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	<title>Broke-Ass Mommy &#187; Debt</title>
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	<link>http://www.brokeass-mommy.com</link>
	<description>.. the tribulations of being a mother with limited income</description>
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		<title>Debt consolidation loans and a handy dandy calculator.</title>
		<link>http://www.brokeass-mommy.com/debt-consolidation-loans-and-a-handy-dandy-calculator/</link>
		<comments>http://www.brokeass-mommy.com/debt-consolidation-loans-and-a-handy-dandy-calculator/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Mar 2013 23:37:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jennifer Lynn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Debt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial Management]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.brokeass-mommy.com/?p=5905</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[{Quick note from Jennifer: Soon I will be back to regularly scheduled postings.} Use a Debt Consolidation Calculator to Help You Find a Better Loan Debt Consolidation Calculators are excellent tools for comparing and analyzing financial information.  All those people who struggle to understand complex financial data can now turn to these calculators. Debt consolidation [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><em>{Quick note from Jennifer: Soon I will be back to regularly scheduled postings.}</em></p>
<p><b>Use a Debt Consolidation Calculator to Help You Find a Better Loan</b></p>
</div>
<p>Debt Consolidation Calculators are excellent tools for comparing and analyzing financial information.  All those people who struggle to understand complex financial data can now turn to these calculators. Debt consolidation companies are a great way to clear up the lingering financial issues that weigh heavy in so many minds.</p>
<p><b><a href="http://ConsolidatedCredit.org" target="_blank">ConsolidatedCredit.org</a></b> is a website where those who are struggling can find the information they need about debt consolidation companies. A debt consolidation calculator clarifies financial information and gives you the vital information you need to make decisions. It basically analyzes your financial health and helps you manage costs effectively. Let’s look at some of the benefits of using these calculators.</p>
<h3>Prepares You for What’s Ahead</h3>
<p>The debt consolidation calculator helps you prepare ahead for the future. It will tell you the amount of money you can save by amalgamating loans with a personal or home equity cash advance. You can also find out how much you need to pay in order to erase debts and the money you can set aside in return. In today’s modern era it is imperative that you stay one step ahead. This way you will be better prepared and should be able to maintain financial security.</p>
<h3>No Need to Outsource</h3>
<p>In the olden days when we did not have debt consolidation calculators, people used to outsource this type of financial management work. Since only a few people have financial expertise, it is impossible for everyone to understand complex financial data. These financial experts charged money for their services which added to the costs. However, now you can use debt consolidation calculator for free at Consolidated Credit. You save money and time because these calculators can be used at any time for free.</p>
<h3>Easy to Use and very Effective</h3>
<p>A debt consolidation calculator is highly accurate and reliable. It can process financial information within a matter of seconds. All you have to do is enter the basic information and the calculator will do the rest. If you want to find better loans then you will have to enter your current balance, monthly payments, yearly fees, tax rates, etc. The calculator will help determine if a debt consolidation loan is for you. It also gives you an estimate of how much you are going to save and how much you are going to lose. The calculator is a comprehensive solution to all your financial problems.</p>
<h3>Helps You Calculate Savings and Interest Rates</h3>
<p>The calculator helps you get an in-depth look into all the financials. It covers even the minutest of details which would be missed otherwise. These calculators also show how the consolidation of the debt which is at higher rate of interest can be transformed into a loan. They also help you bring down the monthly payments to a bare minimum.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://voices.yahoo.com/debt-consolidation-loan-calculator-path-financial-2958494.html?cat=3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">debt consolidation calculator calculates the interest savings</a> as well. It adds additional payment of principal to the next payment repeated on the listed payment on the given debt. The calculator tells you the total amount to be paid every month so that you can pay off the debt in the stipulated time period.</p>
<h3>Helps You Reach Financial Stability</h3>
<p>By helping you select the best loan. They enable you to settle on a plan that is very beneficial financially.  The debt consolidation calculator also precisely evaluates all the financial options. It gives you a fair picture of the debt status thus leading you to the path of financial stability.</p>
<h3>Researched Benefits</h3>
<p>These debt consolidation calculators are more than just play toys on a website. According to research they deliver real time results and can actually give your finances a huge boost. These calculators help you <a href="http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/174879/debt_consolidation/debt_consolidation_calculator.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cut back on monthly payments by approximately 60%</a>. It is estimated that by using these calculators you can get out of debt in a period of 4-8 years.  Creditors can also no longer harass you since you have all the financial knowledge and will be capable of talking sense rather than buckling under pressure.</p>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>You don’t need more reasons to choose a debt consolidation calculator. Not only is it the best tool to find a better loan, it is a complete financial information hub that simplifies your life.</p>
<h3>Author’s Bio</h3>
<p><i>This article is composed by Elaine McPartland who is associated with &#8220;Consolidated Credit&#8221; as their community writer. She has an expertise in writing articles related to debt consolidation and how to pay off debts easily and smoothly. You can add her at her <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/111633092866137691636?rel=author" target="_blank">google+ profile</a>. </i></p>
