Money Tips Network
6 Time-Tested Ways to Make a Relationship Work
If you're like me, you're 100% human, complete with quirks, talents, shortcomings, and a generous portion of dysfunction. We are all, to put it gracefully, "works in progress."
This is why relationships can be so difficult. We're taking two dysfunctional people and mashing them together. In a relationship, you're not just dealing with your own personal issues. You're dealing with two people's worth of dysfunction! (See also: The First Thing You Need to Work on If You Want a Better Relationship)
But don't get too depressed. When approached correctly, a relationship can be the most fulfilling thing in your life.
Best Money Tips: Financial Tips From Dad
Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some amazing articles on financial tips from dad, managing your money in retirement, and financial goals everyone should strive for.
Top 5 Articles
Father Knows Best — Financial Tips From Dad — Did your dad teach you that money can't buy happiness? [MintLife Blog]
9 Steps to Manage Your Money in Retirement — To manage your money in retirement, maintain at least a year of cash and rebalance to stay aligned with your goals. [Free Money Finance]
Healthy People Have These 10 Things in Their Homes — Do You?
Fostering healthy habits is not only good for your body and mind, but it can also save you money. So, if we were to peek into the home of a textbook case healthy person, what might we find? (I love snooping!) Well, the following items would be a safe bet.
When You Blame Them, You’re Just Making Excuses
Them.
It’s easy to blame them.
If it wasn’t for them, I would have a good job. I would have a publishing contract. I would have more money. I would have that promotion.
If it wasn’t for them, I would have the life I dream of.
Here’s the truth: whenever you waste a second of your energy or your thought blaming them for outcomes in your life that you don’t like, you’re spending a second ensuring that things won’t get better for you.
No matter what, there are always going to be other people that affect our outcomes in life. Bosses. Doctors. Interviewers. Lawyers. Politicians. Salespeople. Marketers. Friends. Family.
Sometimes, their impact is going to be positive. Sometimes, it is going to be negative. There’s nothing you can do about that.
How to Get Magazines for Cheap (or Free!)
Beautiful, glossy magazines may be your guilty pleasure, but they don't have to cost you a pretty penny. There are ways to get them at a discount or even free. Check out some of these suggestions:
RELATED: 13 Ways to Get Free Books
Your Local Library
There are so many free goodies to be had at the library, one of which includes an extensive collection of magazines. Not only do libraries have current copies, but they will usually have backdated copies as well. They might even have copies of magazines that aren't currently being published.
Do This One Thing Every Day to Defeat Out-of-Control Spending
Do you wince when you open up your monthly credit card statement? Do you look at the savings in your bank account at the end of the month and wonder where all of your money went? You're not alone. A 2013 study by FINRA Investor Education Foundation found that 41% of people spend less than they earn, 36% spend as much as they earn, and 19% spend more than they earn.
If you find yourself living beyond your means (or close to them), here is a daily practice that you can employ to get your spending under control: Write it down.
Ask the Readers: Are the “golden handcuffs” real or self-imposed?
This article is by editor Linda Vergon.
Last December, Honey Smith was in the throes of some major life changes – her husband started his own business, only to sell it and start a new job, adding to the pressure to move and possibly buy a house. She wrote about it in her blog post “When the right choice isn’t obvious” and basically asked the readers which direction she should take.
The Most Effective Way to Build Wealth
Money magazine asked its readers over 50 what is the most effective way to build wealth. The results:
6 Things You Might Do on Your First Day of Retirement
Besides saving, planning, and being practically prepared for when you end the working phase of your life, how will it actually feel? What will you be thinking? What will you do?
Most of us who start planning early, though we're diligently preparing for that time, can't fathom what it will be like to actually hang up our careers and have time to "putz" around the house.
Ending such a large part of your life, your work, is almost sure to bring about some predictable feelings and emotions.
Here's a taste of what those thoughts might revolve around, and what you might do.
1. Get a Part-Time Job
If you haven't already made plans, this is likely to be the first thing on your to-do list.
Flex or Fiction: How Accommodating Is Your Job?
This post comes from Anna Williams at our partner site LearnVest.
When it comes to work perks, flexibility is one of our favorite nice-to-haves—whether that means occasionally telecommuting from home, working variable hours or being part of a job share. In fact, a 2013 LearnVest study found that more than half of us would prefer a flexible schedule.
But are employers actually meeting this growing request?
Far better to get some discount than none
A few weekends ago, we went to a community yard sale at the YMCA. One of the tables there had a number of children’s books from the 19th century that were in excellent shape.
Our nine-year-old daughter likes little things — little baskets and boxes with lots of little compartments, little figurines, etc. These books were little, and cute.
She found one that she liked — Shakespeare, of all things! — and the price was marked $5. The book was in superb shape, and it was an antique.
I told my daughter: “Ok, make her an offer.” I was really curious what she was going to offer.
