our first home with) sends out to former and current clients. This month’s letter was touting the “return” of the real estate market.
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Simple and Affordable Home Security Options when Leaving for VacationHere are a few of the things that we do or consider when we are heading out for an extended time away from our home to decrease the chances encountering a costly issue when we come home. -
My Rules for Getting Through the Post-holiday Financial DoldrumsSo how do I get through the post-holiday financial doldrums? Well, it’s not always easy, but over the years, I’ve given myself a few rules to help me suffer through this period a little more successfully.
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Driving 2000 Miles in Two Days with a Four Year Old in the Back SeatMany people might find that loading up the family vehicle and making this drive would be exciting, but adding our four-year-old son to the mix, made it a true adventure.
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Don’t Let Expectations Interfere with ParentingAs a parent, it can be tough to ignore the ideas and expectations of others and avoid letting those viewpoints control or influence how you raise your child.
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Simple and Affordable Home Security Options when Leaving for VacationHere are a few of the things that we do or consider when we are heading out for an extended time away from our home to decrease the chances encountering a costly issue when we come home.
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Interviewing My Four-Year-Old About MoneyThe following is a brief interview I conducted with my son, who is now four years and four months old. I asked him these questions not only to learn more about his views on money but also where I need to improve his understanding of money and finance.
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6 Things I Avoid in an Effort to Stay FrugalHow do I fight off the urge to splurge? Well, sometimes it's best to avoid the temptation altogether.
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Will Paying My Child for Grades Send the Wrong Message?Whether or not to pay a child for good grades can be a tough call to make. I think the answer often lies within the child/parent relationship.
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Where I Look for Self-employment MotivationI didn’t start writing full-time until a year after my grandfather passed away, but his example still served to motivate me in my endeavors. -
Is it Wise to Buy a Home If You May Inherit One?So if you aren’t big on the whole homeownership idea, but may inherit a home by the time you’re ready to retire; is it worth buying your own? -
Ways I Stay Focused when Working from HomeI like to consider myself a real task-master when it comes to my work and work ethic, but sometimes I still find myself straying from the work that I could or should be doing.
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What Will Happen to Yahoo?So how do those of us who find some source of income provided by Yahoo, prepare for the future. It’s a question and a situation that many employees -- Yahoo or not -- have had to consider over the last few years and moving forward.
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Making Time for a Child when Working from HomeOver the last four years, I’ve had the opportunity to work from home while also raising my son. Here are a few of the techniques that I’ve used to allow me to free up time for fun with him as well as work.
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Getting the Most Out of Internet ArticlesWhether an article isn’t all the title makes it out to be or for one reason or another, you just aren’t taking the full message away from what you’re reading online, there may be ways to get the most from the Internet articles you read. -
A Retirement Lesson for Those of All AgesThe following story involves people who are close to me, and it leaves me with mixed emotions. Part of me is angry about the wasted opportunity they had presented to them, and the other part of me is saddened by the outlook for their retirement future.
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Fun Ways I Taught My ToddlerAs my son grew, my available time for parenting education gradually decreased while my need for such educating continued to increase.
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How I Can Watch TV and Still Be ProductiveThis can be an especially destructive habit for those of us who work from home. And while I try to keep the temptation away, there are times when I find that I can do things in front of the television and still be relatively productive.
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Money Saving Advantages I've Found when MovingCertain geographic locations or even urban versus rural environments often offer certain distinct advantages not found in other areas. Taking advantage of these offerings sometimes equates to significant savings.
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How We Keep Our Preschooler Active During the Fall SeasonFall can be an exciting time of year for youngsters. With the changing of the leaves and weather, there is often a sense of excitement in the air among the kiddies for the seasonal transition. -
"Downsized": My New Favorite Money Saving ShowI have to say, I didn't have much faith in "Downsized" (We tv, Tuesdays at 9/8c) being any more than the typical 'Ëœrant-and-rave, get as crazy as you can' style reality television show after seeing the previews, but the premise looked interesting.
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Financial Decisions I Won't Force Upon My ChildSometimes children are pressured into poor financial decisions by their parents. This isn't to say that this is always the case, but I know at times I've felt a certain obligation to make financial decisions based upon the whims and wants of parents.
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Teaching Your Family Can Save Everyone MoneyMy family isn't comprised of what you might call 'Å"money gurus.' In most cases their failings aren't necessarily due to lack of knowledge, but rather lack of caring or attention.
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Staying Fit in the Workplace Can Have You Feeling Better and Saving MoneyNot only can staying active in the workplace make you feel better, but it can save you money too.
