July 30, 2009
In 1760, John Wesley gave one of his most famous and timeless sermons entitled “The Use of Money”. 250 years later, Christians and non-Christians alike are still struggling with the proper use of money. Our world is filled with individuals that consistently spend more than they earn, who give no thought to savings, and have nothing to give God – all because of their improper use of money. While the love of money has been the destruction of many, the fault doesn’t lie in money itself, but in those that use it. Learning to prudently use money is one of the marks of a good steward.
July 29, 2009
So how can you navigate the current market volatility without losing both your money and your mind? Well, maybe the most important advice is to take a step back and remember that it’s just money. Money should serve you, rather than you serving money. That being said, there are some specific investment strategies you can take to benefit from the current market conditions.
July 28, 2009
There was a time long ago, when buying an airline ticket was a simple process. The price of the ticket was the price you paid. Nowadays it seems as though the priceof the actual airplane ticket is only the beginning. Airlines began implementing additional fees a few years ago and now it seems they can’t stop. The Pandora box of extra fees has been opened and now it’s impossible to stop the tide of new fees.
July 27, 2009
For better or for worse, 21st century consumers have become heavily dependent upon credit as their preferred means of making purchases. On the other side of the coin, your credit is also how you are evaluated in our credit culture. Most people recognize that their credit history is checked when they apply for a loan or a credit card, but may not realize that their credit may also be checked for such things as obtaining insurance or when they apply for a job. In this credit-driven society, it is very important that you build and maintain a good credit history. One very nice benefit for everyone living in the United States is that they are eligible to obtain a copy of their credit report for free. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) signed back in 2003 requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months.
July 26, 2009
If you listen to the TV and radio advertisements you would think you can and should borrow money for just about anything. Credit card companies and banks encourage this by constantly sending you credit card offers and increasing the limits on your existing credit cards. They use compelling arguments to try to convince you that you owe it to yourself to borrow money. You deserve to live a better, more fulfilling lifestyle. It’s the American way! As a result, many people are sucked deep into debt by borrowing money for things they should have never gone in debt for in the first place. So when is it a good idea to borrow money?
July 25, 2009
Grocery shopping seems simple enough, so why are Americans wasting more money, food, and time than ever before. The government says that the average family spends approximately 10% of their income on groceries and this is one area of most people’s budgets that isn’t a fixed cost.
July 24, 2009
It seems as though the ultra-rich have not lost their appetite for buying expensive cars. Ferrari was the only manufacturer to post sales growth in November with 137 new Ferrari’s sold compared to the 133 last year.
Here are some typical questions that hiring managers often use during interviews. Before going to an interview, you should review this list carefully and have answers prepared ahead of time in case any of these questions are asked in your interview.
So what is a 201k? No, it’s not some new investment account. It’s just how many individual investors feel after watching their 401k balances drop by 30, 40 and even 50% in the last few weeks.
Your credit score is basically a snapshot of your credit use over the last seven years of your borrowing history. This number (called your FICO score) is based on a complex mathematical model that evaluates many types of information in your credit file. Most people probably have no idea what their credit score is, but it can have a significant impact on your life.
