Each year, hundreds of thousands of older Americans are victims of abuse, particularly financial abuse. As a financial advisor, it’s part of my job to be on the lookout for the warning signs of such exploitation. But over time what…
Whether you’re buying an essential such as a new fridge or something as frivolous as a sassy pair of marabou mules, there’s never a reason to pay full retail. Here’s how to shop strategically. 1. Buy Off-Season Clothing. Unless you’re suddenly…
Who: Andy Hill How much: $48,032 in one year Financial goals and family goals go hand-in-hand in the Hill household. When newlyweds Andy and Nicole Hill envisioned their future, they saw debt as a roadblock to achieving goals for themselves and the…
Is grad school really worth the money you pay for it? Are people really getting jobs with their grad degrees after school? I’m a 32-year-old single mom who graduated with a bachelor’s in/near the recession and have a job that…
Question: How much do you make? Young workers are much more likely to share their paycheck information than older generations. Salary talk has long been considered taboo, but Millennial workers aren’t being shy when it comes to divulging their earnings,…
For some, it was Beanie Babies. For others, it was Precious Moments figurines. In my experience, those are pretty much the only two camps you could fall into as far as collectors’ items were concerned back in the 1990s. If…
Paying no interest on a new car loan may sound almost impossible. But it is possible for people with very strong credit. And it’s something you should definitely consider, because over the life of the loan it can save you hundreds of dollars. Rates…
You are likely well aware of Amazon’s purchase of Whole Foods. You may have also heard rumors that this merger means lower prices at the natural and organic grocery store chain. However, if you are trying to stretch your grocery…
I recently got a hefty HOA assessment. My initial thought: “Ugh, this is just like drawing a bad ‘Chance’ card in Monopoly.” Except rather than handing over pastel paper play money to the bank, I had to, you know, pay…
If you happen to be the owner of a large collection of vintage magazines—whether through inheritance or intention—don’t rush to the recycling center. It turns out that the ads inside these magazines can be worth quite a bit of money…
When you’re an uber-rich celebrity, it’s only natural that you’d become out of touch with everyday tasks like going grocery shopping, cleaning or going to the bank, for example. After all, many of the world’s wealthiest people have assistants to…
After a few months with your drone, you probably know the ropes. You’ve practiced how to fly smoothly and safely, and you’ve taken a few cool pictures. Maybe you’re getting so good at this that your cousin wants to pay…
If saving money overwhelms you, maybe it’s time to try a new approach. “Trick yourself to be lazy when it comes to savings,” says Dan Andrews, a certified financial planner at Well-Rounded Success in the Denver area. In other words,…
After the data breach at Equifax last month in which 145 million people’s Social Security numbers and other personal details were accessed, millions of adults have taken steps to protect their credit information. Perhaps you locked your credit down through…
If you struggle with your spending habits and/or credit card debt, you’re certainly not alone. Whether it’s that daily latte habit, that exotic vacation we can’t quite afford or online shopping, our credit cards bear the brunt of our less-than-perfect…
Target runs are great—but they can wind up being pretty pricey. Just think about all of the times you’ve gone in for detergent and come out with new candles, coffee mugs and a fall-themed welcome mat. Those purchases are fun,…
If the price tag on the tattered zombie costume at the Halloween store gives you a fright, it’s time to look for ways to shed some of the cost. Here’s how much shoppers are expected to spend on the Oct.…
You’ve carefully saved some of your income for an emergency. Fantastic. You’re maxing out your employer’s match to your 401(k). Be proud. Your friends no longer invite you out to dinner because you always insist on splitting an entrée. Uh,…
Have you ever thought about the cost of being a parent? No, not the cost to your dignity or to your body. I mean the actual monetary cost. Gasp! Kate, how could you think like that? I know, I know,…
Stockpiling savings for stormy days—literal or figurative—can help you cover financial mishaps. When Hurricane Irma hit the South Carolina shores in mid-September, financial planner Laura Scharr-Bykowsky, who lives inland in Columbia, lost three cypress trees in her yard. While she…
Debt consolidation is a personal finance strategy that rolls high-interest debts into a single, lower-interest payment. It can reduce your total debt and reorganize it so you pay it off faster. Consolidation isn’t a silver bullet for debt problems. It…
What's a teenage boy to do who is bored and wants his own space? For Luke Thill, it was raising $1500 and building his own tiny house.