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How I Got My Freelance Career Off the GroundFreelancing was not a lifelong ambition of mine. It wasn't even something I had planned to do as I was getting into it. But once I realized that it was becoming my work reality, I attacked it head on and with vigor.
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How the Internet Can Burn You in BusinessThe Internet can play an integral role in building and making a person or business a success, but if not handled in the right way, can also burn an individual or operation severely.
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How I Keep Creativity ComingBeing self-employed or operating a small business often calls for a large amount of creativity. This creativity can be critical to sustaining the endeavors related to your profession, whatever it may be.
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Dealing with an Assistant Who Drives You CrazyI haven't always had the best of luck when it comes to assistants. But sometimes you end up being hired into a position in which an assistant is already in place.
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Financial Security Doesn't Always Involve Just Saving CashJust as with most investment strategies, when steeling yourself against emergency situations -- whether they are financial or otherwise -- it's often a good idea to diversify yourself and your strategy, as well as plan for a variety of possible scenarios.
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Sometimes You Need a New Retirement PerspectiveMy retirement viewpoint changed several years ago when I decided to take a chance and venture out onto my own as a self-employed person, actually doing something I liked!
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Learning to Live with Rejection in the Small Business WorldHere are some of the ways I tend to view rejection in my business of writing and that have helped me learn to live with it.
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Cataloging a Home Can Save You Big TimeCataloging a home and its possessions can be an important task for a variety of reasons, and it is an activity that shouldn't be delayed.
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Negotiating Isn't Always About YouMany of us negotiate in our daily lives and don't even realize we're doing it. Whether with co-workers, family, friends or business associates, the process of negotiating has become so ingrained in many of us that it almost comes as second nature.
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How I Keep Goals from Controlling MeIt can be easy to let your goals take over and control what you're doing or how you're doing it. While goals can be great motivators, at times they can also get in the way of living and enjoying life.
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Taking an 19th Century Approach Toward Modern Day Personal Finance -- Part IIIAs I conclude this three part essay regarding Thoreau's views on economy, I will take a look at some of Thoreau's thoughts upon shelter, homes, and possessions. -
Taking an 19th Century Approach Toward Modern Day Personal Finance -- Part III continue my sorting of Thoreau's thoughts on economy with a review of some of his ideas pertaining to employment, the ideas of what others conceive of as 'Å"good' and clothing. -
Taking an 19th Century Approach Toward Modern Day Personal Finance -- Part IIt is not my intent here to expound upon Thoreau's views, as I feel they speak plainly enough on their own. The views of this economizing, and at times, self-sustaining man, may be far more insightful and ahead of their time than most of us realize. -
Moving: Getting the Lay of the Frugal LandIt's official! We've now moved six times in just over 11 years. And each time we've moved, we've either had to learn or become reacquainted with the consumer landscape of the area to which we've arrived.
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Debt Deal or No, We're Prepared for a US Credit DowngradeWhile I'm not a doomsday seeker, in my opinion, going into a situation where the results and effects are largely unknown warrants a bit of planning and forethought, even if nothing eventful actually happens.
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Why Career Advancement Wasn't Right for MeI had already been writing for a while when the realization regarding my hotel career future hit me. And even though writing was work, it was work that I looked forward to and enjoyed doing.
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Self-Employment: My Long Road to Financial IndependenceMy story may inspire some -- and it may dissuade others from ever trying their hand at becoming self-employed.
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Things I Do to Stay Fit and FrugalHere are a few of the things I do to stay fit and frugal, and that serve me well by combining the two.
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Doing My Best to Avoid Home Price FeverBuying or selling a home can lead to something I like to call 'Å"home sale fever.' This fever's symptoms include the overlooking or acceptance of certain costs that would normally be unacceptable or even maddening to the average person.
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Selling a Home in Chicago: The Biggest Hassle Known to Man?Maybe selling a home in Chicago isn't the biggest hassle known to man, but after my experience, it certainly seems to me like it has to rank somewhere up there.
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Being Homeless -- a New Trend?My wife and I are now in our thirties, married, and with a four-year-old child, and yet, I can proudly say that we are homeless. Yes -- I said proudly.
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Taking Negotiating to a Whole New LevelWith the Internet now providing various forms of background, personal, business, and financial information, you might be surprised by what is out there to help you -- or in some cases hurt you -- during your negotiating process.
