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Executing the executor role

Over the course of a long life, an individual’s financial affairs can become exceptionally complicated. He or she has likely assembled a portfolio of savings, stocks and bonds, life insurance policies,...

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Marriage and money: Sharing the load

Over the past 30 years, I’ve had ample opportunity to see how married couples handle their finances. Some do a better job than others, but in general it is healthier for those finances — and the...

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What the America’s Cup victory can teach you about your financial future

If you didn’t hear the news,  the America’s Cup was run in San Francisco recently. What it isn’t The way the sailboaters and media make it sound, the America’s Cup pits one nation’s best against the...

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Take a day off for (often forgotten) financial housekeeping

There are two categories of tasks that keep the financial machine running smoothly — essential tasks and beneficial tasks. Most people recognize the essential tasks as something they should do at least...

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Budgeting for the present and future

Most people wrestle with a conflict between the present and the future — how do they meet immediate financial needs and still set aside money for retirement? Learning how to use budgets can be a way of...

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How to prepare financially for a bundle of joy

We will be welcoming our first child in less than a week. We started having a lot of conversations about starting a family a couple of years ago and have been preparing for it, including moving from...

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The two-word secret to personal finance success

It wasn’t long ago I suggested in this space there was a one-word reason for the colossal indebtedness of Americans. That word, I ventured, was “supersize.” By supersizing everything from combo meals...

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Why I think of money at Thanksgiving

Don’t worry — this article isn’t going to be as cynical as that title may sound. I don’t even think my sentiments are especially materialistic. However, I do think handling money the right way is one...

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Why New Year’s resolutions fail and what to do differently next year

Have you started thinking about New Year’s resolutions? Do you want to lose weight in 2014,  save more money or spend more time with family? I know I do. And research shows that roughly half of all...

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Lack of sleep costing you a fortune?

A sleep-deprived, bleary-eyed look is practically a rite of passage for most new parents. I knew I wouldn’t get much sleep for the first few months, so I planned for it. I finished all my assignments...

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Financial to dos before you say “I do”

Money is a sensitive topic — even between loved ones. When my husband and I got married, money was the last thing on our mind. The only knowledge we had of each other’s finances was that neither of us...

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To love, cherish and argue about money

In the 1960s-era suburban landscape where I spent my formative years, the atmosphere was much less structured than it is today. If we kids wanted to see our friends, it was routine for us to run to...

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How to keep your pets safe this winter

This post comes from Halina Matt at our partner site Zing. If you live in these United States, then you’re painfully aware that so far, this has been one of the coldest winters ever on record. Well,...

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Which fitness band is best for you?

This post comes from Stephanie Koske at our partner site Zing. I find myself face to face with all sorts of life-changing decisions these days. Hit the snooze button? Or rise early for a morning...

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How to save money on road trips

It is time to plan summer vacations. If you are planning to fly to your destination, now is the best time to start setting up price alerts for the plane tickets and signing up for credit cards if you...

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How to rear money-smart kids

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau estimated, in 2013, that outstanding student loans have swelled to over $1.2 trillion. Seven in ten college seniors who graduated in 2012 had student loan debt,...

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Parents’ attitudes toward money and kids

As parents, we pick up a fair amount of information from other parents. There’s some good advice, some bad advice, and then there are opinion surveys. Even though I tend to second-guess the way some of...

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Have you considered these low-cost healthcare options?

We have a nephew who lives in Switzerland whose wife recently gave birth to their second son. She stayed in hospital for an entire week and the blessed event cost them … nothing. Contrast that with...

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Wills that leave values, not valuables

You’re accustomed to seeing personal-finance articles on this site, and a quick scan of the archives will reveal every imaginable personal-finance subject. You’ll find blogs about the best...

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Why cutting the cord might not work

Time was when you had a home phone and you watched TV with a rabbit-ear antenna. Life was cheap then. Well, almost: I remember paying $3.95 a minute to make a phone call from Orange County to New York....

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Managing Your Finances During a Breakup

This post comes from Jen Smialek at our partner site Quizzle.com. We’ve all been there before: You’ve just broken up with your significant other, and you are heartbroken. Regardless of who did the...

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Speaking Well of the Dearly Departed: You

If you’re like me, you hold the firm belief that a personal finance site like the one you’re currently visiting should occasionally offer more than the usual advice. Oh, it’s fine if these posts...

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In Sickness and in Wealth: Why Today’s Couples Keep Separate Accounts

This post comes from Shana Lebowitz at our partner site LearnVest. It’s hard to find a more romantic topic than banking—but nearly every couple eventually faces the question: Should we combine our...

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How to save money on dental insurance

When I transitioned from a full-time job to being self-employed, one of the biggest hurdles I faced was finding low-cost health insurance. Finding affordable dental insurance proved to be even more...

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Overwhelmed at Work and Home? You May Be Living on ‘Contaminated Time’

This post comes from Colleen Oakley at our partner site LearnVest. “There just aren’t enough hours in the day.” “I’m crazy busy.” “My to-do list is a mile long.” If you’re like most Americans, you...