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		<slash:comments>7</slash:comments>
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		<title>Bills Make Me Peevish and Need to Go Away.</title>
		<link>http://www.brokeass-mommy.com/bills-make-me-peevish-and-need-to-go-away/</link>
		<comments>http://www.brokeass-mommy.com/bills-make-me-peevish-and-need-to-go-away/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 10 Sep 2012 12:43:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jennifer Lynn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Debt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial Management]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.brokeass-mommy.com/?p=2864</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[God, I hate bills. Every so often I retreat to my work area, clutching tattered scraps of invoices and receipts, and indulge in a heinously liberating tantrum of writhing in a corner and having a moan while banging my head against the hardwood. While chanting: go away, bills, gooo awaaayyyy. (thrashing and banging) Then someone [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>God, I hate bills.</strong></p>
<p>Every so often I retreat to my work area, clutching tattered scraps of invoices and receipts, and indulge in a heinously liberating tantrum of writhing in a corner and having a moan while banging my head against the hardwood.</p>
<p>While chanting: go away, bills, gooo awaaayyyy. (<em>thrashing and banging</em>)</p>
<p>Then someone kindheartedly intervenes at some point during this bizarre ritual to peel me from the floor.</p>
<p>This is one reason I&#8217;m so anal about paying my credit card bills promptly after making a purchase, before the monthly billing cycle closes out. Although I love the rewards incentive for utilizing plastic instead of cash, I hate owing anyone any<em>thing</em>.</p>
<p>M. will quite calmly allow his bills to pile up and fester in some stark corner of the apartment, unopened. &#8220;Oh, this was due two days ago,&#8221; he will nonchalantly say. &#8220;Pass me the corn chips?&#8221;</p>
<p>You do not want to see my spazzed-out reaction to money being pissed away on late fees.</p>
<p>We are works in progress.</p>
<p>Developments afoot&#8212;M. is on a rigorous credit-repair regime and, inevitably, I have taken over all bill-paying duties for our household.</p>
<p><em>Damn it.</em></p>
<p>=^..^=</p>
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		<slash:comments>10</slash:comments>
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		<title>Carnival of Financial Camaraderie &#8211; Labor Day Edition</title>
		<link>http://www.brokeass-mommy.com/carnival-of-financial-camaraderie-labor-day-edition/</link>
		<comments>http://www.brokeass-mommy.com/carnival-of-financial-camaraderie-labor-day-edition/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 03 Sep 2012 17:41:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jennifer Lynn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Debt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial Management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Link Crushin']]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Saving and Investing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.brokeass-mommy.com/?p=2784</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Welcome to the Labor Day Edition of the Carnival of Financial Camaraderie! Enjoy perusing all the great entries this Labor Day and please take a moment to share a salient post or two on your social media platforms and through your blogs. Also remember, this carnival is hosted every second week by My University Money [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Welcome to the Labor Day Edition of the Carnival of Financial Camaraderie!</strong></p>
<p>Enjoy perusing all the great entries this Labor Day and please take a moment to share a salient post or two on your social media platforms and through your blogs. Also remember, this carnival is hosted every second week by <a href="http://www.myuniversitymoney.com/" target="_blank">My University Money</a> and you can submit articles at <a href="http://www.bloggercarnivals.com/" target="_blank">Blog Carnivals</a> or <a href="http://blogcarnivalhq.com/" target="_blank">Blog Carnival HQ</a>.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>BUDGETING</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>Everything Finance</strong> @ <strong>Everything Finance Blog</strong> writes <a href="http://everythingfinanceblog.com/are-you-still-working-without-a-budget.html" target="_blank">Are You Still Working Without a Budget?</a> &#8211; Let’s face it, budgeting is kind of hard—you’re trying to implement a system for tracking your expenses, and since you’re probably spending by check, debit and credit cards, and cash, keeping it all in order can be a challenge. And they don’t teach personal budgeting in school either, so how do you learn?</p>
<p><strong>Steve</strong> @ <strong>Canadian Personal Finance</strong> writes <a href="http://www.canadianpersonalfinance.com/is-it-ok-to-get-a-discount-if-you-are-good-looking.html" target="_blank">Is it OK to get a discount if you are good looking?</a> &#8211; Would you turn down a discount because you were good looking? A customer received a discount for being good looking. This was simply a joke by the server but honestly it brings up a good question, do good looking people get discounts?</p>
<p><strong>Steven</strong> @ <strong>Grocery Alerts</strong> writes <a href="http://www.groceryalerts.ca/3-monthly-expenses-to-cut-to-save-you-money/" target="_blank">3 Monthly Expenses to Cut to Save you Money</a> &#8211; Although monthly expenses don’t seem like very much, but they can really add up. For example, a $100 cable bill on a monthly basis equates to $1200 at the end of the year. Here are a few tips on some monthly expenses that you could consider cutting.</p>
<p><strong>Steven</strong> @ <strong>Grocery Alerts</strong> writes <a href="http://www.groceryalerts.ca/how-canadians-can-fly-first-class-to-hawaii-for-under-350/" target="_blank">How you can fly first class to Hawaii for under $350!</a> &#8211; For approx. $328 you can obtain 30,000 Saga Club miles which will get you a FIRST CLASS roundtrip ticket on Alaska Airlines to anywhere they fly in the U.S. (Alaska and Hawaii included) Canada and Mexico.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>CAREER &amp; EDUCATION</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>Evan</strong> @ <strong>My Journey to Millions</strong> writes <a href="http://www.myjourneytomillions.com/articles/analyzing-the-prepayments-on-one-of-my-student-loans/" target="_blank">Analyzing the Prepayments on One of My Student Loans</a> &#8211; As I made my monthly payment the other day on one of my student loans I wondered how much I have saved in interest over the years by adding to the principal some months. Since the lender didn’t provide me with that information I almost looked at it as a challenge to see whether I could figure it out.</p>
