Money & Finance Archives -

Popularity or Success: Which Brass Ring for You?

March 24, 2017

The two biggest accolades you can receive as a team leader are popularity and success. The question becomes which of the two holds the greatest leverage on you.

The two biggest accolades you can receive as a team leader are popularity and success. Unfortunately, most of us are driven more by our fears than by the promise of accolades. The two greatest fears for most leaders on point are the fear of failure and the loss of popularity within the team. Few people willingly accept the stigma associated with failure, and it is hard to fathom anyone actually wanting to …

How Much Does That Home Renovation Project Cost?

February 11, 2017

Renovation requires careful planning, which includes budgeting, timing and a lot of contractor interviews if you want to find the right person and price.

By: Stephanie Lynch

Renovations, depending on what you want to be done, can be all over the place. Some jobs can be in the low thousands, while some extensive jobs could be as much as your home mortgage.

If you’re thinking about any home renovation project in the future, let’s dig deep and see what the job may cost you.

What determines the cost of renovation?
It goes without saying that the more extensive the project …

2017 Consumer Electronics Show Highlights

January 11, 2017

Although, there were many interesting exhibits at the 2017 CES, I visited only areas that might interest baby-boomer women.

From the many interesting exhibits at the 2017 CES, I selected the following products for my review:

Reliefband: Drug-free relief from nausea, retching and vomiting

This is a wearable “smartband” that uses the body’s natural neural pathways to regulate the mechanisms causing nausea, retching and vomiting.

When activated, the device emits gentle pulses to the P6 pressure point of the median nerve on underside of the wrist. These intermittent signals modulate the body’s natural neural pathways and block the sensation …

Ten Tips to Protect Seniors from Financial Crimes

December 29, 2016

Thieves frequently target seniors for many financial crimes including burglary, robbery and personal theft. Don’t be a victim.

Sweet, trusting, kind. These are three words most people use to describe their aging parents or grandparents. But unfortunately, a growing number of people are adding the word “victim” to the list.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics, each year, tens of thousands of senior citizens are victimized by crimes motivated by economic gain. Thieves frequently target seniors for the crimes of burglary, robbery and personal theft, sweepstakes and telemarketing fraud, home-improvement scams and identity theft.

Experts …

christmas gifts

Hard to Buy Holiday Gifts

December 16, 2016

There are likely some names on your list that don’t fit into a predefined group of friends or family. Here are some ideas for gifts to give this holiday season.

By: Amy Nicole

After writing down all the holiday shopping you need to do this holiday season, there are likely some names on your list that don’t fit into a predefined group of friends or family. Your kids’ teachers and coaches; your boss and colleagues; babysitters or nannies; mail carriers; and even your hairdresser are all people who deserve a little something extra around the holidays for making your …

Preventing Identity Theft

December 13, 2016

You must take steps to prevent your identity from being stolen. It can take years to clear it up, so a little prevention is the answer.

By: Chris McElroy and Jennifer Tarzian

Did you know that in some states Identity Theft is not even against the law? The theft of your personal information, such as social security number, driver’s license number, credit card and bank account numbers, and mother’s maiden name must be carefully guarded.

What is Identity Theft?

It is the theft of your personal information, such as social security number, driver’s license number, credit card and bank account …

financial stress relief

Financial Stress Caused by Debt

October 19, 2016

If you are behind in paying your bills, you can expect to hear from a debt collector. These calls can cause you a great deal of stress.

Debt Collection

If you are behind in paying your bills, you can expect to hear from a debt collector. A debt collector is someone, other than the creditor, who regularly collects debts owed to someone else. Lawyers who collect debts on a regular basis are considered debt collectors, too.

Debt Relief Services

If you’ve maxed out your credit cards and don’t know how you’re going to pay off your debts, you may think …

Maximum Return on Your Credit Cards

October 18, 2016

Most credit cards now offer reward points, cash back, 0% transfers, credit monitoring, discount gasoline or money-market savings.

