Money Tips Network

This article is by staff writer Kristin Wong.

Maybe it’s because I’m getting older, or maybe it’s that I’m in a better financial place than I was just a few years ago, but lately, I’ve been thinking a lot more about giving back.

In recent years, it’s becoming more important to me to be socially conscious and charitable. I’m secure, I’m healthy, and I’m free. That contentment seems to urge me to check in on the rest of the world.

Or, maybe it’s coming from a more selfish place.

According to a new research paper from Harvard Business School, spending money on others makes us happy.

Giving makes us happier

The paper, titled, “Prosocial Spending and Happiness,” was published this year in Current Directions in Psychological Science. In it, psychologists write:

No, that’s not a typo. If you haven’t heard of “Heartbleed” yet, listen up.

Events that radically change our lives don’t come along that often. The 9/11 attacks changed not only how we travel, but how we think and act when we go out. Having your belongings searched when you go out to a ballgame was unthinkable before; now it’s routine.

Heartbleed is such an event, and over the next few years it will change how all of us do business.

What is Heartbleed?

It’s a security breach, but not just any security breach. Think of the infamous Target breach as a little rowboat and Heartbleed as the Queen Mary. Some have called it the biggest data security breach in the history of the Internet, and the ripples across the digital landscape have only just begun.

This article first appeared at U.S. News and World Report Money.

Everyone knows about the big things that people should prepare for their loved ones in the event of their untimely passing. A will. Life insurance. A living trust. Those are the big things.

After that, there are a number of little things you can take care of that will make things much, much easier on your loved ones if you were to pass on. These things are all easy to prepare, don’t require a lawyer, and will make a huge impact on your family and friends if these documents are ever needed.

The best thing you can do is make sure that you have a safe deposit box at your local financial institution which contains these documents. Make sure that your executor and your spouse are aware of how to get into the box.

Note: This article is from J.D. Roth, who founded Get Rich Slowly in 2006. J.D.’s non-financial writing can be found at More Than Money.

Eight years ago today, I started a new blog. Inspired by the success of a popular post at my personal site, I sat down to create what I thought would be the first personal finance blog on the Internet. (I was wrong, of course; there were plenty of similar blogs before mine.) I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

Tax Day this year is Tuesday, April 18, and you know what? It's going to be a good day.

This article is by staff writer Honey Smith.

In November, we thought we’d reached the last straw in terms of the condo we have been renting. We’d had numerous problems with our place and our landlord (namely, not fixing things when they broke — major or minor). However we ultimately decided that, although the right choice wasn’t obvious, there were too many aspects of our lives up in the air to move at that moment.

Then, on December 30, our landlord told us that they weren’t going to be able to refinance our property. The condo we live in was going into foreclosure. The auction was scheduled for December 31.

It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking, "I'll be happy when..."

You know, "I'll be happy when I can own my own home," or "I'll be happy when I can buy a new car/afford nicer clothes/replace this cludgy old desktop." Even people who aren't focused on gaining possessions tend to fall into this kind of thinking, only for them it can sound like, "I'll be happy when I get a promotion," or "I'll be happy when I have kids/feel better/have more free time." (See also: Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Happier)

I used to be somewhat of a gym rat. And by that, I mean I used to have a lot more expendable income and free time on my hands. These days, I have to be more creative because these things — time and money — are at a premium.

I haven't had a gym membership in a while and fully admit working out at home can be difficult motivation-wise. I still have my struggles. However, with some planning and a few handy tips, you can enjoy gym-quality workouts for free — often without leaving the comfort of your living room! (See also: 10 Exercises to Do at Work)

Just about everyone is interested in ways to save money — some of us more than others. For many, pinching pennies is the only way to get through the month and cover the essentials, such as electricity and food. (See also: 101 Ways to Save Around the House)

Although most people are familiar with obvious money saving techniques, such as cooking their own food and shopping less, these aren't the only ways to be frugal.

Think outside the box, and you'll discover a variety of clever, and sometimes extreme, ways to hold onto your cash.