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Goals Can Be Fun and All in the Eye of the BeholderSometimes goals get a bad rap because people think of them as extra pressure to do something they don't typically want to do or have the ability to do regularly. But goals don't always have to serious or '˜un-fun'.
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5 Personal Finance Lessons We Can Learn From AntsMy son recently received an ant farm for his fourth birthday. And though he seemed slightly intrigued by the whole scenario, it didn't hold nearly the attraction or intrigue for him as it did for dear old dad.
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The Power of Games and How They Get Us SpendingHere are a few of the more successful games or game ideas that I've seen in action and that could be put in place for a variety of businesses or in numerous advertising and marketing situations and environments.
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Ten Ways I Stretched My College DollarHere are some of the ways I discovered to stretch dollars, and even earn a few extra bucks to put toward education during my high school and college years.
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How I Saved Thousands on My MortgageWith the price of the house, closing costs, inspection costs, and all the rest, any way you can save a dime can be helpful.
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Our Next Step: To Rent, Buy or Somewhere in Between?We are currently in the process of selling our home, and it raises the question: What's the next step, to rent or to buy?
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One Person's Junk Is Indeed My TreasureThere is a long-time history in my family of finding and repurposing old or unused items. While as a child I found this aspect of my family life rather embarrassing, as an adult, I find it rather admirable. As they say, "Waste not, want not."
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Why I Don't Mind Contributing to Social SecurityThere's been a lot of concern lately -- often paired with a lot of complaining -- about the social security situation. But is the situation really as bad as all that?
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The Critical Strategy I Used to Bolster My Retirement SavingsThere are a variety of retirement saving strategies that people and professionals use to prepare for their golden years. Some work out; others not so well.
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Tips that Took Me to the Top in Accounts ReceivableWhile it took some time, I eventually became quite proficient at the collections process and ended up taking our hotel's particular outstanding debt amount to an all time low.
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How I Save Money on ClothingWith a watchful eye upon my wallet, and my sixth grade home economics background in hand, I attack the world of fashion with my money saving skills.
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Picking a Retirement Location Before Leaving Your JobWhat if you could move to the place or at least nearer the place you wanted to retire while you were still working? Then you could experience the location with the help of employer-assisted moving costs before you "officially" retire.
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Is it Cheaper to Hire a Mover or Move Yourself?As my family now prepares for our upcoming move, I've seen things from a different light, and it has opened my eyes to the certain advantages and possibilities of using a professional mover.
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Self-employment: Differentiating Myself from the CrowdDifferentiating yourself from the crowd as a self-employed individual can be extremely difficult in the Internet age. With the amount of competition out there it can be hard to find a way to stand out and set yourself apart.
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Putting Gas Prices in PerspectiveWe may be mad as hell about gas prices lately; still many of us have no choice but to take them.
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How I've Cut My Coffee Costs by More Than HalfAs food prices have recently begun to climb however, I've noticed that coffee has not been immune to this inflation. Not only this, but it seems that lately, many coffee containers have started shrinking in size compared to their predecessors.
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Feeling the Bite of Food Packaging Downsizing? Bite Back!The bad thing about buying food as of late is that the products' prices aren't only increasing, but the sizes of many items are decreasing! This means that some food producers are getting us coming and going!
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Finding Legitimate Work in the Freelance WorldWhile it can take time to build up a resume or work portfolio to help you attain the better jobs, you have to start somewhere, and starting with legitimate work can cut the time it takes to help you build success in your freelance endeavors.
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Take a Look at Your Financial Resource Family TreeFamilies can be wonderful sources of support, especially financial support, and for as much money as they can sap from you at times, they can also help you save money as well.
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Money Saving TrapsHere are a few of the items that I've stumbled across or stumbled upon during my money-saving endeavors that I thought might save me money when instead, they actually ended up or nearly ended up costing me money.
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How to Kill a Small Business in the Modern WorldFor small business owners out there, read and pay attention to the following ways to kill a small business in the modern world -- unless you want your business to be next!
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Trust the Stock Market? Why Would I?Some people question why I don't like the stock market. Frankly, I used to love stocks. I got my first 100 shares at age 9 and thought that being a part of the stock market was one of the coolest things in the world.
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The Life Changing Future Value of MoneyMy boredom left me one night about five years ago sitting in bed, fiddling with my financial calculator. While playing around, crunching some numbers, I stumbled upon what was to me, a rather a rude awakening.
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Buyer Benefits and Downsides of a 'Rent-to-Own' Home PurchaseA rent-to-own or rent with the intent to buy type real estate deal can bring with it some distinct advantages for a buyer, but not all that glitters may be gold in such deals.
