How to Make Inertia Work For You

October 17, 2012

Bedtime in the Ward household can be a trick or a treat, depending on how the kids feel that night.  What always kills me is the look I get when I remind them that they have to brush their teeth before they go to sleep.  Do I really have to explain to them night after night why brushing their teeth is so important? I guess so because I do.  Either it’s because my children suffer from short-term memory loss, or more likely it’s because they suffer from “behavioral inertia.” Continue reading “How to Make Inertia Work For You”

Is Your Budget Penny Wise and Pound Foolish?

October 12, 2012

I talk to a lot of people about their cash flow, budgeting, and debt and when we dive into the details of their monthly cash flow, we tend to look for relatively easy ways to trim spending.  We will look at things like keeping vs. ditching a land line, cutting back on the premium movie channels, and cooking more and going out to eat less.  These are all worthy pursuits and can all lower your monthly cash outflow for years to come.  But I’ll put them in the “micro” budgeting category.  Micro budgeting can save money, for sure.  But is it possible to make an even bigger impact on your budget?  Continue reading “Is Your Budget Penny Wise and Pound Foolish?”

10 Ways to Get Cash in a Crunch

October 11, 2012

We recently received a question about how to get money “within minutes.” While we certainly can’t promise any way of getting a significant amount of cash that quickly (at least legally), there may be times when we need money for an emergency but don’t yet have sufficient savings. Here are some pros and cons of ways to get cash…(Generally, the quicker you can get the money, the more it will cost you.) Continue reading “10 Ways to Get Cash in a Crunch”

6 Ways to Save on Halloween Expenses This Year

October 10, 2012

While it seems the Fourth of July is barely in the rear view mirror, we’re already on the verge of Halloween. This holiday is a particular favorite with kids, so many parents are willing to let cost go out the window when shopping for supplies. But with some common sense and a bit of planning, you can create a memorable All Hallow’s Eve without killing your bank account. Continue reading “6 Ways to Save on Halloween Expenses This Year”

Say “No Thanks” to the Extended Warranty

October 10, 2012

This weekend, Susan and I purchased a bicycle. When we checked out at the register, they asked us if we would like to purchase the two year replacement policy. Now I’m not exactly sure what the two-year replacement policy covers, but the simple fact that it was being offered at the checkout stand at the prompting of a cash register tells me that I probably don’t need to know. Continue reading “Say “No Thanks” to the Extended Warranty”

How NOT To Buy a Mattress (or Anything Else)

October 03, 2012

When was the last time you thought about replacing your mattress?  Last month?  Last year?  Never?  Susan and I have been sleeping on the same mattress since we were married—over 17 years ago—and until recently I had never really given it much thought.  We bought our mattress at a furniture store, and for me, like all furniture, unless it’s ripped, has a spring sticking out, or is genuinely falling apart, it must be fine. Continue reading “How NOT To Buy a Mattress (or Anything Else)”

How Buying a Video Game System Could Save Me Money

September 28, 2012

My kids always laugh at me when talking about video games.  Apparently, I’m the only dad that they know who does not own a video game system.  All of their friends have dads who play video games with their kids and when they are talking about “leveling up” or some new “zone” or “world,” I have absolutely no idea what they mean.  I’m a big fan of doing things with them that don’t involve video game consoles.   In fact, I haven’t played video games since Atari was “the” game system.  But, unbeknownst to my kids, that may be changing in the near future.  Continue reading “How Buying a Video Game System Could Save Me Money”

Not All Sports Are Created Equal

September 26, 2012

From about the time my kids could walk, they have been involved in sports. Sports is a great way to give your kids exercise while teaching them valuable life lessons, but as Susan and I have found out over the years, when it comes to the cost of playing sports, not all sports are created equal. Here is a list of the sports our kids have played, along with the associated costs: Continue reading “Not All Sports Are Created Equal”

Don’t Hate Your Customer Loyalty Program – Tips to Make Them Work For You Without Having to Endure a Million Annoying Emails

September 24, 2012

I am not sure why my friend Diane went off on a rant against loyalty discount programs and I am also not quite sure why she ranted to me.  She knows I am a blogger so I think her comments are fair game to quote, especially since she emailed them to me – like at the police station how they take your fingerprints from the soda can to incriminate you because you drank it in public.  I am using the same logic by publishing her comments. Here is what Diane had to say about customer loyalty programs: Continue reading “Don’t Hate Your Customer Loyalty Program – Tips to Make Them Work For You Without Having to Endure a Million Annoying Emails”

Is There a Siliver Lining To The Real Estate Bubble Bursting?

September 18, 2012

Could there possibly be a silver lining to the continued downturn in real estate values?  Your employees who are underwater on their mortgages may not think so, but you can be their hero by sharing a secret to help them keep more money in their pocket and less money from being sent to the tax collector.  By tipping off your workforce about appealing their housing assessment, you can actually help them shave hundreds of dollars off of their real estate tax. Continue reading “Is There a Siliver Lining To The Real Estate Bubble Bursting?”

