Ben Edwards's Blog: Money Smart Life, page 25
July 15, 2013
5 Smart, Inexpensive Summer Vacations
Schools have emptied and the hot weather is here. This time of year is very popular for vacations. With the way of the current economy however, not every person has the financial resources to take the trip away that they need. Everybody deserves a break in order to re-charge from daily life. Perhaps some of these ideas will strike a chord and give people an idea for their time off that will allow them to save some money.
Imagine going on a wonderful vacation without dealing with packing, unpac...
July 12, 2013
How to Sell Your Skills as an Older Worker
Every week it seems as if we are being treated to yet another story or report saying that Americans aren’t saving enough money for retirement. The statistics seem consistent with the claim, no matter what the source. But if people aren’t saving enough for retirement, what options will they have when the time comes?
For most, it will involve some form of work. Very few people will be able to live on Social Security alone, and if their retirement savings aren’t enough to cover the difference, th...
July 11, 2013
Are You Sharing Too Much Information Online?
One of the great things about the Internet is that it’s possible to keep in touch with others. It’s easy to share what’s going on in your life, and to see what’s happening in the lives of those you care about.
However, there is a possibility that you’re sharingtoo much information online. If you aren’t careful, you could easily end up sharing enough information that fraudsters could use it to commit identity theft or hack your accounts.
Information Scammers Can Use
You might be surprised at the...
July 10, 2013
Affordable Internet Access on Vacation
When I travel, I like to stay connected (unless I’m camping; then I want to be left alone). As a result, I make it a point to look for ways to access the Internet when I’m out of town. This is very important, since my entire livelihood depends on Internet access.
If you are traveling – even if you are traveling internationally – there are some ways to get affordable Internet access while you are on vacation:
Consider Where You Stay
I almost always stay somewhere with Internet access. Many hotels...
July 9, 2013
When Should You Ditch the Credit Cards?
Credit cards offer a lot of convenience. It’s possible to make purchases quickly and easily. And, when you make a large purchase that you don’t have the cash for, a credit card allows you to get the item immediately, and make small, manageable payments over time.
Unfortunately, it’s just this convenience that can cause problems for some consumers. The access to easy money can get out of hand, and pretty soon many consumers find themselves in debt, unable to cope with what they owe.
Savvy Credit...
July 8, 2013
How to Wisely Invest Your Emergency Fund
Are you ready for a rainy day?
The day when the roof leaks, the air conditioner goes out, or the transmission in your car finally dies you will need a pile of cash sitting around to pay for that emergency.
Most financial pundits recommend 6 to 12 months of your expenses as an example of a fully-funded emergency fund. Of course getting to that amount might mean thousands of dollars and months of saving, but the benefit of having the money there when you need it is invaluable. Avoiding credit car...
July 5, 2013
The Bad News on Unpaid Internships
College students are often anxious to get internships, especially as graduation approaches. A short stint working for an employer in some capacity that is related to your major can be a be an advantage when it comes time to look for a permanent job after graduation. But there is bad news on unpaid internships. Many students – unable to land paid internships – settle instead for unpaid ones. What’s the difference, right?
Plenty.
A recent report indicates that college students with an unpaid inte...
July 4, 2013
How to Move Out of Your Parents’ Home for the First Time
One of the scariest times of young person’s life is when moving out of their parents’ home for the first time. It can be even more intimidating than going off to live at college, if only because at that time you’re still under your parents’ wing . . . financially speaking.
When you move out of your parents’ home for the first time, it has an air of permanence about it. And not only that, it’s sink or swim time – either you will be able to make it on your own, or risk moving back home with your...
July 3, 2013
How to Prepare Your Finances for a Career Change
When it comes to making a career change, we usually get caught up in the mechanics of the change itself. Do I have the necessary skills? Can I learn those skills if I don’t? How quickly will I be re-employed? How secure will the new career be? Will I have to make a geographic move?
Those are all important to considerations, but if you have time to prepare for the career change in advance, you might want to take a close look at your finances. The state of your finances can determine your succes...
July 2, 2013
4 Moves to Consider Before Interest Rates Rise
There are expectations that interest rates could rise soon. With the Federal Reserve announcing earlier this month that it will begin tapering asset purchases, and with Treasury yields starting to creep up, the signs are there for some higher interest rates.
While there is no way to completely predict what will happen next with the markets or with monetary policy, there are some things you can consider now in order to prepare for what might be higher interest rates later:
1. Don’t lock in your...