<p><strong>Edward Antrobus</strong> @ <strong>Edward Antrobus</strong> writes <a href="http://edwardantrobus.co.cc/2012/entry-level-dilemma/3-job-search-tips-for-recent-grads" target="_blank">3 Job Search Tips for Recent Graduates</a> &#8211; It&#8217;s a tough economy for recent grads, but these three job search tips can help you land your first job after graduation.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>FINANCIAL ADVICE</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>MR</strong> @ <strong>Money Reasons</strong> writes <a href="http://www.moneyreasons.com/2012/08/my-personal-finance-pyramid-update/" target="_blank">My Personal Finance Pyramid Update</a> &#8211; I use a Personal Finance Pyramid to provide feedback as I strive to acquire wealth in life for me, my family and my kids!</p>
<p><strong>harry campbell</strong> @ <strong>Your Personal Finance Pro</strong> writes <a href="http://yourpfpro.com/take-advantage-of-credit-card-sign-up-bonuses/" target="_blank">How to Take Advantage of Credit Card Sign Up Bonuses</a> &#8211; I got my first credit card when I was in college and I used it for most of my entertainment(see alcohol) and dining out purchases. Since then I’ve applied and been accepted for over 10 credit cards with sign up bonuses and gotten thousands in gift cards, travel rewards and cash(wow that sounds like a scam! But it’s true). So here’s how I do it.</p>
<p><strong>Aaron</strong> @ <strong>Aaron Hung.com</strong> writes <a href="http://www.aaronhung.com/2012/08/27/how-many-credit-cards-are-too-many/" target="_blank">How many credit cards are too many?</a> &#8211; There comes a time in your life when you need to make a big purchase such as buying a house to raise your family, or for investment purposes. Going to big name lenders is usually the way to go when looking for capitals to buy your dream house</p>
<p><strong>PPlan</strong> @ <strong>Provident Plan</strong> writes <a href="http://www.providentplan.com/3980/whats-the-most-effective-way-to-give/" target="_blank">What&#8217;s the Most Effective Way to Give?</a> &#8211; The most effective way to give is one that provides sustainability and the most bang for your buck. Find out what else gives a gift the biggest impact.</p>
<p><strong>J.P.</strong> @ <strong>Novel Investor</strong> writes <a href="http://novelinvestor.com/retirement-planning/options-for-your-401k-rollover/" target="_blank">Options For Your 401k Rollover</a> &#8211; When you leave your job, do you really want to leave your retirement savings behind? There are several 401k rollover options available so you can take your retirement savings with you and have better control of that money.</p>
<p><strong>Jeremy</strong> @ <strong>Modest Money</strong> writes <a href="http://www.modestmoney.com/compare-the-best-credit-card-offers/" target="_blank">Compare The Best Credit Card Offers</a> &#8211; Personally I pay off my balance in full each month and earn cash back on all my card purchases. Plus by using my credit card I am entitled to extra buyer protection. Hey, works for me. It does not work for everyone though. For people who can control their spending, I present a comparison of the best credit card offers.</p>
<p><strong>Mr. Money</strong> @ <strong>Smart on Money</strong> writes <a href="http://www.smartonmoney.com/why-you-should-have-life-insurance-even-if-you-are-young-and-healthy-with-no-dependents/" target="_blank">Why You Should Have Life Insurance Even If You Are Young and Healthy with No Dependents</a> &#8211; The thing is, even if you’re young and healthy there may be quite a few good reasons for you to buy good term life insurance. It isn’t just for old people, you know!</p>
<p><strong>Peter</strong> @ <strong>Bible Money Matters</strong> writes <a href="http://www.biblemoneymatters.com/paying-down-debt-make-sure-to-recognize-non-financial-progress/" target="_blank">Paying Down Debt? Make Sure to Recognize Non-Financial Progress</a> &#8211; If you have had to take a break from debt repayment and feel discouraged, ask yourself if any of these situations apply to you. If so, pat yourself on the back. You are progressing in your war on debt, just not in a gazelle intense monetary way. You know you are making progress on your war on debt if:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>FRUGALITY</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Michelle</strong> @ <strong>See Debt Run</strong> writes <a href="http://seedebtrun.com/2012/08/crock-pot-piggy-bank.html" target="_blank">Crock Pot Piggy Bank</a> &#8211; You can save a lot of money by making your own crock pot recipes. Eating healthy and fresh doesn&#8217;t have to be more expensive!</p>
<p><strong>Wayne</strong> @ <strong>Young Family Finance</strong> writes <a href="http://www.youngfamilyfinance.com/how-to-raise-a-child-on-a-budget-identifying-the-necessities/" target="_blank">How to Raise a Child on a Budget: Identifying the Necessities</a> &#8211; Find out how you can raise a child on a budget. Spending less on your children doesn&#8217;t mean sacrificing the love given to them.</p>
<p><strong>Amanda L Grossman</strong> @ <strong>Frugal Confessions</strong> writes <a href="http://www.frugalconfessions.com/save-me-money/simple-childhood-pleasures.php" target="_blank">Simple Childhood Pleasures</a> &#8211; Aside from going to Ocean City MD each summer, I have realized that most of the fun I had in my childhood was simple and cheap.</p>
<p><strong>Miss T.</strong> @ <strong>Prairie Eco Thrifter</strong> writes <a href="http://prairieecothrifter.com/2012/08/fun-frugal-date-nights.html" target="_blank">Frugal Dating and the Fun Factor</a> &#8211; Saving money and being frugal can be boring sometimes, but it doesn`t have to be. Making a date night fun by thinking outside of the box while still saving money can be helpful to your relationship and your finances.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>INVESTING</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>Shilpan</strong> @ <strong>Street Smart Finance</strong> writes <a href="http://www.streetsmartfinance.org/2012/08/22/the-best-investment-strategy-for-growth-and-income/" target="_blank">The Best Investment Strategy for Growth and Income</a> &#8211; There is no doubt that both value and growth investing styles have their share of staunch followers. Those who believe in Graham and Warren Buffett’s value investment style believe that growth investing is for roulette players. On the other hand, growth investors believe that value investing is a thing of the past with mediocre return at best for the serious investors.</p>