How I Saved Money on Some Normally Big Ticket Items

September 14, 2012

I was looking at Facebook a few days ago because I got a notification that my daughter had posted a few hundred pictures and I wanted to see what they were.  She’s a pretty talented photographer already at age 16 and some of her photos make me see something I’ve seen a million times in a completely different light.  As a guy with absolutely ZERO artistic talent, I am amazed by those who do have talent in that area.  It makes me wonder if I’m really her father, because I can’t even draw a recognizable stick figure, but I guess that’s a topic better suited for Jerry Springer than for a financial blog, huh? Continue reading “How I Saved Money on Some Normally Big Ticket Items”

5 Ways to Reduce Food Waste in Your Household

September 12, 2012

If you’re like the average American, nearly $500 of your hard-earned money goes down the drain annually because of wasted food. $500 a year would go a long way toward shoring up your retirement savings or even paying down your credit card debt. Continue reading “5 Ways to Reduce Food Waste in Your Household”

Get Them In Before They Age Them Out

September 12, 2012

Last week we took our daughter, Rachel, to the dentist for her bi-annual cleaning. Originally, she was scheduled to go in last April, but Rachel had a conflict with a soccer game so her mom decided to cancel it. Rachel’s name was added to the cancellation list, and for the last five months, the dentist’s office has been calling whenever there has been a cancellation to try and get her in. Normally, we would try to get Rachel in as soon as possible, but each time they called to schedule the appointment they would give us a time during school hours, and Susan and I saw no reason to remove her from class just to have her teeth cleaned. Continue reading “Get Them In Before They Age Them Out”

What Are The Worst Ways To Redeem Your Credit Card Rewards?

September 05, 2012

There’s certainly no shortage of websites that gloat about credit card rewards (admittedly, mine is one of them) so it’s safe to assume that you’ve already heard plenty about the advantages of cash back, airline miles, and the like. But what about the disadvantages? Even the best reward programs have hidden pitfalls. Depending on how you redeem them, you may be taken for a ride. Here are the worst choices you can make. Continue reading “What Are The Worst Ways To Redeem Your Credit Card Rewards?”

Why I Avoid Car Dealerships

September 05, 2012

Every once in a while, Susan and I will receive something in the mail telling us that there has been an automotive recall and that we need to take our vehicle to the nearest dealership so that they can correct a problem. We received just such a notice recently telling us of a defect in the airbag system that was causing some airbags to deploy when they were otherwise not supposed to. Naturally, this caused great concern, so we immediately called the local car dealership to schedule a time to drop off our vehicle in order to have the problem corrected. Continue reading “Why I Avoid Car Dealerships”

Why My Employer Should Pay For My iPad

August 29, 2012

Yes, it’s true. I’ve finally come over to the dark side and purchased an iPad. One of the reasons it has taken me so long is because of how expensive they are.  That said, I think I have discovered a way to justify the expense. One of the biggest hang ups I have about blogging is the amount of time I spend writing them. I’m a little slow at typing, so it usually takes me several hours a week to push one out, but with the help of my new iPad, I’ve figured out a way to do the same amount of work in about half the time. Here’s how it works. Continue reading “Why My Employer Should Pay For My iPad”

Back to School Money Lessons: Making The Most of a Bad Economy

August 27, 2012

My friends are all posting their back-to-school photos of their kids and grandkids – they are so cute with their new clothes and backpacks! I miss the days of dropping my own kids off on those first days of the school year…well, except the first few years. I didn’t let them see a little tear in my eye as they walked into their classrooms looking so grown up.  Continue reading “Back to School Money Lessons: Making The Most of a Bad Economy”

When It Comes To Your Money, Be Assertive.

August 22, 2012

I was proud of my wife the other day for the way she handled an issue that arose with the children’s school bus.  You see, our high schooler, Rachel, and our middle schooler, David, ride the bus to school together.  They have to walk several blocks down the street to get to their stop. Granted, it’s not the two mile walk I had to make when I was their age, but my wife took issue with them walking so far when there is a stop right on our corner for the elementary school children, who are picked up earlier in the morning.  Rachel and David walk right past it on the way to their stop. There are four other middle school children who ride with them and do the same thing.  There used to be children who lived further down the street and got the bus at the corner further down the road, but those children have grown up and moved away so it is just the six kids from our street who are picked up there now. Well, after watching this for a week and a half and griping about how ridiculous it was for them to walk so far, Susan decided to call the school and ask if they could get the stop changed to our corner. Continue reading “When It Comes To Your Money, Be Assertive.”

What To Know If You’re Considering Bankruptcy

August 16, 2012

In his blog post last week, Michael Smith wrote about a woman who was able to overcome tens of thousands of dollars in medical debt by giving up a variety of comforts, working a second job, and even having her friends host a local fund raiser on her behalf. When Michael last spoke to her, she was only 3 months away from paying off all the debt. This is a truly inspiring story about what can be achieved through sheer willpower and determination. Continue reading “What To Know If You’re Considering Bankruptcy”