Having a defined plan to both get out of and stay out of debt can help release some of the financial stress even before you have made any payments.

Enjoying something you don't own is oftentimes much less expensive than owning and maintaining the object of your enjoyment.

Our financial decisions are often shaped by those around us. Social media allows "those around us" to not only be those physically near us but really those around the globe.

Should this tax deduction impact your car buying decision? In almost all cases, no. Buying solely to get the tax deduction would not be advisable.

How would it change your budget or spending plan if you knew how long you would live?

Nothing quite makes me feel like trying to keep up with the Joneses then the school drop off line.

It isn't uncommon for households to have 10+ bank accounts and credit cards. This is one of the most basic hurdles to overcome when someone attempts to track transactions.

The opportunities to teach financial lessons to our kids are endless. Intentionally and creatively teaching money concepts can have lifelong impact.

I have seen the simple practice of regularly tracking personal expenditures improve cash flow. This allows more financial margin to be applied to financial goals.

Understanding income taxes may only be exciting to the odd few (myself included) but it can result in actual dollars in your pocket.

Mortgage payments are typically made up of three primary components - principal, interest, and escrow. An increasing payment oftentimes has to do with that third item- escrow.

One of the more common misunderstandings I see is how people see the relationship between tax withholdings and actual tax owed.

What you consciously or subconsciously have made your financial goal, will dramatically alter your behavior.

One of the overlooked benefits of tracking transactions is it allows you to see fraudulent charges much sooner.

Knowing how the professional you are working with is receiving their compensation can help you be aware of underlying conflicts of interest that may exist.

One of the most helpful financial steps someone can take requires little to no financial knowledge. Routinely list out the state of your financial picture.

It is always important to make sure your beneficiaries reflect your wishes even if you have legal documents completed.

Given that we are not all-knowing, we must make the best decisions we can with the information available to us without allowing prior non-refundable expenses to “guilt” us into doing one thing or another.

Don't just keep your emergency fund in your checking account. Review what you are earning on cash deposits and see if there are better alternatives.

The shift from "want to" to "have to" is dangerous. There are almost always more options than we initially evaluate.