Money Tips Network

When it comes to vacation benefits, America is in poor shape. According to the Hotels.com "Vacation Equality Project," America is the only advanced economy in the world that does not guarantee paid vacation days. As a Brit, I was shocked to learn that the guaranteed four weeks of vacation that I got in the UK was going to become just one week when I arrived here in 2001 (and I was told by my employer at the time to be thankful for that). (See also: 11 Vacation Destinations That Stretch Your Travel Dollar)

Littered throughout the personal finance blogosphere are tips, tricks, and success stories about gaming rewards credit cards. If you play the rewards card game right, you can earn some cool cash back, free flights, or money for college. Provided you are paying off your balance each month and avoiding any fees or interest charges, a credit card rewards program is a fun game that the money nerds will always win. (See also: Money-Saving Credit Card Tricks)

I was born a lot of things, but assertive was not one of them.

For years, I would find myself in situations where I had a vague feeling that all was not well, but by the time I figured out that I wanted or needed to stand up for myself (or someone else), the conversation had moved on. Then, I'd replay the conversations in my head whenever I felt discouraged, which only added to my frustration.

Nobody seems to have told 2014 that the recession ended five years ago.

Not only are college graduates having a hard time getting jobs, but current employees are having a hard time getting raises. This means that now more than ever, you should take every interaction with your supervisor or boss as an opportunity to leave a positive impression.

You're on your third business trip this month. Exhausted after a full day of presentations, all you can think about on the cab ride to the hotel is how great it will feel when your head hits the pillow. You requested a room away from the elevator and ice machine, but guess which room they gave you? And when you enter your hotel room, you hear the drip from the leaky faucet in the bathroom. (See also: In Praise of Complainers)

Do you stew in silence, or run down to the lobby and create a scene at the reception desk?

Neither. There is an art to complaining — with tact — to get what you want.

Like the poet William Ross Wallace said, "Every man dies — not every man really lives." So how do you know if you're really living?

Well, you could read up on existentialism or employ a life coach — or you could tackle this bucket list of must-do's that are both frugal and utterly life-changing. (See also: 5 Cheap, Amazing, and Undiscovered Vacation Destinations)

Just reading our round-up of the top 10 is sure to light a fire in your belly.

Not too many years ago, I was a fresh college graduate who was lucky enough to get a job straight out of college during the 2001-2002 economic downturn. I was also primed to make a whole bunch of financial mistakes that, frankly, still negatively affect my life a decade later and will likely have ramifications for the rest of my life.

I wish I could have done things differently, but that’s water under the bridge now. There’s nothing I can do to change the many ways that I messed up back then.

Instead, what I can do is focus on today. I have three children who are growing up faster than I can sometimes believe. I have a surprisingly large audience of readers at this website.

All I can really do is share the things I wish I had understood then.

Note: This article is from J.D. Roth, who founded Get Rich Slowly in 2006. J.D. recently launched the Get Rich Slowly course, a year-long guide on how to master your money. His non-financial writing lives at More Than Money.

Last weekend, Kim and I went out to breakfast. The only other table in the small restaurant was a party of four youngish women who were laughing and having a good time. They were having such a good time, in fact, that it was impossible not to overhear their conversation.

Most people would agree that one of the things they think is most important is the security of their home. But while it's nearly impossible to stop someone that is determined to break into your home, smart steps can be taken in order reduce the likelihood and possibility that someone will. Deadbolt locks are amongst the most common form of door locks, and a good deadbolt can go a long way to keeping would-be robbers out of your home.