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The Advantages and Disadvantages of a 'Rent-to-Own' Home SaleWhile it turned out that this option wasn't for us, during our deliberations, we could definitely see some bright spots for sellers in such a deal but at the same time, some disadvantages as well.
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The Benefits of Renting Out Your House in a Down MarketWith the failure of the housing market to see much in the way of signs of recovery, many would-be sellers are turning to renting. This wasa possibility in the 17-month period in which we had our home on the market; one that we considered at length.
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Keep Your College Costs Under Control like I DidWhile there is no clear-cut answer to everyone's college financial situation, there may be certain techniques that can be employed to combat the costs of an education.
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My Worst Retirement Financial Fears. What Are Yours?While for most of us our health, family, and personal and financial security probably top the list of retirement worries, there are a few sub-categories of these topics that particularly play to my worst retirement fears.
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Making Saving Money Cool for KidsIn an effort to get my own son involved in saving money, here are some of the things that I found cool about money as a child and that I try to practice with my son as well.
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Financial Lessons to Be Taken from a Garage SaleHere are a few of what I consider the most important garage sale lessons that also apply to much of the business world.
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First Person: Trimming My Home Improvement CostsWhile I'm no mechanical genius, I have discovered certain ways to reduce my repair expenses around the home.
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Are Children Expensive or is it Their Parents?I've come to the recent conclusion however, that it's not the kids, but often the parents who are the ones who are choosing to incur or accept excessive child rearing costs.
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How One Tool Has Saved Me Thousands of DollarsOne simple device has saved me thousands of dollars over the years. No -- it's not a not a hammer, not a saw, not a screwdriver or even a power tool, it's a financial tool.
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Seeing Saving Money Ideas Through 'Fresh Eyes'Sometimes being able to avoid preconceived notions about the way things can or should be done opens up the world immensely and brings new thoughts and ideas to the table. So why not try such an approach to saving money?
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Succeeding at Work: How I Stood Out from the CrowdThe following are a few of the things that I did to help me achieve rapid success in the workplace, moving from a hotel entry-level supervisory to department director in less than five years.
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How I'm Preparing for the Next Financial BubbleWe've seen two major bubbles burst over the course of the last decade with the tech implosion and then the collapse of the housing market, so odds are, we could be seeing another one in the next couple of years.
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Kids and Money: The First 5 Years is the Time to SaveOver time, kids can be costly. However, they don't have to cost as much as you might think. If you're on your game early, you could cut your costs significantly before they really start hitting your wallet hard.
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The Quirks of Property TaxesIt's not that I totally disagree with the concept of property taxes as a whole. But there are a few things on my latest property tax installment that I just don't agree with.
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How I Save with BondsI've been actively interested and invested in bonds since I received my first government savings bond for winning a contest during my sophomore year of high school many moons ago.
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Four Important Family Financial LessonsSome of the most useful and pertinent financial lessons that I've learned have come from family. Whether these lessons are more effective (or hard hitting) because they are true, or because they happened to people I know, I'm not really sure.
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Techniques for Increasing Employee MotivationWhile management techniques and employees may vary, almost all people are motivated by one or more of three things: money, kindness or prestige/power.
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Saving Time, Trouble and Money when Staying at a HotelHaving toiled in the hospitality industry for the majority of my working career, I tend to see things from a different perspective than many people when I stay at a hotel or resort.
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Teen Finances: Getting Through the Iron CurtainTrying to teach teens about money and personal finances could just be adding another item to an already long list of lessons and formative subject matter, but it's an important one to have on that list nonetheless.
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Forecasting for My Self-employment VentureHere are some of the factors that I planned for and dealt with when forecasting expenses for my venture into the self-employment world.
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Is Retirement All It's Cracked Up to Be?Before we get all bent out of shape about not being able to leave the workforce as soon as we'd like, maybe we should consider that continuing to work might actually be good for us.
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Do You Tip 20% Every Time? I Don'tHere are some of the factors that I take into consideration when determining how much tip to leave.
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Living on Less Than $16,000 a YearHere was my portion of the family expenses from June 1, 2009 to May 31, 2010.
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Self-Employment: Finding the Financial BalanceAllow me to explain more about my self-employment journey and how I struggled to find the financial balance between what was good for me and what was good for my customers.
