Omar’s Story: Establishing Credit is the Foundation of Wealth
Meet Omar, a full-time college student living in San Francisco, CA with his parents and 21-year old son. What do you do? I’m studying behavioral science and addiction counseling at the City College of San Francisco. I want to be a part of the solution of dealing with all the pain that’s in the world—or…
Read MoreMaria’s Story: $100 Saved from Every Paycheck
Meet Maria, a social worker assistant with Tribal Child Protective Services. She lives with her husband and three daughters in Phoenix, Arizona. What do you do? My husband is a construction worker and I’m a social worker assistant with Tribal CPS. I enjoy being able to work with kids and help them through problems. What…
Read MoreCan I file taxes if my income was only SS and SSI?
Submitted by Veronica C. Living on only social security income tells me that you are resourceful and doing a good job managing your money. (SS is the benefit that you pay into during your working years and SSI is supplemental income designed to provide additional support for specific situations.) This question is tricky because I’m…
Read MoreThree Calming Strategies for Managing Money Anxiety
Mo’ money, mo’ problems? It’s one thing for The Notorious B.I.G. to say, but if you’re experiencing financial stress in your daily life, you’re not likely to agree. When you feel like you can’t make ends meet, it may seem like money is the cause of (and solution to) all your challenges. Here are a…
Read MoreTeaching Your Kids to Save Money
Think about the lessons you learned about money. How do the messages you heard in your early years impact the way you view and manage money today? Research shows that lifelong money habits are formed early. In fact, psychologists believe that by age 7 (I know, right?), kids have already developed long-lasting attitudes about money.…
Read MoreMichael’s Story: Make Your Money Work For You
Meet Michael, a substance abuse counselor who lives in San Diego, California. What do you do? I’m a substance abuse counselor. I’ve been doing it for about two years now – midlife career change. Unfortunately, it’s one of the fastest growing professions in the US, which doesn’t bode well for us. What did your upbringing…
Read MoreWhat is an Opportunity Cost?
Opportunity cost is an economics concept with huge implications in every aspect of our lives. To put it simply, when you say “yes” to one thing, you are saying “no” to another. Opportunity Cost in the Real World Let’s try an example. Say your goal is to build healthier habits by exercising every day. When…
Read More“Sharing is Caring” – Does that Apply to Bank Accounts?
Ah, opening a joint bank account or credit card – so easy to do, yet so hard to untangle if things don’t go as planned. Once you open a joint account, the money that was “yours” is now “ours.” That’s a big step for any relationship. Make sure you’re on the same page about how…
Read MoreHow can I manage money with a partner who has different money habits?
Do you have any advice for managing money and budgets with a partner who has a different view of spending and saving than I do? Submitted by anonymous. Ah, love and money! This can be blissful or stressful. For many people, money can make or break your relationship. It is pretty common to partner with…
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