<p><strong>Matt</strong> @ <strong>Dividend Monk</strong> writes <a href="http://dividendmonk.com/dividend-discount-model/" target="_blank">Gordon Growth Model Overview</a> &#8211; A description of the simple method to determine a fair price to pay for most stable, blue-chip companies.</p>
<p><strong>IMB</strong> @ <strong>Investing Money</strong> writes <a href="http://www.investingmoneyblog.com/how-to-get-started-investing-money/" target="_blank">How to Get Started Investing Money</a> &#8211; Find out how you can get started investing money. It&#8217;s never too early to start.</p>
<p><strong>Corey</strong> @ <strong>Steadfast Finances</strong> writes <a href="http://steadfastfinances.com/blog/2012/08/27/unusual-investment-ideas/" target="_blank">Unusual Investment Ideas</a> &#8211; Looking for nontraditional investment ideas? Look no further. While these may not be as safe, they could provide you with positive returns.</p>
<p><strong>Hank</strong> @ <strong>Money Q&amp;A</strong> writes <a href="http://moneyqanda.com/do-not-be-fooled-by-these-life-insurance-policies/" target="_blank">Don&#8217;t Be Fooled Into These Life Insurance Policies</a> &#8211; Here are five of my favorite insurance life policies that I love to hate. You don’t need these five life insurance policies. Don’t waste your money on them.</p>
<p><strong>Eddie</strong> @ <strong>Finance Fox</strong> writes <a href="http://www.financefox.ca/maybe-home-ownership-isnt-for-you/" target="_blank">Maybe Home Ownership Isn&#8217;t For You</a> &#8211; There is more to life than home ownership, and it isn&#8217;t the only way. If you ENJOY owning a home, more power to you. But not everyone does.</p>
<p><strong>My Own Advisor</strong> @ <strong>My Own Advisor</strong> writes <a href="http://www.myownadvisor.ca/2012/08/how-many-dividend-stocks-are-enough/" target="_blank">How many dividend stocks are enough?</a> &#8211; I guess one goal for dividend investors should be to reach a saturation point whereby the addition of one more stock in the portfolio marginally reduces volatility. To reach this goal, you’re gonna need more than a few stocks I’m sure… Read on to find out what I feel, is a healthy amount of stocks to own for diversification purposes.</p>
<p><strong>BARBARA FRIEDBERG</strong> @ <strong>Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance</strong> writes <a href="http://barbarafriedbergpersonalfinance.com/can-rely-on-rule-retirement/" target="_blank">CAN YOU RELY ON THE 4% RULE IN RETIREMENT?</a> &#8211; Are you properly preparing for retirement? Read about retirement issues to consider.</p>
<p><strong>krantcents</strong> @ <strong>KrantCents</strong> writes <a href="http://www.krantcents.com/home-gym-on-a-budget" target="_blank">Home Gym on a Budget</a> &#8211; Would you like a home gym? All the movie stars have a home gym and you can too! Do you have to be a movie star to have one? No, not really! In fact, you can put one together for very little money.</p>
<p><strong>Jen</strong> @ <strong>Master the Art of Saving</strong> writes <a href="http://www.mastertheartofsaving.com/plan-to-save-lot-of-money/" target="_blank">My Plan to Save a LOT of Money</a> &#8211; We&#8217;re planning to close on our house the first or second week of September, so we don&#8217;t have much time to save a lot of money. My goal is to take advantage&#8230;..</p>
<p><strong>TRL</strong> @ <strong>The Retired Landlord</strong> writes <a href="http://www.theretiredlandlord.com/real-estate-investing-is-easier-with-positive-cash-flow/" target="_blank">Real Estate Investing is Easier with Positive Cash Flow</a> &#8211; If you are looking to invest in real estate, as I am looking to do, I have learned that a positive monthly cash flow is important to have. As I have already discussed, real estate investing has risks. There is a chance of having to pay the mortgage between tenants or losing money with major maintenance issues.</p>
<p><strong>Kanwal</strong> @ <strong>Simply Investing</strong> writes <a href="http://www.simplyinvesting.com/blog/9-important-reasons-why-dividends-matter/" target="_blank">9 Important Reasons Why Dividends Matter</a> &#8211; I came across a great article at Dividend Growth Stocks that I would like to share with you: &#8220;It seems that every financial adviser or financial publication is proclaiming that you should own dividend stocks. Each are proclaiming the virtues of dividend stocks from their own perspective. To that I have two questions: 1. What took you so long? 2.</p>
<p><strong>Debt Guru</strong> @ <strong>Debt Free Blog</strong> writes <a href="http://www.howtobedebtfreeblog.com/get-debt-under-control-and-start-to-enjoy-life/" target="_blank">Get debt Under Control and Start to Enjoy Life</a> &#8211; Find out how to pay off your debt and enjoy life as you prepare for retirement.</p>
<p><strong>Investor Junkie</strong> @ <strong>Investor Junkie</strong> writes <a href="http://investorjunkie.com/16394/investment-mistakes-making-today/" target="_blank">Four Top Investment Mistakes You are Making Today</a> &#8211; Investing is a task unlike any other. Rarely is there an opportunity to outperform just by avoiding the big mistakes. The truth is, though, that the best investors aren’t those that hit home runs. The best investors simply avoid big mistakes.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>SAVING</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>Deacon Hayes</strong> @ <strong>Well Kept Wallet</strong> writes <a href="http://wellkeptwallet.com/2012/08/why-it-pays-to-go-back-to-the-store/" target="_blank">Why it Pays to Go Back to the Store</a> &#8211; Every time I go to Fry’s, they post the ads on the right as soon as you walk in the door. I have made it a habit to go over to see if there is anything that is a good deal or worth looking at. Well, this time I noticed that a radio I had bought within the past 30 days was on sale for $20 less. I remembered that they had a price match guarantee and decided I would ask if they would give me the difference.</p>
<p><strong>Jefferson</strong> @ <strong>See Debt Run</strong> writes <a href="http://seedebtrun.com/2012/08/4-great-uses-for-a-savings-account.html" target="_blank">Four Great Uses For a Savings Account</a> &#8211; http://seedebtrun.com/2012/08/4-great-uses-for-a-savings-account.html</p>
