CDs And CD Laddering: A Primer

I have already discussed the importance of having an emergency fund.  These funds serve as a great source of comfort for when (not if) life throws you curveballs that happen to cost more money than you can typically handle on a month to month basis. What if you’re ready to pad your savings, apart from…

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What Is Your (Net) Worth?

(Updated 2022) Part of the fun of personal finance (yes, it can be fun!) for me is to see progress.  Progress in the right direction, that is.  If you have a financial goal in mind, it is incredibly empowering to track your numbers and watch as you get closer and closer to your goal. I…

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A Trip To Costco And Spending Choices

I am a big fan of Costco. In case you don’t know about Costco, let me give you a quick overview.  It is an international warehouse chain that requires an annual paid membership ($60 for a basic membership) in order to shop at their stores.  It is now considered the world’s second largest retailer, the…

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Student Loan Repayment Overview

I am honestly shocked and dismayed at how complicated it has become to pay back student loans.  Back when I was in school, there were fewer options, which actually made the process easier because you didn’t have to research so many choices.  Now, due to the ballooning costs of postsecondary education throughout the country, there…

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Getting Out Of Debt Without A Budget

Updated September 2021 Back when I got married, we were living a carefree DINK (dual income, no kids) life.  We had moved to the west coast and were renting a 1 bedroom apartment.  We had one car between the two of us since we were both walking distance to our jobs, and the car was…

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Saving For College 101

Updated May 2021 Being in a profession that is no stranger to student debt, college savings became a priority when we were expecting our first child, as I think it should for many of those that expect their children to attend college.   First, let me hit you with some scary statistics.  Not for shock…

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Don’t Call It A Budget: Part 2

How did Part 1 go? If you haven’t had a chance to read it, go ahead and take a look before moving on. Hopefully you understand why you need a spending plan and had an opportunity to get some numbers together. Here’s what you do when you’re ready to move on to the next step.…

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