By: Francis Kier

There has been an explosion of credit cards that specialize in certain benefits over the last five years: reward points, cash back, 0% transfers, credit monitoring, discount gasoline, money-market savings, etc. So how do you get the most return from your card, particularly when their plans change?

(Presuming you never, ever carry a credit card balance – interest charges and potential fees will more than consume any side benefit that a card can offer.)

In the old …

How to Get a Free Credit Report

September 18, 2016

Many consumers do not know that everyone is entitled to a free copy of his credit report from each of the three credit bureaus each year.

By: Daphne Succes

TransUnion, Experian and Equifax provide your credit report to loan officers, credit card companies, financial institutions and anyone whom you give permission to obtain a copy of your credit file.

If you are applying for a credit card, mortgage, car or personal loan, you should be familiar with the information included in your credit report. You are issued a number, known as a FICO score, which is calculated …

senior living

Options for Senior Living Communities

September 12, 2016

What are your options for senior living communities if you are an independent and active senior? Top communities have wait lists for new residents.

By: James Connolley

Once upon a time, independent seniors did not have many options available to them when it came to retirement living. Retirement communities were largely dull and drab places that were reserved for the seriously infirmed. They certainly were not communities were active, vibrant people wanted to live. Times have certainly changed in the past decade or so as more and more people are actively choosing to live in retirement communities. In fact, …

Paper Trail

How to Manage the Never Ending Paper Trail

August 29, 2016

Your obligation is to understand the paper trail before you begin shredding. I pieced together fractions of clues to find money that was never listed.

By: Stefania Shaffer

It hardly seems fair that as soon as we pay bills, review statements, manage family calendars and school cubbies for the month, all of this ironing out will inevitably become all bunched up again when next month’s paperwork requires the same attention.

When it’s our own personal finances, it is easier to put aside organizing—waiting until you have the time. This could be months down the road for busy people because …

best places to retire

12 Best Places in the World to Retire

August 21, 2016

Globalization made the world a very small place. It has never been more affordable and easier to retire abroad.

You worked hard so why don’t you make sure you enjoy the fruit of your labor with some actual sweet fruit in your hand! All while relaxing on an idyllic beach under a palm tree. If sand between your toes is not your idea of bliss, then somewhere around the globe you are sure to find the ideal retirement location.

There is a lot to consider when deciding where to retire. As an aging person access to good healthcare is …

travel

Being Comfortable When You Travel

June 25, 2016

Sometimes being comfortable is not only about money. Here is a list of things that could make the difference when you travel.

If you no longer want to deal with the hassles of traveling by plane or train or car, and faraway places are no longer on your bucket list, take a step back and look around you. Do you know your town well? Have you seen all there is to see?

I am the first one to admit that I am guilty of overlooking what is right in front of me. Realizing this fact, I have started to …

travel

Travel Solo or With a Tour?

June 10, 2016

Many people wonder if they should travel solo or with a tour. Both have advantages and drawbacks, which depend on your age and relationship status.

Many people wonder about traveling solo or with a tour. Both have advantages and drawbacks, which depend on your age, relationship status, and how much comfort or adventure you seek. I have done both, and from my experience as a single woman, my advice is to go with a tour.

For my first trip when I was alone, I chose to go on a tour to Egypt. I had dreamed of seeing the pyramids …

Louvre Art Gallery

Is Traveling to Paris on Your Bucket List?

May 6, 2016

Traveling is one of the bonuses that comes with retirement. You now have the time to go somewhere for as long as you like.

When it comes to traveling, you should take the advice passed on by Anthony Bourdain, host of CNN’s Places Unknown, who quoted Ernestine Ulmer: “Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first.”

Are you eating your dessert first? Many of my contemporaries say things like:

“I always wanted to go to Ireland.”
“I have never been to London.”
“It has always been a dream of mine to see Paris.”

“Why aren’t you going?” I ask them, …