Not a lot of people are lucky enough to truly love their job. While the pay and benefits might be great, just getting up and heading out the door isn’t always an exciting or even appealing idea. So, the only solution is to find a new job, but in the current economy many people often wonder - is it a bad time to change jobs? (more…)

There is no doubt that the last two years have been tough from an economic perspective. No matter the job people have or had, industries left and right have been hit hard. Sadly, since December of 2008, more than 2.5 million people have been laid off. In addition, millions of startup and small companies have failed - companies that were built on life savings, as well as heart and soul. Although experts believe it will take another two years or so for the financial situation to turn around, people still have to work, care for the family, and pay bills. Therefore, one of the best things a person can do is to look at the list of the best jobs to survive the recession. (more…)

Credit card debt is something that most Americans live with and the current credit crisis has had an effect on the amount of credit available to consumers. As credit freezes, less capital is available to these credit card companies to lend. Unfortunately, money flow has been slow due to the mortgage crisis and many have been slow to pay their payments. Defaults on credit cards are happening daily as many struggle to stay afloat with mounting job losses and lack of overall funds. As unemployment increases, so do defaults of every kind, resulting in car repossessions and home foreclosures. A recent bill has been passed in Congress that will protect consumers from any unreasonable practices perpetrated by credit companies. (more…)

In this tough economic landscape, we have to rely on honesty and integrity to see it through. It has been a difficult path to walk, but we must remain focused and know that things will start to get better as time progresses. With mounting job losses, it is sometimes very difficult to make ends meet and the challenges we face head on everyday can be truly daunting. There are many people who are just barely able to satisfy their financial responsibilities; those who work hard and long hours sometimes barely get by on their salaries. Hopefully, as the economy starts to rebound, life will get better for all of us. (more…)

When it comes to the term ‘depression’, there is still argument going on about whether the term applies to our current economic situation. While semantics are a fun way to debate away the time, the fact is that whatever you call it, the economy is in crisis and if this is not a depression, one is certainly a possibility. (more…)

Assessing the wealth of a cartoon character is something of a difficult task, considering that their wealth, like everything else about them, is completely fictional. Some organizations have made the attempt over the years, however, and what follows represents the opinions of those experts in the field of cartoon wealth. Some of the most well-heeled cartoons will be quite predictable and others may come as a genuine surprise. (more…)

Did you know that one of the simplest ways to save money is by changing the way you buy food? Eating for less need not mean a sacrifice in taste or variety. In fact, you may quickly discover that paying more attention to the amount of money you spend on groceries translates into more attention to the foods you choose and how you prepare them. Drawing inspiration from “tips and tricks to eat healthy on a budget“, here are a few hints to get you started: 

• Pack a lunch instead of buying food during the day. Ready-made food is often expensive and unhealthy. Stick to eating what you know is good for you. 
• Buy local whenever possible. Enjoying fresh and healthy food from local producers isn’t as expensive as you might expect. 
• Prepare a specific shopping list before you head out to do your food shopping and never shop on an empty stomach. This will help you avoid the impulse purchases that are based more on your poor memory or hungry stomach than any real need you might have for a product.
• Make some thrifty friends and find out what they do to save money on food and where they shop. If you have coworkers with lots of kids, ask them where they shop for food. A person accustomed to feeding lots of people in one house typically knows where to shop for the best food deals!  photo credit: x-eyedblonde

Have you taken the time to create a budget based on the amount of time you have available? We’ve all heard that time is money and yet most of us are quick to count pennies while paying little or no attention to the seconds that fly by. Unlike money, however, there is no way to store time to use at a later date. There are  no credit cards issued to use when you need 190 hours in your week instead of the usual 168.

So how do you go about making a time budget? You use the same format that you should already be using to track your financial income and expenses. Figure out approximate times for each major task you complete during a specific week. The hours you typically work, your drive times, shopping, laundry, etc. Be realistic in your estimations and don’t cut down times just to make yourself feel better about how you spend your time. Just like you’d bring some extra money to a grocery store if you knew prices changed constantly and you had a list of things to buy, make sure you leave enough margin between your tasks.

Once you have your time budget laid out, its time to see where you are wasting time and congratulate yourself for the days you use your time effectively. Setting up a time budget is a great exercise to gain a new perspective on how you are spending your life. Unlike the financial playing field, the one of time is exactly level for us all. The most financially wealthy people in the world woke up this morning…and started the day with exactly the same amount of time left as you did.

Have you made a time budget?

photo credit: Michel Filio

1. Take a road trip: It now costs you less to put gas in your car while it will take more money to get your bags on a plane. The idea of spending hours in a car with howling kids might terrify you, but they are your kids and the howls of laughter can make it worth all your effort. The key to a successful family road trip is planning. Pick a travel route that connects interesting places at least 75% of your family will enjoy. MP3 and portable DVD players can be great to keep the kids quiet, but don’t rely on them the entire trip. Technology creep has led families to spend less and less time actually communicating. Just don’t expect anything miraculous to happen. Most family bonding happens when remembering a trip, not during it. (more…)
   

We’re nearly done with 1/12th of 2009 and chances are good that your spending habits are still bad. You might not have the money to purchase large items or expensive fashion, but most of us have a little bit of cash hanging around. The problem comes from seeing that cash as just “hanging around” instead of viewing it as a brick in the massive wall of financial freedom and wealth. If you tend to spend small amounts indiscriminately, consider the following. 

1. You wouldn’t trade a can of Coke for a private tropical island, would you? Of course not! Then don’t buy frivolous items. Each time you do, you are giving up some of that tropical beach sand. Feel the sun on your face and the wind in your hair? No, you don’t, because you just drank it and now it’s gone. Figure out exactly how much cash you must have on-hand to meet your basic needs each day and carry only that amount with you. 
2. Start carrying a little notebook. If you want to be extremely chic, pick up a Moleskin at your local Barnes & Noble’s. Make a habit of writing down each time you spend money with an amount and a reason for purchase. Save receipts. Cash in on your laziness and reduce the number of times you write in your little book by reducing the times you buy things! 

I’m not saying to never buy fun small things. Just make a habit of not buying them so that when you do, they’ll be much more enjoyable.