Qvisory - Tools for Life Blog - Posts About MoneyTips

Tools for Life Blog

You Just Can’t Change People

By Jason Simon on Oct. 06, 2008 Comments?

We all have friends who struggle to manage their money wisely. Telling them that they are irresponsible, need to pay down their debt, create a budget, and/or find ways to spend less on frivolous goods isn’t going to work. Read...

Understand Bankruptcy Now: Avoid it Later

By David Weliver on Oct. 03, 2008 Comments?

Over one million U.S. consumers will declare bankruptcy in 2008 according to the American Bankruptcy Institute. Bankruptcy can relieve struggling consumers of their debts, but it also creates financial consequences that can last 10 years. Indebted or not, understanding how bankruptcy works can help you make smarter credit decisions for years to come. Read...

Yes, There's Hope

By Lesley Scorgie on Oct. 01, 2008 Comments?

I’m not going to sugar-coat this – times are really tough right now and there’s great uncertainty. But, there’s hope … lots of hope. Read...

Don’t Press the Panic Button

By Broke Grad on Sep. 29, 2008 Comments?

As a customer of WaMu, I’ll get to experience the change of hands firsthand. So far, so good. Despite all of the dramatic news coverage about people pulling their money out of WaMu, I left mine in there, and guess what? It’s still there! Read...

On the Money with Carmen Wong Ulrich

By Jason Simon on Sep. 26, 2008 Comments?

If you’re looking for actionable financial advice on TV, consider watching “On the Money” with Carmen Wong Ulrich on CNBC. Carmen is the author of Generation Debt: Take Control of Your Money--A How-to Guide, a former Qvisory blogger, and presently serves on the Board of Directors of the Qvisory Education Fund. Read...

The FDIC: What It Is and Why You (Might) Need It

By David Weliver on Sep. 22, 2008 Comments?

Never keep more than $100,000 in cash at any one bank. If you are married, you can safely keep up to $200,000 in a joint account. Read...

Failures: What Does It Mean for You?

By David Weliver on Sep. 22, 2008 Comments?

Lehman Brothers’ and Merrill Lynch’s employees and investors are having a bad, bad day. But if you’re not one of them, how do the failures of these Wall Street giants affect your wallet today? Hopefully, you won’t even notice it. Read...

Big Business Magazines Got It Wrong

By Anya Kamenetz on Sep. 19, 2008 Comments?

Gawker has a good bit of media criticism posted on how the big business magazines, in relatively recent issues, touted stock in AIG, Merrill Lynch, and Lehman Brothers. (Nationalized, fire sale, and bankruptcy, in case you haven't been following the news.) Read...

Free Credit Reports Are Not Always Free

By Jason Simon on Sep. 10, 2008 Comments?

FREE as in FreeCreditReport.com (note my decision not to hyperlink to this website) actually means you will be charged $14.95 a month if you don’t cancel your trial account within 7 days. FREE means without charge, and this service is far from it. Read...

How Lifestyle Inflation Can Sneak Up On You

By Amy Fontinelle on Sep. 04, 2008 Comments?

Even if you make a concerted effort like I do to avoid lifestyle inflation, it can still sneak up on you in subtle ways. Read...

The 411 on IRAs

By Lesley Scorgie on Sep. 02, 2008 Comments?

If you’re looking to invest for the long term, it’s time that you consider setting up an IRA (Individual Retirement Account). If you consult and/or work freelance, this is a must. Read...

Bill Pay Gone Wrong

By Jason Simon on Aug. 25, 2008 Comments?

With the Money posts in our Tools for Life blog, our goal is to provide information and tips to help you understand your credit and get out of debt. Interest and late fees charged to your credit card are two of the key elements that can make it hard to get out of it. Read...

Finding BALANCE

By Jason Simon on Aug. 18, 2008 Comments?

If you are in serious debt or have other money issues, you may want to consider financial counseling. Don’t be afraid to call a credit counselor – if your money issues are stressing you out, why not get started on the path to peace of mind? Read...

Ditching the Credit Card & Going Cash Only

By Jason Simon on Aug. 14, 2008 Comments?

I am the proud holder of two credit cards and one debit card. Despite my best efforts, my wasteful spending has gone up over the last few months, so its time to do something different. On August 1st, I’m going to stuff my credit cards into my desk and go cash only. Read...

What To Do With Your Retirement Plan if You Leave Your Job

By Balance Financial Fitness Program on Aug. 08, 2008 Comments?

If you are leaving your job and have saved for your future by participating in your employer’s retirement plan, you have a major financial decision to make: what should you do with your account? Read...

Saving and Investing for Retirement

By Balance Financial Fitness Program on Aug. 04, 2008 Comments?

While saving and investing for your retirement can be complicated, in most cases it doesn’t have to be. A simple, step-by-step approach can help you build up an impressive sum with a surprisingly small amount of effort and outlay. Read...

Sell It On Craigslist

By Jason Simon on Jul. 31, 2008 Comments?

I’ve found Craigslist to be a great way to get rid of things I don’t need and earn some money at the same time. Here are some tips on selling things on Craigslist. Read...

Your First Car Loan: Know Before You Go

By Tim Westrich on Jul. 22, 2008 Comments?

The path to getting an auto loan is full of pitfalls that can extract extra money over the course of the loan. And with the price of gas at record levels, getting a car that will serve your needs and fit into your budget may require some planning. Read...