Everyone looks back on mistakes they’ve made in their life and say they would do things differently if given a second chance. This is definitely true of money. Here are a few common mistakes people make with their money and how to avoid them. [More]

Charitable organizations are created to encourage people to give, and to pool those donations so that they can have a greater impact collectively than they’d be able to accomplish on their own. Many charities are nationally known organizations, while others serve smaller local needs. If there’s a cause you believe in, or an area in which you’d like to make a difference, there’s probably a charity that’s perfect for you. [More]

Experts suggest between 29 – 33% of your income should go toward your mortgage/rent. A more conservative approach is 25%. [More]

If you’re like many people, there’s a closet or shelf in your home with stacks of shoeboxes full of cancelled checks, receipts, and other crumpled pieces of paper. [More]

If you have had the experience of watching your young children spend money the minute it hits their hand, you may be worried about their spending/saving habits when they are adults. Here are a few pointers to begin to teach them about being financially responsible. [More]

I’m sure you have noticed the effect of the recession on your lifestyle. Maybe you don’t eat out as much, have curtailed vacations, and are trying to stash as much money as possible in your savings account – “just in case.” I want to share a little of my research with you to help you feel a little better about the economy. [More]

If you followed the planning ideas for the first six months, you are on the path to good financial planning habits. If you haven’t quite completed the all the planning tasks, don't worry, you still have ample time remaining to get on track for the rest of 2009. For July through September, here are a few ideas to consider each month as part of your month by month financial planning process. [More]

Buying a car shouldn’t be an impulse decision, so don’t start the process by driving to the dealership. You will leave with a car you really shouldn’t have bought, at perhaps not the best price and likely a payment a little more than you can really afford. Your first step in the process should start with an assessment of what you really want to buy and how much you can afford. If you don’t you might end up with buyer’s remorse. Try following these simple tips when you are ready to by your next car and you will likely have a much longer feeling of happiness about your car purchase. [More]

The second quarter is already 1/3 of the way gone and I didn’t get the 2nd quarter planning guide tips posted. So you may have to double in May but here are a few ideas for the 2nd quarter on your quest to have monthly financial planning goals or objectives. [More]