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Money Saving Lessons Gleaned from Children's StoriesHere are a few examples of common children's stories that provide wonderful financial lessons should we choose to point them out to our kids. -
Playing the "What If -- " Personal Finance GameHere's a great way to kill time on boring car rides or at dinner when you're out of things to talk about, and can be a fantastic way to exchange thoughts or ideas regarding a variety of personal finance related issues. -
Don't Let Your Income Get You Down -- I Don'tUnfortunately, so much of our focus is often upon how much we make, not how much we keep of what we make. And as hard as it is, as the great Johnny Mercer once sang, sometimes we just have to "accentuate the positive."
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What Financial Freedom Means to MeFinancial freedom can mean many different things to many different people. How you define financial freedom could differ significantly from your neighbors or even those in your own family.
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Expecting an Inheritance to Fund Your Retirement?Even though you haven't been saving much for retirement, you may not be too worried about your future since you are counting upon a significant inheritance coming your way one day. But don't jump the gun and start counting your chickens just yet.
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Why I Dislike Donating Cash to CharitiesI'm not trying to dissuade anyone from donating to charitable organizations. I do feel however, that too many people throw their money at charities without thinking about what they are doing or if that is the best way to contribute to a cause.
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The Financial Shock of Being on My Own After CollegeSuch was my college and pre-college lifestyle that I just didn't have the proper perspective on what certain costs would be once out in the real world. It was a shock when certain financial realities began to hit home when I graduated.
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Living Like Each Paycheck Is My LastHow would you spend your paycheck if you thought it was the last one you would receive for a significant period of time? Probably a lot differently than if you knew you had many more to come, right?
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How One Page Simplified My Financial LifeI've been using a simple, one page Excel spreadsheet to gauge my personal finances for nearly ten years now.
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My 'Choose Your Own Adventure' Retirement PlanIn many ways, retirement planning is much the same as a "choose your own adventure book." However, this is life, not just a story where you can go back and try another scenario if things don't work out the way you had planned.
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How I Maintain My Financial WillpowerMaintaining financial willpower isn't easy. Even for people like me, who actually enjoy saving money and finding ways to save, it's sometimes difficult to continue pushing ourselves to do so.
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My Conservative Investment Strategy and How It's Paid OffIn this brief article, I will outline my general investment strategy, how it has worked for me, and what I like about it most.
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4 Websites for Teaching Kids About Personal FinanceIf you are one of those people, but are finding the educational process somewhat difficult, here are four websites I have found that might help you teach your kids (and maybe even yourself) a thing or two about personal finance. -
How Being Prepared Saves Me MoneyHere are a few ways that I was able to improve my ability to be better prepared when keeping certain personal finance information in order and even save a little money in the process. -
Time Management Tips that Save Me MoneyAs a freelance writer, any way I can find to make more efficient use of my time means better productivity, and in turn a bigger payday or more time with my family. -
First Person: The Little Things That Can Add Up in RetirementI have several relatives who are nearing or already in retirement. By looking at how or where they live and their particular retirement lifestyles, I have seen some of the little things that can save money or reduce expenses.
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Saving Money Really Is Easy with the Proper PerspectiveIn order to save, a change in mindset may be necessary. This change isn't always easy, but by using the proper perspective on certain money saving techniques, the transition might be made simpler.
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Valuable Financial Lessons from Mom and DadHere are a few lessons I picked up from mom and dad that showed me that money isn't everything and that served me well as I moved into adulthood. -
Getting a Spouse on the Same Retirement Planning PagePreparing for retirement isn't always just about you. If you have a spouse or a significant other that you share your life and finances with, he or she could play a pertinent role in your retirement planning and vice versa.
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First Person: Losing Money Through Simple NeglectHere are some areas I've discovered when it comes to ways people neglect their personal finances, and ideas to help you turn this neglect into big savings.
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Increasing Productivity, Increasing ProfitsFor me, every minute I'm not working, I'm not making as much money as I could be, therefore; finding ways to increase my productivity and make more efficient use of my time are important aspects of my life. -
What I Would Like From My RetirementI recently asked a family member who is nearing retirement age what he would like to see from his retirement. I was surprised when I found that someone only a couple years away from such a life changing event couldn't provide me with a good answer.
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Moving from Stay-at-home Dad to Full-time FreelancerAs I move closer to the full-time freelance role and further from the stay-at-home dad role, I am gripped with a mixture of emotions. This has me preparing for how best to take advantage of these few precious hours. -
Small Business Hiring: Wading Through the Candidate PoolWhile there isn't an exact science to hiring employees, and even the most experienced hiring manager can make mistakes, here are a few hiring priorities to consider when forming a small business hiring strategy. -
Save Big Money with These Everyday Household ItemsThe following are five things that save me money on a regular basis and that are easily found right in my own home -- and probably yours as well.
