Most of the time, when we’re considering spending a fair chunk of money on an item or an experience, we look to our bank account or an expert for the answer to the question, “Can we afford it?” Can we afford a newer, bigger home? We reach out to a mortgage broker or banker to […]
How much is financial neglect costing you?
Anna* was surprised by what she found when she started digging into the less obvious details of her finances. Anna is a professional who works with financial information all day long. Both she and her spouse have great salaries, they don’t have any debt beyond their mortgage, and they have a sizable chunk of change […]
Investing: On Ownership, Volatility, and Teenagers
Welcome to Part Two of Investing’s Two Basic Options. In my previous blog post, I looked at the first option in investing: lending money. Today, let’s tackle investments in which you become an owner. OWNING When you put your money into a venture as a part-owner, you generally have a far bigger potential upside than you […]
Investing Boils Down to Two Basic Options
When I stepped out of the house at 6 am today, I gasped. It was 13 degrees!! (In American-speak, that’s 55 degrees.) The day before, it was 22 headed to 30 degrees (or 86). Welcome to the dying days of summer. (Insert pained expression.) That’s the bad news. The good news is that it’s time […]
The Impact of (Really) Honest Feedback
The last time you had a really good whine-fest with a close friend, how did they respond? You know what I’m talking about – a good moan about something, or someone in your life. Did your friend empathize with you? Tell you how awful it all is? Nod in sympathy? Not my friend Elizabeth. Less than […]
Forgiving Dumb Financial Choices
If I asked you to make a list of the dumb things you’ve done with money, would it be a two-liner or would you be reaching for a hundred-page booklet? OK, forget the list. Let’s focus on one incident. What is the most embarrassing, daft, what-was-I-thinking, I’m-a-complete-idiot thing you’ve ever done with money? Be brutally […]
Unexpressed rage and a financial conundrum: What Vanessa heard at Starbucks
Every once in a while, I get an email from a reader that makes me choke on my cup of tea. Today’s noteworthy moment came courtesy of Vanessa, an award-winning travel blogger who also happens to be a member of my team. Vanessa overhead something at a coffee shop that she simply couldn’t ignore, especially […]
Rethinking Emergency Funds
Does an Emergency Fund serve you well or give you the illusion of security? It depends. There seems to be a generally-accepted rule that having an emergency fund is wise and that the correct amount to hold is somewhere in the range of three to six months worth of expenses. Some advisors insist that a […]
Allowing Yourself to Learn About Investing
They looked like deer in headlights. After delivering the last of the content for the two-hour Women’s Money Group meet-up on investing basics, I actually said, “You look shell-shocked!” Normally, after the meetings, the room is abuzz with conversations and laughter as the women pack up their things and make their way out. This night […]
Minimizing Exposure and Financial Risk During Separation
Emily* is concerned. She is preparing to leave an abusive marriage and she’s worried that when she leaves, her husband will try to sabotage her financially using their shared credit accounts. They have a joint credit card, which has a balance in the low four-figures, but most pressing is their Home Equity Line of Credit, […]
