For the first time in more than a decade, leases makes up more than 20 percent of all new car purchases, according to the automotive Web site Edmunds.com. Unfortunately, many first-time leasers aren’t thinking through the details.
more about: money
How to Start a Debt Diet
I appeared on Good Morning America today in a segment that featured Leah West, a Massachusetts mom of three that I am coaching. Leah was divorced seven years ago and since that time earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. She also ended up with more than $82,000 in debt, mostly student loans.
Money Rant of the Week: A Large Cup of Coffee
This week’s rant is directed mainly towards myself. Most times that I roll into my favorite coffee place and order a cup, I make a foolish financial decision. (Well, actually two, I guess, since the first one is not making my morning fix at home.) It’s one that only costs me a few nickels with each cup, but as financial experts lecture time and time again, the small things can really add up.
So I’m admitting it here for you all to see: I am a sucker for the size upgrade.
Positioning Yourself for a Raise
I recently covered a new study that found, not surprisingly, that job satisfaction declines when workers find out they are making less than their peers. What was a bit shocking was that finding out they made more than their peers had no effect on workers at all. It got me thinking about how better disclosure on salaries might help people get paid what they’re worth.
Your Final Round of Questions for Farnoosh Torabi
During the month of September (and in this case a little belated into October), our Real Simple Family financial expert, Farnoosh Torabi will be answering a few of your family financial questions. And you can read more of Farnoosh’s advice for Real Simple readers in the article from our 2010 issue of Real Simple Family: What Does It Cost to Raise Your Family?
Here’s the final set of questions for Farnoosh:
How to Make a Gift Card Gift More Personal
In my research for a recent story on the pros and cons of prepaid debit cards, I stumbled across Shelley Hunter, a mom of three who created the website GiftCardGirlfriend.com. I occasionally give gift cards (although I’m not a huge fan). I feel a little funny about the impersonal nature of the whole thing. So I enjoyed Hunter’s site, which is full of ways to make the simple gift of plastic a whole lot more fun.
Ten Worst States to Retire
My husband and I lived in New York City for 15 years before moving to the suburbs when we had kids. We hope to move back when we retire. I’ve been told this is not such a hot idea, given the cost of living and the taxes. So I was happy to see that New York didn’t make the list of worst places to retire, according to a new study from the Web site MoneyRates.com. Which ten states did?
Your Money Questions, Answered
During the month of September, our Real Simple Family financial expert, Farnoosh Torabi will be answering a few of your family financial questions. If you have questions for Farnoosh, share them in the comments of this post: Your Money Problems, Solved with Farnoosh Torabi. And you can read more of Farnoosh’s advice for Real Simple readers in the article from our 2010 issue of Real Simple Family: What Does It Cost to Raise Your Family?
Here’s the second set of questions and Farnoosh’s suggestions:
Hi Farnoosh,
My husband and I have been married for 8 months and we have decided to combine our finances, ie. have one checking account for both of us. Do you have any tips for making the transition smooth?
Overpriced Items We Buy Every Day
I did a segment on the Today Show on Friday looking at six of the most overpriced items we buy frequently. (Check out the clip here.) Below I’ve listed nearly a dozen items that burn a big hole in the average consumer’s pocket. Are any of your pet peeves here?
An Expense You Can’t Skip If You Have Kids
How much would you pay to protect your family from a devastating financial blow? How about less than the cost of a soda from the vending machine at work? And yet according to a new survey featured in The Wall Street Journal, some 35 million households have no life insurance — up from 24 million in 2004, according to research firm Limra. That one in every three households.
