Finance Globe

"Deals" are everywhere you turn during the holiday season. Retailers are just as eager to make a dollar as consumers are to save a dollar. Some offer seemingly extraordinary discounts while others lure you with special financing deals, especially with higher-priced items. “Pay no interest until 2015,” one might read. Another may offer “0% for 18 months.” While you may see more of these offers during peak shopping seasons, like the winter holidays, many retailers offer...

We can get so bogged down by the demands of our daily lives that we forget about the future, about planning for it and taking steps to make sure we’re securing the future we desire. Sometimes daily life can be so demanding that we forget to even think about the future, much less plan and actively work for it. It can be hard to focus on what we want for our lives decades from now, especially...

I’m on stage, speaking to a huge crowd of people I’ve never met before about a subject far outside my comfort zone, and I’m naked. I cannot see my audience members’ faces or hear their voices, so I can’t read their reactions. I can’t tell if they’ve even heard a single word I’ve said . . .I’ve just described a dream most of us have had (or some variation of it) at some time in our...

The idea that one born poor can work hard and improve their economic position is one that’s been around for decades and is still prevalent. In a Pew Charitable Trusts, poll 40% of Americans said they believe that it’s common for a poor person to work hard and become rich in the United States. However, research from Pew reveals that not it’s not so easy to move away from the lower income levels and to do...

Some times are tougher than others. There may be times in your life that your finances are hard to manage. For example, if you’ve recently lost your job or suffered a pay cut, you may not have enough money to pay all the expenses you have. Ideally, you’ll get new employment soon enough that you don’t have to miss any payments, but it doesn’t always work out that way. You may face the tough decision of...

If a friend or family members comes to you with a request for financial help, you may struggle with the decision. Depending on your personality and your beliefs about money, you may jump at the chance to help out someone. Or, you may turn them away, if you have a policy to never loan money. Whatever you decide, it could have a major impact on your relationship. Who is it? Suffice it to say, your relationship...

Windfalls can be both a blessing and curse. When a sudden and unexpected chunk of cash blows our way most of us will squander it all in a New York minute. So say the statistics. We’ve all heard cautionary tales of lottery winners who, ironically, end up destitute within a year and a half of becoming millionaires. Hang on a moment. I need to clarify something here. Before you start getting all excited for me (or...

Much of the U.S. government has been shutdown since the beginning of the October while the nation’s decision makers try to figure out how the government is going to pay its bills. Meanwhile, scammers are taking advantage of the shutdown to trick consumers into giving up personal information that can be used for fraud. Sallie Mae, Student Loan Forgiveness ScamAmid the shutdown, there have been quite a few fake social media accounts created claiming to be...

Most expenses are paid every month and so they’re pretty easy to remember. When you create your budget, you’re not likely to forget things like rent or mortgage, utility payments, credit card payments, etc. But, there are expenses that don’t come so regularly, that you pay only once or twice a year. These oft-forgotten expenses can break your budget during those months, especially if you forget about them. Here are some expenses that you might forget...

Having an “I don’t care” don’t care attitude about anything is dangerous. Being careless about your money is a severe threat to your security and freedom, now and in the future. No matter how much money you have, you can’t afford not to care about your spending. Are you spending carelessly? Here are a few signs. Careless spenders don’t create or adhere to a budget and, subsequently waste a lot of money. Many people avoid budgeting...