Sometimes Helping Means More Than Just Giving
Q. How do you handle a situation where someone needs financial help, but has misspent money you’ve given them in the past? My wife and I have been trying to help a young man we recently met. He told us he was trying to get his life together after a divorce and job loss, and […]
Work First, Play Later
Q. I brought about $15,000 in student loan debt into our marriage. I’m 26, my wife is 27, and we’ve been married a little over a year. During that time, our parents have helped us out with financial gifts occasionally. Whenever this happens, my wife and I get into an argument. She likes to use […]
Should I Provide Financial Help to My Aging Parents?
Q. My parents are both in their seventies. They have been healthy and active all their lives, but in spite of them both having good jobs they neglected to plan and save for retirement. Is it my responsibility now to provide them with financial help in their old age? A. It sounds like you might […]
Should We Wait to Buy a House?
Q. Is it even worth it to buy a house these days? I’ve always been told buying a house is the adult thing to do and that it’s a great investment, but I can’t find anything decent and livable in my area for less than $350,000. My wife and I are debt-free, and we’re expecting […]
Hope Is a Good Thing
What is the main difference between people who follow your plan, stick with it and succeed, and those who fall off along the way? I’ve walked with thousands of families through financial problems. Some of them were just speedbumps that needed to be smoothed out, while others seemed like mountains. The biggest factor I’ve noticed […]
Is It Okay to Hide Money From My Spouse?
After hearing you talk about financial infidelity, I have to admit that I hide money from my husband. I have been setting aside money for emergencies without his knowledge. He is not terrible with money, but he always seems to find something to spend it on. Before I started doing this, we never managed to […]
Cutting Costs During the Holiday Season
We’re doing our best to stick to our cash Christmas budget this year. Are there any traps to avoid, and do you have other advice on ways we can cut costs during the holiday season? If you’re getting out of debt, the phrase “extra money” probably isn’t even in your vocabulary. Regardless, stores will do […]
Is It a Loan, or Is It a Gift?
We have $15,000 in credit card debt. My husband works very hard, but only makes about $25,000 a year. We’re also living in a very old trailer right now, and I stay at home with our newborn. My dad told us he is willing to pay off our debt if we agree to get financial […]
Pay Debt
Is debt consolidation a good way to get out of debt? No, it’s not. Debt consolidation companies try to position themselves that way, but they don’t even come close to addressing or solving the real problem. Here’s the big reason debt consolidation isn’t a good idea. It makes you feel like you truly did something […]
Should I Buy a Hybrid to Deal with Gas Prices?
Do you think I should get a new hybrid car to save money on gas? A lot of my friends have done this, and with the rise in gas and oil prices lately, they’re telling me I should, too. According to them, I’ll save a ton of money, especially since I have a bigger car […]