A bad investment

I purchased my first condo when I was 24 yrs old, putting down 20%, a little over 4 years ago. At the time, it seemed like a good investment. Now, it seems like it has "bad idea" written all over it. The...

How did you decide how much life insurance to buy?

In my experience, life insurance is more often sold than purchased. Don't get me wrong: there are times in your life when life insurance is essential. A classic example is when you have young children (like I...

Protecting from landlords

Hi I was wondering if anyone else had tips for how to protect yourself from getting ripped off by landlords? So far, I've been documenting everything in writing, but are there other precautions I need to take in order to be...

401K

With our current financial crisis, what's the most effective way to monitor and manage my dwindling 401K?

Wackiest ways to save a buck?

We've all done it - strange rituals, actions or gone to great lengths for the sake of some extra greenbacks. So let's hear it: share your wackiest, craziest, funniest or downright clever things you've done to save a buck (or...

Discussing Finances with Your Partner (ouch!)

Since everyone's talking about finances and money during these tough economic times, I put together a few quick tips that can help keep stress levels down when you're discussing budgets with your significant other. Let me...

401(k) early withdrawl?

I got a 1099-R from my previous company's 401(k) plan saying that the account was payed out to me in 2008. I logged onto their website to check the account and it does in fact say that a check was issued and the account was...

Five Reasons It's Easier to Save When You're Young

Many twenty-somethings think saving will become easier to do when they reach their thirties and earn a bigger paycheck. Interestingly, many thirty-somethings plan on doing the same thing when they reach their forties....

First Time Homebuyer's Tax Credit Question

Last August I closed on my first home and about a week later I got married. While I this was my first home, my wife has already purchased her first home (and so wouldn't qualify for the first time homebuyer's...

Is there such a thing as too much debt?

The reaction to that title is likely to be a quick yes from most people but let me explain what I mean... I have always dreamed of practicing medicine, and I have generally held that no cost was too steep to do what I love...