Money Tips Network

Whenever I face a problem in my life, I want to solve it. Now. The sooner the better.

When Sarah and I first started to face up to our financial troubles in 2006, I wanted a solution. Now. The sooner the better.

I went to the library and checked out a mountain of books. I buried myself deep into the pages. I went crazy with frugality, counting every single penny. I cleaned out my closet and sold everything I could reasonably sell.

And it wasn’t enough.

It took the majority of a decade to get things straightened out. During that decade, I spent two years essentially working two full time jobs and launched a small business while my wife continued to work full time and we also dug deep into frugality, finding many, many ways to save a buck.

I spent those years – and the years since – looking into virtually every entrepreneurship and debt repayment and frugality idea and system that I could find.

What did I learn?

This article is by staff writer April Dykman.

When I was in college, I dated a guy with money problems.

For instance, six months into the relationship, I found out that he owed a few people money. Like his ex-girlfriend. And then his dad, who gave him the money to pay the ex-girlfriend. And then he still owed the ex-girlfriend, since he spent the money his dad gave him on who knows what.

On Tuesday, I woke up, got the kids ready for school, spread organic fertilizer over our back yard, got in contact with a local Congressional campaign about volunteering for them, spent two hours at the library doing research, wrote three articles, read a few chapters of a challenging book, played with my children for a good hour, made a frittata for supper, walked two miles, spent thirty minutes creating an elaborate bedtime story with my kids, and finally passed out from exhaustion. I was genuinely tired – physically and mentally – at the end of the day.

My Wednesday wasn’t that much different, except with a few different activities involved. I attended a school play. I helped my daughter with her piano practice. I worked on a great plan for a future project.

This article is by staff writer Kristin Wong.

Frugality isn’t very sexy. I’ll admit that.

For most people, the concept of thrift probably conjures images of coupon clipping, stock photos of piggy banks, and Benjamin Franklin — none of which are terribly glamorous.

Frugality, is, however, in line with the concept of getting rich slowly. We’ve learned that building wealth has much to do with living below your means. You have to increase your income, yes. But in the process of looking for ways to earn more — whether it’s negotiating, switching careers, picking up side gigs — frugality is your friend.

Whether you're unemployed or looking to take your career to the next level, there are ways to snag a new job before the end of this year. Yes — given the stubbornly high unemployment rate, and the fact that many employers are bombarded with resumes and applications, getting noticed isn't without its challenges. But don't let this discourage you. Here's a look at 10 ways to get a new job this year.

Do you struggle with managing your money? Is staying on top of your finances complicated and time-consuming for you?

If so, follow the simple five step plan below — and the calculators and tools suggested for each — to get in control. With these simple tools, you have everything you need to make sure you're achieving your financial goals. (See also: Painless Ways to Manage Money With a Partner)

1. Create a Debt Elimination Plan

This is the most important tool. You can't build wealth and win the money game as long as you're in debt.

You're eating another bowl of cereal or a single serve microwave meal — again. You don't have a lot of time, and because it's just you for dinner, why go crazy, right? Wrong! You are the very best thing you've got in your life, and you need to take care of you. (See also: Bulk Buying Basics)

Everybody loves a good online bargain, and eBay is one of those places where you can find great deals...or you could be totally ripped off. Here are the secrets to getting the best price on eBay. (See also: 5 Things You Can Resell on eBay That Still Make Money)

1. Search for Misspelled Items

You know what you want: a Tiffany's silver bracelet. Like everybody else you're going to type "tiffany silver bracelet" in the search box and start browsing sellers. The problem with this approach is that you may get in bidding wars with other people because you're looking where everybody is looking.

Naked With Cash is an ongoing series at Consumerism Commentary in which readers share their households’ finances with other readers. These participants benefit from the accountability that comes from tracking their finances publicly and the feedback of the four expert Certified Financial Planners (CFPs).

For more information, read this introduction.