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Author: Laurie

Is Buying A New Car Really That Bad?

According to Experian’s State of the Automotive Finance Market’s latest report, people are still living with a love affair of driving expensive cars.

But is buying a new car really that bad? Does it really destroy your chances for financial freedom like so many experts claim it does? Read more

Buck Up and Dream

At a large-ish gathering this weekend, I came to the realization that much of our society has been brainwashed into believing certain things about life that simply aren’t true.

I’m still in shock over the lack of education in many of these areas.

I know I don’t often write snarky posts, but for the last two days I’ve been feeling an urgency on my heart to speak to those who are still stuck in the world of the status quo, and you may see a little “snark” along the way. . Read more

Ways to Save Money By Managing Expenses Proactively Instead of Reactively

Hey, friends! Today we have a guest post from fellow blogger Mrs. Raggedly Rich. Enjoy!

One of the best ways to manage expenses proactively instead of reactively is to plan ahead.

Doing this is second nature to me. And it always comes in handy. Whether it’s travelling from one city to my hometown at the end of a contract, or backpacking across Europe for a month, my default is to plan ahead.

When you diligently research routes, hunt for tips & tricks, and spend hours processing the information, it can only do you good in the long run. There is a balance you need to achieve when you go the researching route – everyone’s different. Read more

Is it Easier to Pay off Debt or to Diet?

Greetings, friends! Today we have a guest post for you from fellow blogger, Sara Williams. Sara started the Debt Camel blog a few years ago where she chats about everything to do with debt in Britain, from mortgages and credit ratings to payday loans and bankruptcy. Enjoy!

Losing weight and getting out of debt have a lot in common. Keeping a spending diary is like tracking your calories, both need a lot of will power, crash methods usually fail pretty quickly.

And with both there will be some bad patches. Christmas can be a disaster for your waistline and your wallet! Read more

12 Steps to a More Comfortable Retirement

Today’s financial experts will tell you that we’re not saving enough for retirement. With only 32% of Americans being involved in a workplace retirement plan and the average couple having only $5,000 saved for retirement, I agree: there is work to do.

The numbers are dim, indeed. Investment giant Fidelity tells us that a 50 year old should have six times his or her salary saved in a retirement account and a 60 year old should have eight times their salary saved. If you are worried about your retirement situation, there are things you can do to change it, even if you’re getting up there in age. Read more

7 Steps to Success That Most People Aren’t Willing to Learn or Utilize

Making changes that will lead you to success in any area is tough work. Whether your goal is to lose weight, pay off your mortgage or reach that million dollar mark in your investment account, a daunting goal is hard for most people to hold on to.

In this world of “I want it now and I shall have it now!” we’ve become offended at the suggestion of waiting for more – and often at the suggestion we work our tails off. Read more

7 Beauty Hacks that Save Us Thousands of Dollars Each Year

It costs money to look good. A recent article in the Huff Post showed that the average woman in the U.S. spends $8 a day on her face alone.

Montana girls came in at the lowest rate: $3.50 a day (go, Mrs. Montana Money Adventure!) while New York, Connecticut and West Virginia tied for the highest at $11 a day (although I doubt Mrs. Living Rich Cheaply spends $4k a year on her beautiful face. Andrew, what’s the scoop?). Read more

6 Money Beliefs That Might Be Keeping You Poor

Today’s post is a guest post from Jon over at Money Smart Guides. Enjoy!

You think you know your way around money, huh?

Then how come you still have credit card debt, or how come you don’t have an emergency fund and a $10,000 car note?

There are some very commonly held beliefs about money that have permeated our culture and our way of life over the last 30 or 40 years. But if you step back and think about it, the beliefs that we seem to have been conditioned to learn did not come from a high-school or college-level personal-finance course. Chances are they came from the marketing-heavy credit-card companies. Read more