<p><strong>Passive Income Earner</strong> @ <strong>The Passive Income Earner</strong> writes <a href="http://www.thepassiveincomeearner.com/2012/08/kids-money-bank-card.html" target="_blank">Kids and Money: The Bank Card Introduction</a> &#8211; Introducing the bank card to children. It&#8217;s a delightful experience.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>OTHER</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>SB</strong> @ <strong>One Cent at a Time</strong> writes <a href="http://onecentatatime.com/how-i-got-my-faulty-new-hp-laptop-replaced/" target="_blank">How to replace HP Laptop</a> &#8211; Effectively managing financial institution accounts is equally important as saving money. Still we don&#8217;t usually put much attention on managing side of the personal finance. In personal finance, diversification is as important as managing that diversified portfolio. Do it effectively</p>
<p><strong>Ryan</strong> @ <strong>Early Retirement Investments</strong> writes <a href="http://www.earlyretirementinvestments.com/some-signs-that-you-need-to-convert-to-heat-pumps/" target="_blank">Some Signs that You Need to Convert to Heat Pumps</a> &#8211; Confused on whether you should have a heat pump or not? Read more to see if it makes sense for you!</p>
<p><strong>Jon the Saver</strong> @ <strong>Free Money Wisdom</strong> writes <a href="http://www.freemoneywisdom.com/why-do-we-worry-about-money/" target="_blank">Why Do We Worry About Money?</a> &#8211; Worrying about money is not helpful in life. It&#8217;s better to plan and not worry so much about it. Money does not need to consume your thoughts.</p>
<p><strong>Suba</strong> @ <strong>Broke Professionals</strong> writes <a href="http://brokeprofessionals.com/2012/08/15/5-easy-ways-to-irritate-your-boomer-boss/" target="_blank">5 Easy Ways to Irritate Your Boomer Boss</a> &#8211; 5 Easy Ways to Irritate Your Boomer Boss is a post from: Broke Professionals if you enjoy it, please visit us and subscribe to the Feed.</p>
<p><strong>Jason</strong> @ <strong>Work Save Live</strong> writes <a href="http://worksavelive.com/2012/08/popular-jobs-in-tax-friendly-countries/" target="_blank">Popular Jobs in Tax Friendly Countries</a> &#8211; With all the debate around Mitt Romney&#8217;s possible assets overseas, it makes you wonder more about the places like Gibraltar, Andorra, the Cayman Islands and more. These places are known as tax shelters, and as such, they usually have a lot of bankers and financial institutions in place.</p>
<p><strong>Corey</strong> @ <strong>20s Finances</strong> writes <a href="http://www.20sfinances.com/2012/08/27/do-you-remember-your-first-time/" target="_blank">Do You Remember Your First Time?</a> &#8211; Getting approved for a credit card without having any previous credit history can be a challenge. Find out what you can do to get approved.</p>
<p><strong>Roger the Amateur Financier</strong> @ <strong>The Amateur Financier</strong> writes <a href="http://www.theamateurfinancier.com/blog/success-motivation/" target="_blank">The Success of Others and My Motivation</a> &#8211; A discussion of how the success of other people influences me, and how such success (and the converse failure) can influence everyone.</p>
<p><strong>Jester</strong> @ <strong>The Ultimate Juggle</strong> writes <a href="http://www.theultimatejuggle.com/family-spending-choices-versus-family-wants/" target="_blank">Family Spending Choices Versus Family Wants</a> &#8211; Struggling to balance the best mix of family spending and saving for the future.</p>
<p><strong>Daisy</strong> @ <strong>Add Vodka</strong> writes <a href="http://add-vodka.com/an-unsent-letter-to-people-who-are-selling-things/" target="_blank">An Unsent Letter to People Who Are Selling Things</a> &#8211; Dear whomever this may concern: While I appreciate your drive to make money so that you can buy winter booties for your dog and another cardigan sweater from BCBG instead of paying down your debt, please stop sending me sly. Read more of my unsent letter!</p>
<p><strong>Ashley</strong> @ <strong>Money Talks Coaching</strong> writes <a href="http://moneytalkscoaching.com/2012/08/trying-to-get-my-daughter-to-save/" target="_blank">Trying to Get My Daughter to Save</a> &#8211; I&#8217;ve mentioned several times that my daughter really doesn&#8217;t get money. She doesn&#8217;t care to earn it. She doesn&#8217;t care to keep it.</p>
<p><strong>Aloysa</strong> @ <strong>My Broken Coin</strong> writes <a href="http://mybrokencoin.com/my-not-quite-traditional-marriage/" target="_blank">My Not Quite Traditional Marriage</a> &#8211; When we met over seven years ago, both of us were poor. I was a full-time student, working full-time, my spending problems were in full gear, debt piling up.</p>
<p><strong>SFB</strong> @ <strong>Simple Finance Blog</strong> writes <a href="http://simplefinanceblog.com/minimalism-at-home-do-i-really-need-six-sets-of-sheets/" target="_blank">Minimalism At Home: Do I Really Need Six Sets of Sheets?</a> &#8211; I hate laundry day; or, rather, when you have two children under the age of four and a husband who changes clothes more often than a budding fashionista, it’s more like laundry days. Despite that, I still follow my mother’s old adage that you should wash your bath towels weekly and your bed sheets every&#8230;</p>
<p><strong>Shawanda</strong> @ <strong>You Have More Than You Think</strong> writes <a href="http://youhavemorethanyouthink.org/secret-tricks-to-grabbing-the-best-travel-deals/" target="_blank">Secret Tricks to Grabbing the Best Travel Deals</a> &#8211; Making the most of your travel dollars will give you peace of mind and set the stage for a relaxing vacation.</p>
<p><strong>JP</strong> @ <strong>My Family Finances</strong> writes <a href="http://myfamilyfinances.net/2012/08/reasons-why-families-need-to-get-life-insurance-take-it-from-a-guy-not-trying-to-sell-you-a-policy/" target="_blank">Reasons Why Families Need to Get Life Insurance: Take It From a Guy Not Trying to Sell You a Policy</a> &#8211; There are plenty of convincing reasons for buying life insurance; I need not frighten you.</p>
<p><strong>Don</strong> @ <strong>MoneySmartGuides</strong> writes <a href="http://moneysmartguides.com/can-people-not-save-for-retirment" target="_blank">Can People Not Save for Retirment?</a> &#8211; Teresa Ghilarducci is back again. I previously wrote about her wanting Guaranteed Return Accounts (GRA) for Americans back in July of 2010. She is still advocating these accounts, now with updated numbers to make her point.</p>
<p><strong>Jennifer Lynn</strong> @ <strong>Broke-Ass Mommy</strong> writes <a href="http://www.brokeass-mommy.com/the-best-piece-of-writing-advice-ever/" target="_blank">The Best Piece of Writing Advice, Ever.</a> &#8211; This is the best information on writing advice that I know of, read more to see if you agree.</p>