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How I Saved a Ton of Money by Buying 3 Used CarsHere are my thoughts on the benefits of buying used vehicles, a few of the dangers, and how I've bought three used cars that have served me well over the last 15 years.
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First Person: A Compound Interest PrimerUnderstanding compound interest, and how it applies to various situations, has probably saved me tens of thousands of dollars in the decade following my college graduation.
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Tracking Expenses Is Critical to a Safe RetirementIf you've gauged your expenses over the course of several years before you retire, provide a cushion between your expenses and income, and have a few backup plans in your back pocket, you can better ensure a safe retirement when the time comes.
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First Person: Getting Real About RetirementHowever, here are a few things that I would tell just about anybody I met, at any age or any stage of life, regarding ways to save and plan for their retirement.
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3 More Television Shows that Might Make Me MoneyHere are three of my new favorite new shows that have been providing me with interesting information that provides entertainment, keeps my eyes glued to the screen, but teach me a little something valuable in the process. -
First Person: The Freshman Financial Mistakes I Made After CollegeThe following are a few of the freshman financial mistakes and missteps that I made after graduating from college and how they ended up costing me.
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First Person: The 4 Pieces of Financial Advice I Hate to HearWhile the following four pieces of financial advice might not be detrimental to everyone, I personally don't like them. Let me tell you why. -
Are You Captaining the Titanic of Retirement Plans?Here are some of the ways in which a retirement could mirror that fateful voyage, and how I plan to avoid captaining the Titanic of retirement plans.
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Making the Financial Adjustment to RetirementMaking the financial adjustment to retirement can be a frightening and strenuous process, one for which not everyone is fully prepared -- even when they think they are. -
Financial Takeaways From the Disaster in JapanAfter such a scenario occurs, it makes me think about other such situations like Hurricane Katrina, September 11th, the earthquake in Haiti, and similar disasters. And I wonder what I would do or how I would handle myself in such situations as those. -
Charlie Sheen's Financial Example: A Sign of Hope for Others?What intrigues me the most about Mr. Sheen are his personal finances and recent financial decisions. -
Is it Time to Sell Silver?Will silver prices go higher? Will they soon begin to tumble back to the levels of previous years? Such questions can leave you wondering, is it time to sell your silver? -
5 Great Websites for Money Management AdviceHere are five money management blogs and websites I've found that might help you in your search for money management advice, and if not, could at least provide a helpful tip or two. -
Money Saving Habits: The Good, the Bad and the UglySometimes the money saving habits we've learned or picked up can hurt us as well as help us. Here are a few examples of the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to the techniques that many of us use to save money.
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How Self-audits Can Improve ProductivityWhen you're working largely on your own as a self-employed individual or in a small business however, you may find yourself left to your own devices when it comes to reviewing and evaluating these standards. -
5 Ways to Save 5 Bucks in 5 Minutes or LessSome people use the excuse for not saving money that there just isn't enough time, it's too much trouble, or they just don't know how. But saving money can be super quick, easy, and relatively painless if you know how. -
Education Could Be the Key to a Sound Financial RetirementHere are some ways and subject matter that could help retirees improve their ability to make more of their money in retirement through just a class or two, but without having to obtain a full degree in a particular field. -
Take Retirement Calculators With a Grain of SaltCalculators can be wonderful resources in the retirement planning process. The problem with these tools however, is that like any machine or computer, they are only as effective as the person using them. -
4 Ways I Stabilize My Marriage FinanciallyI'd like to take the discussion regarding finances and relationships a step further and explain what my wife and I do to organize the finances for our family and why it works for us.
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The Pros and Cons of Having a Mortgage in RetirementHere are some of the pros and cons of having a mortgage in your golden years. How these various aspects could affect you may depend heavily upon your retirement situation, income, location, size of home, size of the mortgage, and similar factors. -
How I Hope to Further My Financial Position in 2011It's be a tough couple of years for many, but we can't all just throw our hands up in the air like Chicago Cubs fans and say, "There's always next year". Here are some of the ways I hope to use this fresh year to strengthen my financial situation.
