I spoke with individuals on a daily basis for a number of years who were terrified about starting to save for retirement. It usually went back to a number of similar reasons, but what they all had in common was simply not knowing where to start. The thing is, saving for retirement, or investing in general, doesn’t have to be that difficult, but it’s the lack of knowledge that holds many back.
[Read more…] about 4 Simple Steps To Help You Get Started Saving For RetirementHow to Pay for the Things You Want While Paying Off Debt
When you’re in the middle of paying off debt, especially consumer debt, it’s easy to feel like you shouldn’t buy anything you want. I mean, after all, isn’t that generally part of the reason you got in debt in the first place? With that in mind, I was shocked when the debt counselor I worked with years ago said I had freedom to buy the things I wanted…I just had to be disciplined about it. The problem can be how to do it though and how to do it wisely.
[Read more…] about How to Pay for the Things You Want While Paying Off Debt3 Simple Ways to Save For Retirement on a Budget
A few months ago I talked about what to do if you felt that you could not afford to save for retirement and it spurred some good discussion for many that are facing that challenge. Another factor that many face in regards to saving for retirement is finding simple ways to do it and this is especially the case as you first start. With that in mind, I thought it would be beneficial to discuss some actionable ways to start investing for retirement if you’re on a budget.
[Read more…] about 3 Simple Ways to Save For Retirement on a Budget3 Simple Tax Tips for Self-Employed People
I used to enjoy doing our taxes. I know, I’m a dork, but I genuinely liked sitting down at the end of the year to see how everything shook out for the previous 12 months. We didn’t have anything too extravagant going on so it was fairly straightforward.
That all changed once my wife and I stopped working for our employers and went to work for ourselves. Taxes became even more complex when we saw our business take off. I know there is some debate as to whether or not you should pay someone to do your taxes, but for us, it made sense to go that route. That, however, does not let us off the hook in terms of tax preparation. With that in mind, I thought I’d share some of my tax tips to help out if you’re self-employed.
Can I Really Afford to Save For Retirement?
My wife and I were having a conversation the other day about saving for retirement and what regrets, if any, that I had. I had accumulated a fair share of debt early in life and when I finally decided it was time to repay that debt I ignored saving or investing. Sure, I had a laser like focus on paying down that debt, but did I do myself a disservice by not also saving for retirement at the same time? Believe it or not, a variation of this issue is dealt with by quite a number of individuals in various stages of life.
[Read more…] about Can I Really Afford to Save For Retirement?3 Great Reasons to Use Credit Cards
Mention the term credit card and depending on who you’re around, you could get quite the range of responses. You have one side that’ll be on the extreme of churning credit cards all the time to earn rewards to those on the other side who swear them off with the belief that they’re a blight on society. Certainly, if you’re struggling with credit card debt now, or in the recent past, then credit cards probably are not the best for you, but if used as a balanced approach to managing one’s finances I believe there are a number of benefits to be found in using credit cards. The key is knowing what those benefits are and using them if appropriate.
[Read more…] about 3 Great Reasons to Use Credit Cards