Search Results for: blog his and hers bank accounts

The Difference Between Saving and Investing: An Important Distinction for Kids to Learn

You can save or you can invest. It is a distinction that many adults struggle with as a concept. How then can kids understand the difference, and why is it so important? Most kids who are introduced to the concepts of money tend to be conservative. They like to hoard as much of their money as they can and save up for things. That is a great phase that can be utilized by parents, caregivers and teachers to teach the value and the responsibility of money. Unfortunately, most kids do not get any instruction past those initial lessons. Many experts … Continue reading →

How to Say “I Love You” Without Breaking the Bank

Listen. Do you hear that? It’s the sound of Valentine’s Day sneaking up on you. Love Day is less than a week away. That’s good news for lovebirds, not so much for eagle-eyed frugalistas looking to preserve their bank accounts in these tough economic times. Given that overpriced flowers, jewelry and chocolate are among the top Valentine’s Day gifts in the United States, it’s no wonder many wallet- watchers get nervous this time of year. Fortunately, there are a variety of inexpensive ways to show your sweetheart how much you love him or her on February 14th. The following simple … Continue reading →

Men Just Don’t Understand

Men simply don’t understand the whole concept of women’s handbags. How often have you heard a husband or boyfriend say, ‘You need to get rid of some of that junk out of your handbag,’ or some similar comment. Yes, Mick has been known to say this. The woman will usually reply, ‘But it’s all needed.’ Or it might be, she could add. That’s the things men don’t understand about women’s handbags. They’re not always about what you need so much as what you might need. As well as essentials like purse or wallet complete with credit cards and those loyalty … Continue reading →

A Fulfilling Experience and a Worrying Fact

On the radio the other day, I heard a couple of interesting facts about a recent survey with fathers. Most men feel that being a father is a fulfilling experience and would like more time with their kids. Men feel they miss out on so many of the milestones of their children’s lives because of work commitments. However, they feel their jobs could be threatened if they asked for more time off to spend with the kids. Of course a lot depends on how important their career is as against time with wife and family. I know of an at … Continue reading →

Affordable Travel Options in New York and Massachusetts

Would you believe me if I told you that you could stay at a hotel in Manhattan for less than $100? No, it doesn’t require sharing space with rats or a dozen other strangers. In fact, you’d be lucky to fit more than yourself and a couple of duffel bags in the room. The Jane, New York’s newest budget hotel, has 200 rooms to offer cash-strapped visitors to the Big Apple, but spacious they’re not. The word tight might not even do them justice. Most of the rooms are as compact as old-time railroad compartments and the shared bathroom is … Continue reading →

Bills & Online Banking

Have you noticed that your billing statements often arrive quite close to their due dates? During the busy holiday season, as the post office is more strapped for time, many customers are finding their statement arriving in such little time before they are due. For someone living from paycheck to paycheck, this can be tricky for budgeting. In addition, if you travel frequently or don’t have time to review all your monthly statements when they arrive, you may find yourself paying late, thus incurring late fees or interest payments. The Fair Credit Billing Act does set standards on when companies … Continue reading →

How to Choose a Good Bank

Your money is a treasure. Deciding where to keep it can be a tough decision. These days there are a wide range of options – all better than keeping your money stashed under your mattress! Usually a larger well-known bank is the safest choice; although they are also less likely to offer you quality customer service. Many recommend instead choosing a smaller local bank with a high rating to get the best of both worlds. How to determine a highly rated bank? First ensure they are part of the FDIC, also known as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. This institution … Continue reading →

Do You and Your Spouse Deal with Finances Together?

In some marriages, one spouse holds the “purse strings” (or the checkbook and passbook) while the other knows very little about the financial situation or has very little control over it. For some couples, this works fine because one spouse may prefer not to have the responsibility while the gladly takes it on. For other couples money can become an issue of control in their marriage. It seems like there should be a happy medium. Even if one person deals with the bills, balances the checkbook, applies a certain percentage of the household income to savings, and generally takes care … Continue reading →

When Should Your Child Have a Bank Account?

There are differing opinions when it comes to kids and bank accounts. Some parents choose to get their child a savings account from a very young age—putting away gift and other money in the account until the child is old enough o start managing it on his or her own, while others maintain that a child should be of an age to take responsibility for the bank account before getting one. Is there a right way and/or wrong way to introduce our kids to the world of banking, saving, and managing money? I am of the opinion that savings accounts … Continue reading →