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How I Saved Money on My First ApartmentHere are a few of the things I learned during the apartment search process that helped us find a really nice apartment with plenty of amenities, in a great location, and for a very reasonable price. -
Passive Income Opportunities to Pad My RetirementWhile quite a few years remain until I hit my planned retirement threshold, there are a few forms of passive income I eventually hope to take advantage of to help make my retirement a little more secure. -
How I Survived Long-term (Regular) UnemploymentHere is how I survived a three year stretch of regular unemployment from what was supposed to be a one year hiatus. -
How I Fight InflationWhile we've yet to see any type of real inflation take off just yet, here are some of the ways in which I plan to combat it when it comes to how it affects my money and my purchase power. -
Personal Finance Choices I Plan to Change in RetirementHere they are, plain and simple, the things I plan to change relating to my personal finances in retirement. -
The Best Financial Decisions I Ever MadeWhile my financial successes might not seem like much standing by themselves, pairing them together over time, they have added up to quite a bit of savings. Here are a few of my favorite. -
Determining a Marketing Budget for a Small BusinessIt can behoove a small business immensely to have a well thought-out budget before pouring money into various marketing tactics and techniques that could quickly absorb your investment. -
Personal Finance: Why Didn't My Parents Warn Me?While my grandfather and uncle filled in some of the gaps left by my parents, there were still a few financial revelations that weren't explained to me until much later in life. -
How College Helped Form My Personal Finance FutureHere are some of what I consider the most important financial takeaways from my college experience. -
I Am the General of My Retirement War PlanAs a general in my own particular retirement war, here is my order of battle and the units I plan to utilize when it comes to how I fight it. -
The Worst Financial Decisions I Ever MadeFrom stocks to real estate, here are what in my opinion, are a few of my worst financial faux pas. -
My Golden Years Are Beginning to Look More like Silver or Copper YearsHere are some of the factors that are combining to make my retirement difficult to plan for either due to their instability or unpredictability. -
Making the Most of Your Money in RetirementKnowing how to stretch a dollar during your retirement can mean the difference between living a comfy lifestyle and just squeaking by. -
4 'Outside the Box' Ways That I'm Financing My RetirementLooking for extra forms of income can range significantly from person to person based upon their skills, abilities, interests, and location, but here are a few of the ways that I'm considering buffering my retirement finances when I get there. -
How I'm Helping Plan for a Parent's RetirementBy utilizing the following techniques, I feel that I help my mother prepare for retirement, but still allow her to make the final calls regarding how she does so.
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Teaching My Wife About Personal FinanceHere is how I got my wife on the same page with me when it came to our personal finances.
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Why Home Appreciation Values Aren't All They're Cracked Up to BeWith real estate prices tanking and bargain basement deals seemingly popping up in just about every form of real estate there is, I'm still not a fan of real estate as an investment vehicle.
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First Person: Saving Money on Valentine's DayHere are a few of the things I do, and guidelines I follow, to make the Valentine's holiday meaningful, memorable, and not waste a lot of money in the process.
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Estate Planning: Getting My Affairs in OrderHere are a few of the most important (at least in my mind) that I have done to assist my family in the recovery process upon my demise. -
Retirement Questions I Ask Myself for the Beginning of the EndHere are six of the questions that I often ask myself regarding retirement, and the bearing they could have upon my retirement and yours.
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3 Television Shows that Are Entertaining and Might Make Me Money TooHere are three of my favorite shows that are not only entertaining, but educational, and may even teach me something that could help me make a little money in the process. -
Should People Work for Their Unemployment Benefits?The following is just a few quick thoughts -- a very broad outline -- of how people could be productive in return for their unemployment checks. However, it's enough that I think you'll get the general idea.
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From the Land of Lincoln to the Land of Taxes: The Proposed Illinois Income Tax IncreaseI'm more than just a little fed up with living in Illinois and paying their outrageous fees in order to do so. -
The Holidays Don't Necessarily Mean It's Time to SpendIf you think you're the only one who feels holiday spending has gotten a bit out of control, you're not alone. There are still plenty of gifts out there that can be given and appreciated without the spending of tons of money. -
Holiday Bill Payoff TipsIn order to assist you in developing a holiday bill payoff plan that keeps your debt burden as light as possible, here are a few tips that you might find helpful.
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Making it Through the Holidays Debt FreeWhile I already consider myself a power shopper, I still like to have a plan each holiday season as to how I'm going to make use of my money. Here is my plan to make it through the holiday season debt free.
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Holiday Travel: Keeping Costs DownIn order to help you keep expenses down, here are a few tips that might help you stretch your dollar during your holiday season travels.
