This guest post was written by Jason, the proprietor of Live Real, Now, a blog focused on spending–and saving–in the real world. It was written for a blog swap run by the personal finance blog network to answer the question “What is your biggest financial pet peeve?“ I have a lot of friends and family in different financial stages in their lives. Some are deeper in debt than I am, others are just starting to dig their... Read more
I started listening to Dave Ramsey in college and really found his show to be both encouraging and entertaining (in a good way mostly). His principles can help people struggling with debt and I encourage anyone to read the book Total Money Makeover. Like other financial writers, there are some things Dave says that I don’t agree with completely. One of those issues in particular is his perception of potential returns in the stock market. Here are a few good... Read more
Did you ever read this poem by Shel Silverstein when you were a kid? Just something fun for this Wednesday. Smart My dad gave me one dollar bill ‘Cause I’m his smartest son, And I swapped it for two shiny quarters ‘Cause two is more than one! And then I took the quarters And traded them to Lou For three dimes — I guess he don’t know That three is more than two! Just then, along came old... Read more
Imagine that you have $14,000 in credit card debt. Pretty hefty amount right? I mean, you consistently spend more than you make every month, and this figure just keeps getting bigger and bigger every year. As you think of ways to cut your spending, you say to yourself, I think it would be fun to go to the movies tonight. It’s just $19 and in the big scheme of things, $19 won’t make a dent in my $14,000 credit card... Read more
This weekend we checked out a few places to rent since we’ll be moving this summer for my wife to attend med school. We’ll be mobile for the next few years, so buying a house just wasn’t the right move for us. After sifting through a lot of the rentals available, I realized that it helps to have a few things sorted out before looking at places or committing to a lease. Here’s what I noted and hopefully it helps... Read more
Today’s featured blogger is Crystal at Budgeting in the Fun Stuff. (She’s actually featuring Faith and Finance on her site today, so jump over there when you’re done here! Thanks Crystal!!) I’ve been following Crystal’s writing for the last six months and have really enjoyed how she makes personal finance issues so…well… personal. That’s the best part of Budgeting in the Fun Stuff – she brings everything into perspective with specific examples of what she does in her own... Read more
Here are a few articles that really stuck out this week. If you’re looking for a good read today, or something interesting for the weekend, click through to these articles. 5 Common Tax Mistakes You Shouldn’t Be Making – My Journey To Millions Eviction Process for Tenants – Money Crashers Spend Responsibly: How To Use A Credit Card Wisely – Perkstreet Financial How To Find Unclaimed Money – Bible Money Matters Getting Financially Involved In Your Church – One Money Design... Read more
Did you know that the average tax return for Americans was about $3,000 last year? You might already have a plan for your refund (if you’re getting anything back at all), but if you haven’t decided what to do just yet, consider a few of these options. 1. Pad Your Emergency Fund A few thousand dollars can really bolster your emergency savings and provide peace of mind for those unexpected bills. Don’t let your money earn pennies in interest; find... Read more
Put simply, rent control is a price ceiling that restricts landlords from charging above a certain rate for a housing unit. Started in the World War II era, this program to provide affordable housing to lower income people has resulted in an economic nightmare. It’s a case in point example of how good intentions don’t always equal good policies with respect to economics. How Rent Control Affects Supply If you were a landlord and couldn’t charge more than $350 for... Read more
Congress made some very important tax changes that may affect your 2010 taxes filed this year. Here’s a brief summary of the major changes and things to consider when filing your taxes this year. Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010 Extensions Through 2010 Extension of lower income tax rates for all tax payers through 2012 (originally intended to expire at the end of 2010). Lower capital gains and dividends rates (0% and 15%) Earned income... Read more
Faith and Finance
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