<p><strong>Sustainable PF</strong> @ <strong>Sustainable Personal Finance</strong> writes <a href="http://sustainablepersonalfinance.com/which-is-the-greener-option-shopping-online-or-shopping-at-a-store/" target="_blank">Which is the Greener Option &#8211; Shopping Online or Shopping at a Store?</a> &#8211; Shopping online has become the method of choice for many people but I&#8217;m still not convinced it&#8217;s for me.</p>
<p><strong>John</strong> @ <strong>Married (with Debt)</strong> writes <a href="http://marriedwithdebt.com/2012/08/pay-mortgage-off-early/" target="_blank">The Savings to be Made from Paying Off Your Mortgage Early</a> &#8211; The savings to be made from paying off your mortgage early For most Canadians, the biggest debt they will ever have is a home mortgage.</p>
<p><strong>A Blinkin</strong> @ <strong>Funancials</strong> writes <a href="http://funancials.biz/how-to-lose-money-and-hate-the-stock-market/" target="_blank">How To Lose Money and Hate The Stock Market</a> &#8211; Do the exact opposite of what you find in this article and you will be on your way to riches. Find out how to lose money and hate the stock market. Don’t meet with your adviser regularly. Check your brokerage account or stock daily. Watch the news. Take stock-picking advice from a friend. Buy high, sell low.</p>
<p><strong>Crystal</strong> @ <strong>Budgeting in the Fun Stuff</strong> writes <a href="http://www.budgetinginthefunstuff.com/my-take-on-life-insurance/" target="_blank">My Take on Life Insurance</a> &#8211; Today, I am participating in the huge Life Insurance Movement in the blogging world that was started by Good Financial Cents. Here is my life insurance take.</p>
<p><strong>Daniel</strong> @ <strong>Sweating the Big Stuff</strong> writes <a href="http://sweatingthebigstuff.com/five-wedding-gifts-shouldnt-buy-friend/" target="_blank">Five Wedding Gifts You Shouldn&#8217;t Buy For A Friend</a> &#8211; Some gifts are appropriate for specific audiences. Others will almost definitely be returned. Here are five gifts that you shouldn&#8217;t get for friends.</p>
<p><strong>Ted Jenkin</strong> @ <strong>Your Smart Money Moves</strong> writes <a href="http://www.yoursmartmoneymoves.com/2012/08/24/when-should-you-replace-your-old-car-for-a-new-one/" target="_blank">When Should You Replace Your Old Car For A New One?</a> &#8211; When it comes to making smart money moves, our family has never been a big fan of buying a new car.</p>
<p><strong>PITR</strong> @ <strong>Passive Income To Retire</strong> writes <a href="http://www.passiveincometoretire.com/hidden-risks-of-a-mortgage-fine-print/" target="_blank">Hidden Risks of a Mortgage Fine Print</a> &#8211; Find out how to avoid the most common mortgage mistakes.</p>
<p><strong>Invest It Wisely</strong> @ <strong>Invest It Wisely</strong> writes <a href="http://www.investitwisely.com/are-you-an-introvert-heres-how-to-make-the-most-of-your-conference-experience/" target="_blank">Are You an Introvert? Here&#8217;s How to Make the Most of Your Conference Experience</a> &#8211; If you are introverted, read how to make the best of conferences!</p>
<p><strong>Luke</strong> @ <strong>Learn Bonds</strong> writes <a href="http://www.learnbonds.com/how-to-choose-a-high-yield-bond-fund/" target="_blank">How to Choose a High Yield Bond Fund</a> &#8211; Interested in choosing a high yield bond fund but not sure where to start? Here is a 6 step guide walking you through the entire process.</p>
<p><strong>SBB</strong> @ <strong>Simple Budget Blog</strong> writes <a href="http://www.simplebudgetblog.com/simple-ways-to-cut-monthly-expenses/" target="_blank">Simple Ways to Cut Monthly Expenses</a> &#8211; Do you need a little extra cash? We offer simple ways for you to save money without it being a huge inconvenience.</p>
<p><strong>Kevin</strong> @ <strong>Thousandaire</strong> writes <a href="http://www.thousandaire.com/4-reasons-we-may-be-headed-for-a-recession/" target="_blank">4 Reasons We May be Headed for a Recession</a> &#8211; Read these four reasons that we might be heading for a recession, see if you relate!</p>
<p><strong>Maria</strong> @ <strong>The Money Principle</strong> writes <a href="http://www.themoneyprinciple.co.uk/2012/the-rise-in-health-negligence-payouts/" target="_blank">The Rise in Health Negligence Payouts</a> &#8211; Policies has effects and in this article the increase in health negligence payouts is discussed.</p>
<p><strong>YFS</strong> @ <strong>Your Finances Simplified</strong> writes <a href="http://www.yourfinancessimplified.com/5-ways-marriage-can-make-you-richer/" target="_blank">5 Ways Marriage Can Make You Richer</a> &#8211; The cake has been cut, the champagne cork has been popped, and confetti has been strewn all over the place.</p>
<p><strong>L Bee</strong> @ <strong>L Bee and the Money Tree</strong> writes <a href="http://www.lbeeandthemoneytree.com/2012/08/20/taking-a-break-matters/" target="_blank">Taking a break matters!</a> &#8211; Hey guys, I’ve been away for about a week or so while technical issues with my self-hosting site get ironed out. Even though I was on “vacation” with my blog I was still in training for my part-time gig and …</p>
<p><strong>SB</strong> @ <strong>One Cent at a Time</strong> writes <a href="http://onecentatatime.com/10-tips-avoid-internet-fraud-scams/" target="_blank">10 Tips to Avoid Internet Fraud and Scams</a> &#8211; In most cases of online scams, people are either careless or ignorant. That is the reason they are cheated quiet easily. Following are the 10 ways to protect yourself from being cheated in to scams and frauds</p>
<p><strong>SB</strong> @ <strong>Finance Product Reviews</strong> writes <a href="http://financeproductreviews.com/kiva-microloan-review-an-attempt-to-understand-kiva/" target="_blank">Kiva Microloan Review – an Attempt to Understand Kiva</a> &#8211; This is review of Kiva micro-loan program. Is Kiva legit, is Kiva worth it. Learn more about the allegations against Kiva. Learn how can you lend to Kiva or borrow from Kiva.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">~¤~¤~</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">More nifty carnivals to make your eyes bleed:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Carnival of MoneyPros at <a href="http://simplefinanceblog.com/carnival-of-money-pros/" target="_blank">Simple Finance Blog</a><br />
Carnival of Retirement at <a href="http://myfamilyfinances.net/2012/08/carnival-of-retirement-calculated-risk-or-foolish-mistake-edition/" target="_blank">My Family Finances</a><br />
Carn. of Financial Camaraderie at <a href="http://www.myuniversitymoney.com/the-carnival-of-financial-camaraderie-47/" target="_blank">My University Money</a><br />
