The first collectible craze that I was old enough to be aware of was the Beanie Baby mania of the 1990s. I knew one woman—a mother of two little boys who couldn’t have cared less about stuffed animals—who made it her mission to own each and every one of the Beanie Baby line, and often…
One of the biggest financial mistakes I ever made was during my senior year in college. I was having trouble paying off my credit card each month, and so I decided I could let myself get into a little bit of debt, since I’d be working a “real” job after I graduated and could take…
It used to be that your cable and internet connections were luxuries. But between your Game of Thrones addiction and your expectation for constant connectivity, cable and internet have been upgraded to necessities. Unfortunately, the cable companies recognize that we’re lost without HBO and hi-speed wifi, and they charge accordingly. As much as it may…
With the hint of spring in the air, our thoughts start turning to brackets, Cinderella stories, and the elusive sure thing. Yes, it’s time once again for March Madness. If you’re like 20% of workers, you’re going to take part in an office March Madness betting pool this year. And while you have the potential…
Whether you want to increase your home’s footprint to make room for your expanding family, or you want to undo the ugliness perpetrated on your home by a previous owner, planning a major home makeover can be an exciting prospect. Unfortunately, that excitement can often blind homeowners to the enormous price tag for a big…
The 30-year fixed rate mortgage has long been the standard loan term for homebuyers, and for many good reasons. A 30-year loan helps to keep monthly mortgage payments lower, keeping home ownership (and larger homes) within reach of the average homebuyer. And for years, the slight interest rate improvement offered by the 15-year mortgage was…
Thanks to the American Taxpayer Relief Act (also known as the “fiscal cliff” tax bill), one popular tax credit has now become permanent: the Child Tax Credit. However, since we’re dealing with the IRS here, the details of this credit can be a little difficult to figure out. Here is what you need to know…