Setting financial goals is one of the first and most important tasks in creating a sound financial plan. A good first step is to write down your financial goals in a clear,... Read more »

The federal government’s budget woes have brought the topics of financial planning and managing debt to the forefront of the national conversation. The situation has left many people feeling frustrated and helpless,... Read more »

As you work toward achieving your financial goals, it is a good idea to measure your progress. Calculating your net worth is as simple as comparing what you owe (called liabilities) and... Read more »

One way to fund a retirement is through an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). An IRA is a tax-sheltered retirement account set up at a bank, investment firm, or insurance company. IRAs can... Read more »

Much to my daughter's dismay, it is time to start preparing for the upcoming school year.  Part of this ritual involves buying school supplies. This year, her school offered pre-packaged supply kits that... Read more »

I recently caught an episode of "Extreme Couponing" on TLC. If you haven’t seen the show, it’s about real people who obsessively use couponing to spend only pennies for hundreds of dollars... Read more »

The only thing more jarring than walking outside with a triple-digit heat index is receiving the triple-digit energy bill in the mail. I consider myself to be fairly conservative with the thermostat,... Read more »

I just finished reading the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau report on credit scores.  This report was published on July 19, 2011 to meet a requirement of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. ... Read more »

Recent reality TV shows like "Pawn Stars" have brought a lot attention to the pawn industry.  While the mainstream media attention may be new, the industry is not.  In fact, the history... Read more »