Wealth Artisan&#8217;s FinCarn at <a href="http://wealthartisan.com/your-boss-is-your-master-new-gadgets-carnival/" target="_blank">Wealth Artisan</a><br />
Y &amp; T&#8217;s Weekend Ramblings at <a href="http://youngandthrifty.ca/globe-and-mail-criticism-edition/" target="_blank">Young and Thrifty</a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Happy Labor Day!!</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">=^..^=</p>
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		<title>Obnoxious Admission into the Financial Real World</title>
		<link>http://www.brokeass-mommy.com/obnoxious-admission-into-the-financial-real-world/</link>
		<comments>http://www.brokeass-mommy.com/obnoxious-admission-into-the-financial-real-world/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Aug 2012 17:09:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jennifer Lynn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Debt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial Management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Saving and Investing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.brokeass-mommy.com/?p=2460</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Frugality. Prudent money management. Savings. Investing. No debt. My financial foundation. But given the caricatured scenario above, I can&#8217;t help but wonder how well college students and graduates are handling their finances. This cartoon certainly depicts M., a computer engineer, who received his Bachelors diploma&#8212;and nearly $60,000 worth of debt&#8212;from a state university five years ago. [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2461" title="graduate" src="http://www.brokeass-mommy.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/graduate.jpg" alt="" width="475" height="389" /></p>
<p><strong>Frugality. Prudent money management. Savings. Investing. No debt.<br />
</strong></p>
<p>My financial foundation.</p>
<p>But given the caricatured scenario above, I can&#8217;t help but wonder how well college students and graduates are handling their finances.</p>
<p>This cartoon certainly depicts M., a computer engineer, who received his Bachelors diploma&#8212;and nearly $60,000 worth of debt&#8212;from a state university five years ago. It&#8217;s stressful for us, but I&#8217;m helping M. tackle those balances aggressively. He&#8217;s on a fifteen year repayment plan right now (ridiculous!) but, potentially, we can eradicate this debt in two or three years.</p>
<p>When I spoke briefly with a random group of peers (all in their twenties, all in college) for a candid snapshot of their finances, I was particularly interested in their debt to savings ratio, and a little disheartened by their answers.</p>
<p><em>Seem familiar?</em></p>
<p><strong>Jaime</strong> is a 26 year old working in non-profit and pursuing a Masters. She has nearly $10,000 in student loans, less than $2,500 in savings and currently lives at home.</p>
<p><strong>Lisa</strong> is a 20 year old part-time waitress struggling to pay off $7,000 in credit card debt, with $200 in her savings.</p>
<p><strong>Jay</strong> is a 27 year old renter who just blew most of his savings on a trip to NYC. He is<em> hoping</em> to save $25,000 over the next year for a down payment on property.</p>
<p><strong>Sherry</strong> is 23 years old and grateful for her auntie, who is helping to pay for tuition. Recently Sherry decided to take advantage of this by plopping $375 into savings.</p>
<p><em></em>Little to no savings and, in most cases, a butt load of debt.</p>
<p>Sigh. My strategy has been to;</p>
<p>Save a few bucks of money received, always. <em>Always</em>. This &#8216;savings&#8217; is the foundation which eventually will morph into &#8216;investments&#8217; generating passive income (through dividends, rental income, capital gains, etc.)</p>
<p>And the secret is <span style="text-decoration: underline;">NOT</span> to get into debt. Stop being buried further in debt and find the balance between investing in the future without becoming enslaved.</p>
<p>Be one of those birds not meant to be caged.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">~¤~¤~</p>
<p>Also currently reading:<br />
* <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2012/04/27/pf/mortgage-debt.moneymag/index.htm?iid=GM" target="_blank">$600,000 in mortgage debt, but wants to be a stay-at-home mom</a><br />
* <a href="http://money.cnn.com/gallery/pf/2012/08/16/bank-account-rejected/?iid=GM" target="_blank">Rejected: &#8220;I was denied a bank account!&#8221;</a></p>
<p>=^..^=</p>
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		<title>A Candid Look At My Finances</title>
		<link>http://www.brokeass-mommy.com/a-candid-look-at-my-finances/</link>
		<comments>http://www.brokeass-mommy.com/a-candid-look-at-my-finances/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 06 Jul 2012 05:35:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jennifer Lynn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Debt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial Management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Goals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Saving and Investing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.brokeass-mommy.com/?p=1453</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Once every few months I peek at my finances to crunch some numbers and receive an overview of my financial well-being, and I&#8217;m tickled pink to share with you. (When I talk about financial stuff with my significant other, his eyes glaze over. This is what he hears: blah blah blah blah blah blah blah.) [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Once every few months I peek at my finances</strong> to crunch some numbers and receive an overview of my financial well-being, and I&#8217;m tickled pink to share with you. </p>
<p>(When I talk about financial stuff with my significant other, his eyes glaze over. This is what he hears: <em>blah blah blah blah blah blah blah</em>.) </p>
<p><em>Hmph</em>. </p>
<p>Soo, ready? Here&#8217;s how my July numbers are shaking out&#8230;</p>
<p><strong>Credit Card / Car Loan / Student Loan Debt</strong>:</p>
<p>$0</p>
<p>I paid off my car in three years on a five-year loan and have no revolving credit card debt balance or lingering student loan debt. This was all aggressively paid off in 2009.</p>
<p><strong>Credit Cards I use</strong>:</p>
<p><em>American Express Gold Card </em>(my primary card)</p>
<p>My American Express credit card is used for our daily household expenses &#8212; but I pay the balance off <span style="text-decoration: underline;">in full</span> each month. In fact, I&#8217;m notorious for immediately paying the bill after returning home that evening, rather than waiting for the billing statement to even arrive in the mail.</p>
