When my husband and I were first looking for a venue for our wedding, his family was very persistent that we marry in the local country club where his brother and sister were married to their spouses. When I sat down with the wedding coordinator, my husband, and our families, the number came out to … Read more

Budgeting is often painted as something you do once you “have enough money.” But the truth is, learning how to budget with no money is one of the most powerful skills you can build. I’ve been there, looking at a nearly empty bank account, wondering how to stretch the next dollar. But it was in … Read more

When my in-laws moved to a different state, the real challenge came when we cleaned out their garage and started minimizing stuff for the move. “Where do you want me to start,” I asked my mother-in-law while looking at her very packed garage. She thought for a while and spent a good ten minutes telling … Read more

Have you ever made a purchase you weren’t intending to make? Maybe you saw a beautiful handbag and thought to yourself , “I need that!”. Well, you aren’t alone. This type of purchase is called an impulse purchase. There was a time I walked into a department store to buy a new fragrance I had … Read more

I have no plans of allowing my son to have a cell phone until he’s old enough to drive. I just don’t. Part of my aversion toward children, tweens and young teens carrying cell phones stems from my years of teaching and the fact that I would really like to avoid adding another distraction to … Read more

If the idea of investing makes your eyes glaze over because all you can think about is confusing charts, risky stock tips, and market crashes, you’re not alone. The stock market can feel intimidating, especially when you’re new to managing your money. But here’s the truth: it’s not the only way to grow your wealth. … Read more

Have you ever had one of those years where the math just didn’t math? The income didn’t stretch far enough, the bills piled up, and unexpected expenses hit you out of nowhere? I’ve been there too. And if you’ve found yourself trying to recover from a rough financial season, I want you to know this: … Read more

Many of us could use the advice of a financial advisor when it comes to areas like investing, consolidating debt, and planning for retirement. Some of us need more than financial knowledge or advice that only addresses the number side of the equation though. We also need help addressing our emotional relationship with money. This … Read more

Have you ever wondered why so few of us succeed? We always hear about those people that came up with a simple idea and made millions but most of us react with “Oh well, all the simple ideas are gone by now.” What’s ironic is that usually every few months, we hear about another idea … Read more

My entire family got involved when I first considered buying a house, since I have the luck of being related to real estate agents, investors, and other experts that are more than happy to give advice about buying a property — even before I ask. The first thing they asked me was exactly how long … Read more