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5 Websites that Could Save You MoneyEven if you're money savvy and are a great saver already, there's always more to be learned when it comes to saving. Here are a few websites that might help you in your quest for great money saving tips and advice. -
Exploring Chicago's Western SuburbsIf you're planning to spend a little time in Chicago's western suburbs, here are a few spots you might want to check out. -
A Weekend Spent in Scenic Bloomington, IndianaBloomington is not only the home to the Hoosiers of Indiana University, but a scenic town that offers a variety of things to see, do and explore. -
Teaching Your Children About Personal FinanceWe live in a time in which it may never have been more important to teach our children the ins and outs of personal finances. Here are some factors to consider when involving your children in the personal finance process.Also published on: -
How to Manage a Household BudgetProper management works with more than just people. If you've created a budget but aren't quite sure how to manage it, here are a few insights that might help you with your plight. -
Protecting Your Personal Finances: Securing Paper DocumentsThe recovery from having your identity stolen can be a long and arduous process. Here are some tips to help protect your most valuable documents in avoid having someone get a hold of your identifying information in the first place.
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Last Week's Big Cutback: My Personal Budget CutLast week, I decided it was time for a change. I'd had just about enough of certain utility companies continuously jacking up their rates, so I decided to do something about it. -
Money Saving Fun and GamesIt seems that the average person enjoys games in numerous aspects of their life but tends to ignore the ability to step up to the challenge of playing games when it comes to money.
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Your Location Can Make or Break Your Retirement FinancesYour retirement location can often play a huge role in how you manage your retirement as well as to how happy and active you remain during these golden years.
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Plan Your Path to an Early RetirementIf you've dreamed of early retirement, but feel it is out of reach, maybe you should reconsider. With some planning and hard work you may realize an early retirement is more realistic than you previously thought.
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5 Great Personal Finance Blogs for the Everyday PersonThere are a ton of personal finance blogs out there these days. Here are five of my personal picks that you might find useful in educating yourself when it comes to your finances. -
Single Couples' Estate PlanningDeath is not a subject many of us typically like to think about, but doing your estate planning before it's too late can save the ones you leave behind a lot of trouble. Here are some important aspects of estate planning that you may want to consider.
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Is the Great Recession Your Chance to Pursue an Entrepreneurial Dream?While the recession has affected many of us negatively, maybe it's time to look at this period of economic strife as an opportunity. This could be your chance to pursue your entrepreneurial dream. -
Security Tips for Your Personal Finances: Computer ProtectionIn this day and age, protecting your personal and financial information can be extremely difficult. Here are a few thoughts on how better to protect your personal finances when it comes to your computer and computer files. -
Money Really Does Grow on TreesIf you know the right ways to invest your money, you might be surprised to find that money really does grow on trees -- not literally of course.
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My Monthly Resale Efforts in the Chicagoland AreaIt might surprise you at how much money you can make off common items that might just be lying around your house. Here's a list of things that I was able to resell for a bit of cash. What they amounted to might surprise you!
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Money Talks and so Should You: Discussing Finances with Your PartnerWorking your personal finances out with a spouse or partner can be difficult. By effectively communicating with this person, you may be able to avoid pitfalls not only in your personal relationship, but your financial relationship as well. -
Surviving the Recession is a Frame of MindSurviving the 'Great Recession' may be more about your frame of mind than making any one investment style or financial change. Here are a few thoughts about how to get through this tough economic period, and how to prepare for the next.
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6 Ways to Keep Your Elderly Loved One's Money SafeProtecting an elderly loved one's money can be a difficult proposition in this day and age. Here are a few tips that might help you to defend the finances of your aging loved one from predators and poor investment decisions. -
Save Hundreds of Dollars on Carpet CleaningThis is a story of how a several hundred dollar carpet cleaning project was completed for $23, and how you could probably do it too! -
Get a Grip on Summer SpendingSummer often offers increased temptation when it comes to spending you money. The chance to get outdoors may also bring with it the chance for more spending. Here are a few things to consider before you open your wallet this summer. -
Lending to Friends? Beware!If you are considering lending money to a friend or friends, here are a few things to consider before conducting the transaction.
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Finding Inspiration in Your Personal FinancesInspiration in your personal finances is not always easy to come by. Here are a few ideas as to how to push yourself when it comes to succeeding in your everyday money management. -
Costs of Having a HobbyHobbies can be great fun and provide a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment in our lives that might be missing otherwise. Here are a few financial aspects of a hobby that might be worthwhile considering. -
Why Are You Wasting Your Money?Are you wasting money? You might be throwing money away and not even realize it. Here are a few areas in which you might be able to avoid tossing your money down the drain.