<p><em>Discover Card</em> (my secondary card) &#8212; although I love the cashback program and customer service offered by Discover, it has been shuffled to the rear of the pile since I opened an Amex account. (I tend to funnel all my purchases through one card to maximize rewards.) I do, however, still have an online savings account with Discover.</p>
<p>So, why American Express, you may ask, when there is a burly $125 annual fee attached?</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s my reasoning:</p>
<p>When Amex invited me into their Gold card program, they waived the first-year annual fee, so initially my intention was to give the card a try and cancel before the promotional period ended. However, something changed my mind in the process.</p>
<p>When M. (my significant other) and I flew to Honolulu, Hawaii to visit his sister in 2011, we rented a car to travel around the island of Oahu, and &#8212; based on card perks &#8212; saved almost $400 on car rental insurance by booking through Amex. This is just <em>one</em> instance where the gold card has provided astounding value, and the card, essentially, has paid for itself for the next three years. I do feel it&#8217;s an invaluable card to have in one&#8217;s traveling arsenal.</p>
<p>Without using the travel perks, however, the annual fee wouldn&#8217;t be justified.</p>
<p><strong>Personal Checking Account</strong>: $3,000.00<br />
My checking account is set up at a local community bank.</p>
<p><strong>Personal Online Savings Account</strong>: $565.00<br />
My Discover online savings account has a minimum balance requirement of $500 @ .90% APY &#8212; however, this rate may not be available to newer customers. (I haven&#8217;t checked rates in a while since they all tend to be paltry right now.)</p>
<p>Soo, why do I keep <em>more</em> in my checking account than in savings? </p>
<p>Depreciation and liquidity. </p>
<p>Interest rates are simply not attractive right now so I like to keep cash handy while I&#8217;m out scouring estate sales and other local events for undervalued, appreciating items (ie, rare items, antiques, numismatics, precious metals).</p>
<p>M. and I also have a joint savings account at a local credit union.</p>
<p><strong>Our Joint Savings</strong>: $5,000.00</p>
<p><strong>My Other Investments</strong>: $23,088.00</p>
<p>Various conservative investments which can be liquidated if necessary in the near term. </p>
<p><b>Current Net Worth</b> in 2012: $31, 653</p>
<p>M. is a computer engineer with a steady income but substantial student loan debt. We&#8217;ve avoided a mortgage due to this, and currently rent in the city, so one of my financial goals is to save for a starter income property, such as a duplex.</p>
<p>There is a rough rendering of my finances. Your financial goals so far? Do tell.</p>
<p>=^..^=</p>
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		<title>Half of Americans Struggling to Save for Retirement; Are We In Debt Denial?</title>
		<link>http://www.brokeass-mommy.com/half-of-americans-struggling-to-save-for-retirement-are-we-in-debt-denial/</link>
		<comments>http://www.brokeass-mommy.com/half-of-americans-struggling-to-save-for-retirement-are-we-in-debt-denial/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 21 Jun 2012 01:48:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jennifer Lynn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Debt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial Management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Saving and Investing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.brokeass-mommy.com/?p=1122</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I am certainly no stranger to debt and chronicled my financial journey paying off $15,000 worth of debt over at Broke-Ass Student. Debt can feel suffocating and excruciatingly overwhelming, but now, three years later, I am so proud to have killed off that nasty beast and accumulate a healthy personal savings; in fact, I&#8217;d be [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>I am certainly no stranger to debt</strong> and chronicled my financial journey paying off $15,000 worth of debt over at <a href="http://www.brokeass-student.com">Broke-Ass Student</a>.</p>
<p>Debt can feel suffocating and excruciatingly overwhelming, but now, three years later, I am so proud to have killed off that nasty beast <em>and</em> accumulate a healthy personal savings; in fact, I&#8217;d be able to modestly survive for an extended period of time (think, more than a year here) without  income, before eating through the bulk of my savings.</p>
<p>So, what has been my secret?</p>
<p>Whenever I encountered money, <strong>I saved aggressively and I saved before anything else</strong>. I treat <span style="text-decoration: underline;">all</span> income as spotty, as sporadically pouring in. And I saved my little fanny off.</p>
<p>(My current dilemma, as a stay at home mom, is how to creatively generate<em> further</em> income for savings / investment purposes <em>without</em> dipping into my current nest egg.)</p>
<p>Debt is now the dirty, four-letter word that I avoid like the plague <span style="text-decoration: underline;">unless</span> it enables income-generating assets, such as income property or a business. A vehicle, unfortunately, does not fall into this category, and yet almost all of my peers and former colleagues are sinking their money into fancy car loans and leases, expensive housing, and glittering trinkets. They are not financially prepared for a catastrophic job loss for a job they believe they will never lose.</p>
<p>The kind that think a house is savings.<br />
The kind that think retirement is for tomorrow, so why worry today?</p>
<p><em></em>I&#8217;m curious what percentage of Americans struggle to save <em>any</em> portion of their income in 2012.</p>
<p>I can&#8217;t help but wonder,<em> how deep in debt denial is our society</em>?</p>
<p>=^..^=</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">~¤~¤~</p>
<p>What I&#8217;m currently reading:</p>
<p><strong>Washington Post</strong>, June 11, 2012: <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/fed-americans-wealth-dropped-40-percent/2012/06/11/gJQAlIsCVV_story.html">Americans saw wealth plummet 40 percent from 2007 to 2010, Federal Reserve says.</a></p>
<p><strong>CNNMoney</strong>, May 10, 2012:<a href="http://money.cnn.com/2012/05/10/retirement/saving-retire/index.htm">49% of Americans saving zilch for retirement</a></p>
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