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What a bump in interest rates could mean for your personal finances
Here we are again, fretting about a possible increase in interest rates by the Federal Reserve and what a bump would mean for our personal finances.When it comes to your money, you have to prepare for...
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What to do if you are affected by the OPM data breach
Following massive hacks at the Office of Personnel Management, some people are meeting an offer of assistance from the government with skepticism.In one hack discovered by OPM in April, personal...
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Guidelines for kids who move back home to gain their financial footing
It is well documented that the American middle class is shrinking.The Pew Research Center said recently that after four decades as the nation’s economic majority, “the American middle class is now...
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10 things Yoda would say if he were your financial adviser
I sometimes call my husband Yoda because he’s so wise and calm, like the Jedi master.When I’m in a panic about some financial issue, he warns against being fearful, echoing this popular Yoda quote,...
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A guide to your best financial you: Have a plan, then do all you can
To inspire you to kick off a new financial you for 2016, I want to share two exchanges I had recently during my weekly online discussion. First, there was a testimony: “In 2009, knowing we were...
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Some grist for those financial New Year’s resolutions
Any driver will tell you that the rearview mirror is vital. Looking back can help you avoid problems as you move forward. I believe the same is true for personal finance. So here’s a look back at some...
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Jedi master: ‘You must unlearn what you have learned’ for financial success
As you begin to plan for 2016, leave in the past some financial advice you may have learned.I wrote a column recently using Yoda from the Star Wars franchise as inspiration. In “The Empire Strikes...
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Time to reboot your financial life? Try this 21-day fast.
A reader recently asked me about a financial reboot.“What steps should I consider in hitting the reset button for 2016?” the person said, adding, “I have current credit card debt (have stopped using...
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To move forward financially, first face your past
At the beginning of the year, we often talk about the new things we want to see happen in our lives.When it comes to your finances, you might promise to save more or spend less. You may now have a plan...
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Consistency is the key to unlocking life-changing financial habits
For years, there has been a steady drumbeat of surveys that tell us we aren’t saving enough.Bankrate.com’s latest look at how people handle their money found that 63 percent of Americans don’t have...
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Is a debt collector on your case? Don’t be bullied.
Four more down, so many more to go.The Federal Trade Commission recently smacked down four debt-collection outfits and their affiliates that the agency said engaged in abusive practices. This latest...
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Your financial motivation might just be waiting on the radio
This is my year of change. I’m calling it “Sweet ’16.”I’m working on getting rid of some extra pounds, and also the financial worries I carry. For both challenges, I decided my inspiration to stay the...
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Unsure what money to save and what to invest? Here’s the answer.
Often when people ask me a personal finance question, they feel embarrassed.They start with, “I know this is a stupid question but . . . ”I’d be lying if I said I’m not alarmed when people ask about...
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Panicking about the market now? Focus on padding your rainy-day fund.
I looked.It wasn’t pretty.My 401(k) is down — way down. But how could I not look at my retirement portfolio with the constant reminders about Wall Street’s woes?China’s stock market is also tanking....
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How to tease the most out of this tax season
Unless you’re getting a refund, you might not enjoy tax season.But there is something for everyone to look forward to. Tax time forces you to gather major documents that make up your financial life....
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Victims of tax-return fraud could be looking over their shoulders for years
You probably missed these observances last week, but don’t miss the message.The National Cyber Security Alliance designated Jan. 28 as Data Privacy Day in an effort to make people more aware of the...
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Do your homework to find an honest tax preparer
Hire an honest tax preparer.I know. This sounds like obvious advice, but there are a lot of schemers out there looking to help you boost your tax refund in ways that could cause you serious financial —...
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Pastor spreads the word — about getting out of the grip of debt
DeForest Soaries is a man on a mission.The senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset, N.J., is passionately concerned about something that entangles a large part of the...
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Be attuned to seniors who carry a burden of debt
We like to daydream that our senior years will be not just a retirement from long work hours, awful commutes and bosses who get on our nerves but a respite with fewer financial worries.Increasingly,...
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Our Valentine to you: Singletary vs. Brooks, in the love and money debate.
Leading up to Valentine’s Day, there are a lot of studies released about how couples handle their money.A recent CreditCards.com survey uncovered a lot of cheating: Many people confessed that they are...
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