Families

Top seven car-buying mistakes

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:15:07 GMT

Before you go car shopping, learn from the car-buying mistakes of others so you can avoid making them yourself. Buying a car is exciting, and it’s easy to get swept up by your emotions. But as with any major expense, it’s worth taking the time to weigh your decisions carefully so you don’t end up with a bum de...

Should you buy or lease a car?

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:15:07 GMT

Use our questionnaire to help decide whether buying or leasing is best for you. Your driving habits and preferences, financial situation and objectives all play a part in determining whether you should buy or lease your next car. See which of the statements below best describe y...

3 things to know before shopping for a new car

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:15:07 GMT

Doing your research before ever setting foot on a car lot can save you thousands. If you’re in the market for a new car, you may be tempted to get started at the car dealership. But before you start scoping out new models, it pays to do some research at your computer. Here are thr...

Young families, start managing your credit early

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:53 GMT

Adjust your finances to prioritize your debt, save for future goals and build equity in your home. As your family grows, your tactics for managing your credit will probably change. Read on for some tips that you can use to manage your credit while your family is young. Prioritize your de...

Young families and debt management

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:53 GMT

Know the difference between smart debt and dumb debt. Whether you are just starting out or nearing retirement, debt management is an important skill to master. As a young family, you may suddenly have more expenses than ever before. By understanding the...

Used car buying basics for mature families

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:53 GMT

Getting a good deal on a used car goes beyond the seller's asking price. As your family matures, your transportation needs will change. You might need to buy a used car for a teenaged driver in your family, or you might want a used car to keep at your vacation home. Whate...

Tips for saving money as your family matures

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:53 GMT

You can devise a saving strategy as your children approach college and you approach retirement. As your kids grow older and you settle in to your career, you might find that you need to make adjustments to accommodate this new period in your life. Your children may need braces, a car and money ...

Tips for managing your credit as your family matures

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:53 GMT

Use your home equity wisely, pay off your debts and plan for retirement. As your family matures and you grow closer to retirement age, you will need to adjust your finances to accommodate your new financial goals and the future of your family. You will also need to adjust...

Teaching kids about money

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:53 GMT

Helping your kids to develop good money habits from an early age can bring life-long benefits. It’s important to start teaching your kids financial concepts at an early age. By gradually introducing them to the fundamentals of saving and spending, you can communicate important values that can ...

Saving money: Grow your money as your family grows

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:53 GMT

Make a plan for saving to help your children and your own finances. As your family grows, you may encounter all kinds of new financial obligations which change your spending and saving habits. You may find that you need to adjust your finances to accommodate childcar...

Saving for retirement: Young families

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:53 GMT

It's hard to save for retirement when you have a young family. Here are some things to consider. With diapers, soccer practice and minivans, saving for retirement can easily get lost in the craziness of raising a young family. With a new slew of financial challenges, you may wonder how you’ll ev...

Outdoor rooms for young families

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:53 GMT

Tips for creating an outdoor room for your family An outdoor room is a great way to increase the living space of your home.  As a young family, you may find space is hard to come by.  With children in the house, you have less room ...

Online banking basics for mature families

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:52 GMT

Online banking makes managing your money much easier. As a mature family, if you are not already utilizing online banking, it may be time to consider it.  Once you learn the basics, you can find that online banking makes your financial life muc...

Not saving enough for retirement? Here's help

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:52 GMT

You can make changes to your finances to pave the way to a comfortable retirement. The financial needs and wants of your maturing family can knock your retirement savings plan off track. When you have costs such as braces, cars and college tuition, you may end up losing focus on yo...

Money Management: Tips for Mature Families

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:52 GMT

Learn the difference between wants and needs, and live within your means. One of the biggest keys to successful money management is to learn to live within your means. In our culture of instant gratification, it can be hard to distinguish wants from needs. As a mature fami...

Money management for young families

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:52 GMT

When starting a family, it's important to live within your means. When it comes to responsible money management, the most important step is to learn to live within your means. In our culture of instant gratification, it can be hard to distinguish wants from needs. ...

Make sure you fit retirement into your budget

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:52 GMT

It's not only possible to put aside money when you're young, but it's more important than ever Saving for retirement may seem like a low priority for young families, especially when your debt is adding up quickly. New debt like the mortgage and car payments combined with old debt like student ...

How to save enough for retirement when you have a family

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:52 GMT

Having trouble balancing saving for retirement and your family's growing expenses? Here's help. As your family matures, your finances will probably undergo some serious changes. Although you may be on top of your game professionally, you and your family are probably approaching some costly purc...

How to retire early: Tips for young families

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:52 GMT

Starting to invest early and following some important guidelines can help you on the way to an early retirement. With daycare costs, soccer practice and dirty diapers, you may feel like you’ll never reach retirement, much less retire early. But with some prudent decisions and careful planning you can raise a fi...

How to retire early: Tips for mature families

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:52 GMT

Go beyond your 401(k), make consistent contributions to your retirement accounts, and continue making money if you want to retire early. As your family matures and you make strides in your career, you may be thinking about taking an early retirement. This means a lot of hard work and a tremendous amount of financial preparation. Here ...

How much allowance should your kids get?

