When it comes to women and finance, sometimes there’s a disconnect between what women know and how they act, their ability as achiever and their financial underachieving, and between the power they have within reach and the powerlessness that rules their actions. Financial expert Suze Orman gives...
5 secrets of a $75k salaryDoes the possibility of earning $75,000 feel completely out of your grasp? You’re not alone–the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports median earnings of less than $40,000 in this country. But if you’re reaching for more, don’t give up now. With hard work, a commitment...
5 common car insurance mistakes to avoidRecently Five for the Money took a look at some of the biggest mistakes consumers make when buying life insurance. This week we’ll tackle car insurance. Auto insurance isn’t as fraught a subject as life insurance; buying a sensible policy doesn’t need to be a reminder of inevitable...
How to know If you’re on track for a nice retirementMore companies are rolling out detailed and affordable services to help get your finances in shape. We tell you what’s good about them — and what’s not so good. Can I afford to retire? In the wake of the financial crisis, this question and its obvious follow-up — How can I better...
Long car loans boost interest paymentsHow long is too long when it comes to financing a new vehicle? Apparently for many buyers there is no such thing as too long, provided the monthly payments are kept low. The average length of a car loan today is an astounding 70 months, up from about 62 months a year ago. On some higher-priced vehicles,...
10 auto loan mistakesAuto financing can come from one of several sources, including banks, credit unions, and auto dealerships. If you’re serious about buying a car, you need to investigate the various possibilities. Here are the top mistakes some people make when seeking and securing an automobile loan. 1. Not investigating...
10 common tax-filing mistakes to avoidCompleting your tax return is like walking through a financial minefield. A miscalculated amount here, a wrong tax ID number there, and boom! Suddenly, instead of getting a check back from Uncle Sam, you have to write one to the U.S. Treasury. Even if the error doesn’t end up costing you any real...
Find $1,000 by the holidaysReady or not, the holidays are coming. With American pocketbooks and investment accounts under pressure, the approaching holidays — particularly how to pay for them — are quickly becoming yet another thing to worry about. Don’t push this looming dilemma to the back of your minds. You...
The five rules of money for childrenTeaching young people these essential concepts now can help them make smarter financial choices as they grow up. It’s never too early to start teaching your kids about money. Toddlers can be introduced to the value of money using toy piggy banks and cash registers, while older kids can learn to...
Tips for successful salary negotiationsDuring my first job interview, my mom drove me to Baskin-Robbins while we practiced interview questions. One question we did not practice was “How much money are you expecting?” When the ice cream store owner asked, I said, “Well, my parents are cutting off my allowance for the summer...