photo credit: daryl_mitchell

A troubled economy has affected life in many ways, and has now begun to influence neighborhood real estate. Empty strip malls, fueled by a need to collect rent, are now filling their spaces with nontraditional tenants, like libraries and churches. (more…)

credit: Reverend Jellyroll Baker

Finding a way to have an additional stream of income, even if it is small, can be a great way to help you save for special occasions or to reduce your debts. If you can get this income stream from something you enjoy doing, then that’s all the better. Yahoo recently published a piece featuring a variety of hobbies that could make you money. From their case studies, we’ve got our own ideas for turning hobbies into dollars: (more…)

credit: thelastminute

Middle-aged couples often find themselves in a tricky dilemma – although they might be financially stable at the moment, they’ve got a couple of kids about to hit college, and they still have to keep an eye on their own retirement in 15 or 20 years’ time. A recent CNN case study gave a great example of a family facing this dilemma, and came out with a few useful tips that we can apply more generally.

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credit: blair christensen

When you’re planning your retirement – and some of us dream about finishing work from practically the first day we start – it can be complicated to think about how you will fund it. A Gallup survey found there are ten main sources of income for retirees, with some being more significant than others. Have a look at the list and consider where your retirement income is going to come from: (more…)