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Must-Have Websites and Apps for Parents

This post comes from Dawn Jamison at our partner site Zing! One of the most exciting things about being a new parent is learning about all of the wonderful toys and technologies that exist for kids!...

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Silence Not Golden in Intergenerational Family Finance

The last time I ran into one of my favorite cousins, the conversation soon turned to which far-flung family members she had recently heard from. She divulged she hadn’t yet heard from my youngest...

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Tips to Save Money on Back-to-School Shopping

According to the National Retail Foundation’s 2014 Back-to-School Survey, the average family with children in grades K-12 will spend $669.28 on apparel, shoes, supplies and electronics. It is even...

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I Was the Victim of a Financial Bully

These days, there’s a lot of attention being focused on the subject of bullying. This emphasis is well justified. The whole bullying experience tends to be destructive and wreak long-term consequences....

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Moving ASAP? Follow These Steps!

This post comes from Anthony Fontana at our partner site Zing! Is there anything worse than moving? Before you call me lazy, I’m not talking about moving from the couch to the refrigerator for a...

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Are Your Adult Children Destroying Your Retirement?

I can still remember the days when the term “generation gap” was all the rage. Back in the late 1960s and early 1970s, that term was bandied about to describe the yawning philosophical chasm between...

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Planning a fun, frugal Halloween

Tis’ time for the spookiest holiday of the year and a record number of Americans are planning to participate in the scare festival. According to the National Retail Federation, more than two-thirds...

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Top 10 Money Mistakes New Parents Make

Having a child is an exciting and exhausting experience. The feeling of holding your newborn in your arms cannot be described in words. Along with this exhilarating feeling, though, comes sleep...

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When Taking Vows, Vow to Spend Less

Talk to anyone 19 to 90, and they’re likely to have very clear memories of their first experience going steady. Mine came at the decidedly ancient age of 17, and I can recall that star-crossed life...

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How to make money from home by starting a daycare

Quite a few parents choose to stay home because their entire salary would go to daycare if they went back to work full time after the birth of their child. If you are one of the stay-at-home parents...

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8 questions to ask before lending money to friends

It’s one of the most awkward questions a friend can ask you: “Will you lend me some money?” Awkward for your friend to have to ask, and awkward for you to have to answer. Saying “no” could adversely...

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Why borrowing for a wedding is a bad idea

I enjoy weddings. I’m just not sure how much I’d pay for one. That thought was prompted by reading recently that the typical wedding in the United States costs around $30, 000 these days. Now, I’m a...

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Can You Find a Hobby That Actually Saves You Money?

Expensive hobbies can really wreak havoc on your budget. Fortunately, there are frugal hobbies out there that are enjoyable and offer money-saving opportunities. Here’s a list of ten hobbies that save...

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20 Money Saving Tips for the Holidays (#3 is our secret weapon)

All of us, I’m sure, are busy shopping and planning for gifts for all the people we care about. In the process, though, we need to take some precautions. We don’t want to end up in a situation where we...

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Top 5 Financial Moves to Make This Year

With a new year comes the chance to have a fresh start. According to a Fidelity study, more than one-third of Americans set a financial resolution for 2017. Whether or not you set a financial...

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How to Save Money on Food

Food is an unavoidable expense. We all have to eat and none of us really want to skimp on the food we buy. So, how do we realistically trim that area of our budget? Luckily, there are many ways to save...

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How Much Life Insurance Do You Need?

No one wants to think about death — but ignoring the possibility doesn’t change the fact that you still need to prepare for the worst. A big part of this planning process is buying a life insurance...

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You Can Only Spend Each Dollar Once

Over the weekend, I sat down to talk a bit about money with our oldest son. He receives a decent monthly allowance, he got some gift money for his birthday back in October, and he also makes money...

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How to Prepare to Shift Into a New Career

Whether you’re driven by practicality or passion, the reality is that for many of us, career change is “the new normal.” It largely due to a potent combination of a volatile employment landscape, and...

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Everything You Need to Know About Renter’s Insurance

If you rent your home, you may be wondering what protection you have in the event of vandalism or a natural disaster. Renter’s insurance is designed to provide financial coverage for renters, since...

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How Being Unhealthy Can Impact Your Finances

You may not think about it, but your health can affect your finances… sometimes in ways you wouldn’t expect. There’s the immediate cost of unhealthy behaviors, such as buying cigarettes or fast food....

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Building an Emergency Fund

I’m sure that you’ve heard this before, but it bears repeating: when you’re getting your financial house in order, your first step should be to build up an emergency fund. An emergency fund helps you...

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Can You Take Time Off to Raise a Family Without Ruining Your Career?

In an ideal world, you would really be able to “have it all.” You know, the perfect parent with a model career, which fits neatly alongside family life. The reality is, though, parents often feel like...

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6 Easy Steps to Gain Control of Your Money

Getting help with your finances can be overwhelming. Before seeking help from others, here are 6 ways you can gain control of your money on your own. It’s no secret that many Americans are worried...

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The Fine Art of ‘Reverse Budgeting’

Budgeting is an incredibly popular topic among the financially savvy. And yet some of the most financially-savvy people I know don’t actually budget. With zero based budgeting, there’s no longer any...

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