Perhaps you’ve assumed that a “credit union” is another title for a bank. This is a big misconception. Continue reading →

Can making good grades really save you money in college? Yes— but it’s important to plan your education as much as you can, and be on the lookout for “bargains”. Continue reading →

Well folks, the time has come for this Solvency Shark to migrate to other waters. We’ve explored a lot of ground here— from the American Dream to international economic crises, and even how to create secure passwords. Continue reading →

At some point in school, most of us were hounded by a teacher who emphasized a concept with “you’ll need to know this later, or else!” We chalked this up to exaggeration.

It turns out that teacher was right, when it comes to math and finances. Continue reading →

Truthfully, sticking to a “set in stone” budget is no easy feat. What you may have to turn to is a personal incremental budget. Incremental Budgeting implies using a previous budget or your actual spending habits as a basis for your current budget¹. Your past spending serves as a tool for the new budget, and you use this information to add incremental amounts as you go along. This type of budget forces you to look at how you are really spending your money, what you are spending your money on, and how to change how you budget in general. There are many advantages to using approach but there are also some drawbacks. Continue reading →

The secret to keeping costs down in general is being aware of what you use. Once you know the details of your expenses, you can find services that meets your needs at the lowest price.

This includes cell phone service, too. If you’re looking to lower your bills, these are the areas you need to examine: Continue reading →

Face facts: the economy is really crummy right now.

Whether you’re looking at reduced wages, reduced hours, a lower-paying job or no job at all, the trickle-down effect is felt in nearly every sector. Employers and consumers are forced to cut back everywhere. Continue reading →

Loose Change – Getting Rid of It.

Let’s be honest, nobody likes carrying around change. It clinks around in pants pockets and jingles noisily in purses. Plus it’s heavy. It’s no wonder that the “dollar coin” movement failed pretty quickly. In practice, though, everyone has more spare change than they want. What is the best way to get rid of it all? There are a few ways, all varying in degrees of effectiveness. Continue reading →