She offered $3. The lady countered with $4, and my daughter accepted.
Don’t be greedy when asking for a discount!
I did an imaginary happy dance when she offered $3.
It was a good offer to make for a $5 item, especially one in good shape. It wasn’t so low that it was offensive.
5 Tips for Paying for Health Care During Early Retirement
The issue of healthcare is one that keeps people in jobs far longer than they’d like. I’ve seen up close how someone with chronic health issues must deal with these choices, and in certain situations, the choices can be difficult.
Medicare coverage doesn’t begin until age 65, so where does that leave someone who stops working prior to that birthday? The issue of being able to afford health insurance on one’s own, even with the potential for subsidies through Obamacare if one’s income is low enough, can prevent people from leaving bad working environments. If you’re a working professional in your sixties but not a top executive, your chances of being able to quit one job and start fresh in another are quickly diminishing. Companies can’t discriminate against employees or potential employees based on age, but if you’re perceived as being close to retirement, you’re going to have a hard time getting hired in a new job.
What Did Your Parents REALLY Teach You About Money? (It Might Surprise You)
One of my most heady childhood memories is from the very first time I earned money from a "job." I was about 11 years old, and my father's best friend needed a mother's helper to entertain her baby for a couple of hours. In exchange, she gave me a $5 bill. (See also: Wise Bread Writer's First Jobs)
I walked on air all the way back to my house. I had earned my own money — and it felt great!
I now realize that the excitement I felt at earning that five-spot stemmed from a very powerful belief about money that I have held since I was a small child: I believed that people should make their own way in the world. Having an opportunity to do so as a child made me feel grownup.
How to Ask for Truly Useful Career Advice (and Other Kinds of Advice, Too)
During my long and winding career path, I’ve been stuck at many difficult points, uncertain as to what to do next. In those times, I’ve relied on the advice of others to help guide me down the right path.
Most of the time, choosing to accept the advice of others has turned out well. At other times… not so much.
After some reflection, I’ve realized that there are several elements that make up good career advice and a few elements that are present in bad advice. If you look for people and situations that have far more good elements than bad ones, you’re likely to get great career advice.
Here are eight key elements of good career advice – and good advice in other life situations, too.
Best Money Tips: 98 Cheap Summer Date Ideas
Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some amazing articles on cheap summer date ideas, remaining frugal while traveling, and free (or nearly free) summer projects for kids.
Top 5 Articles
Love Don't Cost a Thing: 98 Cheap Summer Date Ideas — This summer, bike around your city or take a scenic road trip for a cheap summer date. [POPSUGAR Smart Living]
How to Remain Frugal While Traveling — To save on travel expenses, don't park your car at the airport and only bring carry-ons. [American Debt Project]
5 Ways You're Sabatoging Yourself — and How to Stop
Self-sabotage is something that we all engage in. It looks different for everyone, but there are some common acts that you've probably seen in yourself or those close to you. Root these out, and you will be able to legitimately stand or fall, without shooting yourself in the foot along the way. (See also: 10 Reasons You Are Not Reaching Your Goals)
The Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit
If your credit is less than perfect, you’ll have a more difficult time obtaining and using a credit card. The flip side is that responsible use of a credit card is a fantastic way to rebuild your credit score.
Even with bad credit, you have some great options to start rebuilding your financial future. The best credit cards for bad credit come in two different varieties: secured and unsecured (low credit cards).
If you can, I highly recommend getting an unsecured card, like the Credit One Bank® Gas Rewards Credit Card.
Highlights:
There are three main reasons why I recommend this card for people with subpar credit:
You Might Be Breathing Wrong — Here's What You Should Do Instead
Take a deep breath — a really deep breath. For many of my yoga and meditation students, breathing is one of the hardest parts of class. Some are shallow breathers, meaning they only take in the bare minimum amount of breath needed to survive. Quite a few of my students also have a habit of holding their breath, especially when in challenging poses or when they're faced with a difficult situation in life. Both of these habits reduce the oxygen levels in our bodies and increase the levels of stress chemicals and carbon dioxide. This leaves us lethargic and induces depression. It also suppresses the immune system.
A Brief List of National Parks and Forests I Will Be Visiting Later This Summer
Shawnee National Forest. Daniel Boone National Forest. Cherokee National Forest. Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Pisgah National Forest. Sumter National Forest. Osceola National Forest. Ocala National Forest. Possibly more.
I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to this. National parks and forests are an amazing opportunity to see our nation’s beauty for a very small price.
6 Things You Need to Know Before You Book an All-Inclusive Vacation
When you stay at an all-inclusive resort, you pay everything upfront. During the vacation, you can then take advantage of the included goods and services as much as you want without having to worry about the cost. This can be a great way to get the most value out of your money, but only if you travel a certain way. Here are some things to consider before you book an all-inclusive vacation.
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