If you’re like most people, there’s a good chance you’ll use the start of the new year as an opportunity to turn over a new leaf with respect to some important aspect of your life. Along with losing weight or getting back into shape, many people have the goals of spending less and saving more. But like those other New Year’s resolutions, building up your savings is sometimes easier said than done. Simply wanting to save more is a start, but you’ll need more than good intentions in order to reach your goals. Here is some advice and ideas...

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If you’re like most people, there’s a good chance you’ll use the start of the new year as an opportunity to turn over a new leaf with respect to some important aspect of your life. Along with losing weight or getting back into shape, many people have the goals of spending less and saving more. But like those other New Year’s resolutions, building up your savings is sometimes easier said than done. Simply wanting to save more is a start, but you’ll need more than good intentions in order to reach your goals. Here is some advice and ideas...

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The concept of inflation is pretty simple. It is defined as a general rise in prices in an economy over a given amount of time. There is some debate about the causes of inflation, but its effects on consumers are clear. It reduces the value of currency, which means that the same amount of money buys us a lower amount of goods and services than it did before. The rate of inflation varies from year to year. Monetary authorities strive to keep inflation low and steady, but sometimes it rises due to circumstances beyond their control. Fortunately, rising inflation...

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Marriage is more than just an affirmation of two people’s love for one another. It’s a joining of two lives. Once you become husband and wife, you become one household with one set of finances. While you might keep separate bank accounts, any money that one spouse makes or any debt that one spouse incurs now belongs to both of you. That’s why it’s so important that newlyweds do some serious financial planning. Ideally, it should start before you tie the knot. At the very least, it needs to get underway as soon as the honeymoon is over. Here is...

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In today’s very low interest rate environment no one should be satisfied with receiving .25% (or less) on their savings. For emergency funds and other forms of savings a CD Ladder may be the best way to both get a higher interest rate, as well as maintain the flexibility to use this money if needed. CD Laddering simply means buying a number of CDs with different maturity dates. By purchasing shorter and longer term CDs, you spread out the interest rate risk. You don’t earn as much as you would by locking in for the long-term, but you are able...

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