You have chips and plenty of cold beer. You’re sporting your favorite NFL team’s jersey and a giant foam “No. 1” finger. The one thing you don’t have? The game playing on your TV. That’s because you cut ties with your…
Sometimes the dark side is too strong to resist, urging you to splurge on that second, even more perfect pair of brown boots or upgrade to a more stylish pair of wireless headphones. But the fleeting satisfaction you get from…
I’m just starting out in my career and have managed to save up $1,500 dollars so far. I want to start saving more and invest it in a way that can best put the benefits of compounding investing to work…
Everyone knows that using a credit card to make a major purchase that you can’t really afford is not a smart financial move. But what about strategically paying for big-ticket items with plastic in order to cash in on the…
Looking to make a little extra money this holiday season. Kohl's wants to hire sales, distribution and freight associates to help during its busiest time.
If a bank account is a house for your money, then mobile alerts are your alarm system. These email or text alerts can help you keep track of when your money enters and exits your accounts—and make sure there’s no…
A new report found engineering and business were the two most popular college majors for the world's richest 100 people.
Q: How should someone prepare, financially, for a career change in their late 20s, 30s? —Jason Mathews The first step in preparing for a career change: thinking about time. Ask yourself: “How much time do I need to make it…
Too much clutter filling up your home? Before you toss it out, take a look around! You may have something valuable. Here's how to turn your trash into cash!
If it feels like 2017 is a banner year for cyberattacks, that’s because it is. And the hits will keep coming. “We’re living in the beginning of an era of mass targeted attacks,” said Nate Fick, CEO of security firm…
More and more parents are teaching their children personal finance skills at an early age. Apparently, this also extends to credit cards, as more and more parents are giving their young children real-life credit cards. Nearly one in five parents—18…
I was working as a newspaper reporter, earning $38,000 a year when I became dead set on purchasing my very first home. At the time, rent in my bachelorette pad had been going up every year, to the tune of…
If you don’t have a 401(k), you might feel alienated by a lot of the retirement savings advice out there: The first recommendation is often to save in that account. Over a third of private sector workers don’t have access…
More than 40 percent of U.S. adults struggle to make ends meet, according to a new report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. It found that the financial well-being of U.S. adults varies widely, with savings being the best indicator…
Eating cheap doesn’t have to mean eating unhealthy. In fact, spending more for many foods often results in higher calorie counts and more unhealthy ingredients. Women’s Health magazine has a list of grocery items you can swap to lose weight…
In anticipation of a romantic evening earlier this year, British DJ Tim Westwood Snapchatted an image of his credit card with a message encouraging his date to spend money on “nails, hair and a wax,” and possibly even new shoes…
Cassie Sousa, 28, a teacher in San Antonio, has been dreaming for months about updating her kitchen, especially the wood countertops. “My house is from the 1980s, so there’s a lot of wood,” she says. She plans to replace the…
When it comes to getting sound advice, sometimes it’s best to take it straight from the horse’s mouth. And who isn’t looking for tips when it comes to better protecting yourself against scammers and thieves? The “horse,” in this case,…
For those of you who are still not over the fact that summer is gone for good, we’re right there with you. You can barely wrap your head around drinking a pumpkin spice latte—much less booking a Thanksgiving flight, right?…
Bedbugs. Weird smells. The possibility of imminent breakdowns. People have all sorts of excuses for not buying used stuff. Those who deliberately buy used items, though, say such fears are not just overblown—they’re also expensive. Katy Wolk-Stanley, a Portland, Oregon,…
Unless you’re an expert in spin cycles, buying an appliance could leave you dizzy. To make the process easier, here are answers to the appliance-buying questions you’ll probably ponder, from “When should I buy?” to “Do I really need a…
“What’s the difference between ‘paying yourself first’ and saving money?” —Ayesha Paying yourself first is a way to save money. In fact, it’s the best way to save money. The trick is that rather than setting extra money aside, you’re…
The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. However, Don't Waste Your Money may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website.It’s hard…
You want to save money, but not spend a fortune for professional finance planning. Here are 7 free ways to boost your financial wisdom.
The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. However, Don't Waste Your Money may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website.When it…
When you hear wedding bells, you often see dollar signs. But there are additional costs to consider besides basic ones like the venue, dress, photographer and cake. Here are some often overlooked wedding expenses and how to budget for them. Before The…
I’m 65 and my financial adviser is recommending I put some of my retirement savings into an immediate annuity. But the payment he quoted me seems low. How do I know if this is a good deal and how do…
Being a kid during the 1990s was pretty darn fun, whether you were trying to keep your Tamagotchi alive or trading Beanie Babies with your friends. It was a carefree time, so it’s no surprise that there’s so much ’90s…