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:52 GMT

Children's ages, expenses, parental means and attitudes toward money all play a part in your decision. Both parenting and financial experts agree that giving kids a regular allowance is a great idea. An allowance provides them with an opportunity to learn financial resources are limited and to make ch...

Good habits can get you out of debt

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:52 GMT

Start while your family is young. Having a young family can be quite expensive, which makes it very easy to get into debt during this life stage. You may feel like you can’t quite make ends meets, especially when you have diapers, pr...

Evaluating and adjusting your retirement plan

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:51 GMT

Giving your retirement plan a checkup as you raise a young family can help you stay on course for a comfortable future. With all of the financial changes that go along with raising a young family, you may feel like you’ll never get to retirement. Though it may be far off, evaluating your retirement saving plan and mak...

Eliminate your debt

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:51 GMT

Tips to conquer debt as your family matures. As your family matures, your financial situation will probably undergo some serious changes. You may be making more money due to career advancements and your kids may be covering some of their own ex...

Decorating for young families

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:51 GMT

A little planning and creativity can help decorate a living room on a budget. Decorating the family room, or great room, can be a challenge for a young family.  It is not a playroom, yet the kids’ toys inevitably end up there.  With a little work, de...

Debt management tips for mature families

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:51 GMT

Understanding the difference between smart debt and dumb debt is key. Debt management is an important skill to master, no matter what life stage you are in. As part of a mature family, you probably have established yourself in a career, but you may also have huge costs...

Credit Repair Tips for Young Families

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:51 GMT

Try these five tips for young families to improve your credit repair As a young family, you may have already found yourself in need of credit repair. Perhaps you have put too much financial stress on yourself as your expenses rose but your income didn't quite keep up....

Credit Repair Tips for Mature Families

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:51 GMT

Start repairing your credit with these five borrowing tips for mature families. Even mature families can find themselves in need of credit repair. Perhaps you’ve put too much financial stress on yourself as your expenses rose but your income didn’t quite keep up. The following b...

Credit cards: Smart moves for maturing families

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:50 GMT

Use your credit cards wisely so you'll be in control of your finances for retirement and sending your kids to college. Credit cards can be tricky. It’s important to use them wisely so they build your credit, but do not land you in debt. As a maturing family, your financial goals are probably changing. Your children m...

Creating an outdoor room on a budget

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:50 GMT

Add to your living space by creating an outdoor room with the following tips. An outdoor room is a great way to increase the useable space in your home.  As your family grows, you have a lot of flexibility in how you can create your outdoor room.  Consider th...

Comparison shopping as your family matures

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:50 GMT

Use these tips to save money by comparison shopping for refinancing options, colleges and cell phones. Refinancing your home As you settle into your career and your family matures, your financial picture will start to change. Now is the time that you may be interested in refinancing your mortgage. Thi...

Comparison shopping as your family grows

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:50 GMT

Save money on essentials for your growing family. You may find that the importance of comparison shopping grows as your family does. You will probably have to face new costs related to school, extra-curricular activities and other major purchases. T...

Bank accounts: Joint or separate?

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:50 GMT

Money is a common cause of marital discord. But keeping separate bank accounts may not be a quick fix. When you marry or move in with someone, you must decide how you and your partner will handle your finances as a couple. Typically, one of the first questions you confront is whether or not you should...

Are you saving enough for retirement?

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:50 GMT

You can make changes to your finances to pave the way to a comfortable retirement. Raising a young family can be a costly endeavor which may make your retirement plan suffer. If you feel like you’re not saving enough for your future, here are some tips to get you back on track to a...

Are you on track with your retirement savings?

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:50 GMT

Resist the temptation to dip into retirement accounts now, experts say. For mature families, saving for retirement is no longer a long-term goal. This often means reassessing whether you’ve been saving enough, and could mean shifting some priorities to put retirement sav...

Adjusting and evaluating your retirement plan

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:49 GMT

Giving your retirement plan a checkup as your family matures can help you stay on course for a comfortable future. As your family matures, your financial profile will change, as well. Your kids may be working part time jobs and cars and college are probably major topics of discussion in your family. You have also...

A young family's guide to getting rich

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:49 GMT

Your money can grow right along with your children. It’s not easy to get rich while raising a young family, but you can get a good start. There are definitely major financial strains that go along with this life stage. You probably haven’t reached the...

Used car buying basics for young families

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:49 GMT

Getting a good deal on a used car goes beyond the seller's asking price. Having a young family has its own set of financial challenges. That’s why when you need a car, buying a used vehicle may be a smart financial move. Here are some tips that young families can use to g...

New car buying basics for young families

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:49 GMT

Getting a good deal on a new car goes beyond the dealer's asking price. As your young family grows, you might find that you need a new car to accommodate carpools, strollers, book bags and all of the other items associated with having children. Here are some tips that yo...

Buying a used car from an individual: Young families

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:49 GMT

Buying a used car from an individual can be a great move if you follow some important guidelines. Having a young family means that you need more space in your home and your car, but, due to the costs of having small children, you probably have less money! One of the best ways to get to get a vehi...

Buying a car for your growing family

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:44:49 GMT

As your needs change, a new car may be in your future. As your family grows, you will need to make certain changes in your lifestyle — like saving for college, getting a bigger house and adjusting your work schedule to accommodate after-school activities...