Articles on Personal Finance

What It Really Costs to Own a Home

I’m a mortgage-free homeowner but, despite paying off my loan, I still have plenty of expenses associated with owning and maintaining my house.

3 Ways Technology Makes Personal Finances Easier

From saving money to staying on budget, technology has made it easier than ever to stay on top of my personal finances. Here are 3 ways technology has helped me save money and time

Celebrate Your Life (and Help Others do the Same) with Bcelebrated – Plus a Discount for Wise Bread Readers

Bcelebrated is a unique service that allows you to create your own online autobiographical legacy, communicate your last wishes to those you have something to say to, organize your

Dream Job or Day Job?

Most people I know have a frustrated passion. There's something they'd rather do a lot more of, but making a living gets in the way. Some people simply accept that their passion wi

How Foreclosure, Deed in Lieu, and Short Sale Affect Credit Scores

Currently millions of Americans are delinquent on their home loans or facing foreclosure. Foreclosure, deed in lieu of foreclosure, and short sales are several ways for borrowers t

How to Buy Personal Carbon Credits That Count

Even in this tough economy, there's a booming market in personal carbon credits. Learn how, and where, to buy them.

The Debt Trap: Factors That Have Led Us To Our Debt

We're a nation of borrowers. This reality is quite well illustrated by the personal stories and profiles covered by various media publications on the subject of consumer debt. Rec

Navigating Small Business Rewards Cards

With more cards available to small business owners than ever, it can be difficult to choose the rewards system that will be most beneficial to your business. Will you go with ca

Savings Bonds as Interest-Earning Travelers Checks

Remember travelers checks? In the days before ubiquitous automated teller machines, they were a useful product. You could use them almost like cash -- but you could carry more than

Homebuyer Tax Credit Extended and Expanded

A couple months ago I wrote about the pros and cons of extending and expanding the popular first time homebuyer tax credit which was due to expire on November 30th, 2009. I wrote

Cavalcade of Risk - November 4, 2009 - How Much Assurance Does Your Insurance Offer?

Welcome to the November 4, 2009 Cavalcade of Risk — the How Much Assurance Does Your Insurance Offer edition! There were a large number of insurance related topics. Does that mean

Can You Buy Your Way Out of the Rat Race?

If you're tracking your spending, you know how much money it takes to live on. If you're tracking your investments, you know about how much return you're getting from your capital.

Recession Journal VI: It's OVER!!!!!!!!!!!! Any Questions?

The recession is technically over, officially over, numerically over. How do you feel now and what are you gonna do about it?

How to Deal with Recession Anxiety

These methods will help you to avoid participating in the recession and the fear mongering that prevail during such periods.

A Society of Fear

Society has been organized to make the wage slave/debt slave trap the default path for almost everyone.

The game of Haggling: How to Get a Great Deal on a Used Car

Getting a great deal on a used car is easy if you know how. Here are 9 tips from a frugal family on how to get the most out of your car-buying dollars.

What Is a “Value-Added Tax,” Anyway?

Probably due to the fact that my monthly health insurance premiums rose dramatically this year, and also because I am about to take a state-mandated 5% pay cut, my ears really per

3 Ways Paying Off Credit Cards Is Like Playing Beer Pong

Paying off your debt isn't as FUN as playing beer pong, of course, but it's a much better way to think about it than your old wrinkly neighbor would have it.

Real Estate Agents: Do We Really Need Them?

With all the tools and information available to home buyers, are real-estate agents and their commissions really that necessary?

3 Steps to Organize and Track Your Finances Without the Hassle

Do you ever feel like there's just too much to track when it comes to your finances? You can simplify your financial life just like you can simplify any other aspect of your life: