01 Apr
Posted by Allison Thomas as Finance Help
Despite what I have written before about the minuses of adulthood, there ARE some benefits to being grown-up.
My parents supported me tremendously when I was young, but there were just things that we, as a family, didnt purchase. And being a kid with a $10/month allowance, I wasnt really in a position to purchase them either. For some reason, I rarely asked my parents for anything material because I had an idea of what theyd pay for and what they wouldnt. And usually, if its not education-related, they wouldnt.
As a teen, I was very self-conscious of my skin. I still am sometimes, but the difference is that now I can splurge for all the expensive gadgets, prescriptions, creams, and facials to keep my skin looking good.
I remember the first time our family went to Disneyland in Anaheim, CA. I was so excited that I could barely sleep a wink the night before. Ev
23 Mar
Posted by Allison Thomas as Finance Help

When most people move, they are looking to move into a bigger place. I would suggest considering an alternative view and instead of going bigger, look to find the smallest house which will still comfortably meet your needs. Why? Because of the many money saving advantages that come with downsizing which will allow you to spend money on the things that you really love. Being contrarian when it comes to your house size has a ton of financial benefits. Here are a few of them:
Mortgage payments are usually the largest financial expense for homeowners. Depending on how your house is financed, your payment could be a large portion of your monthly net income. If youre planning on moving, downsizing your house will drastically cut the principal balance and interest that you pay on your mortgage.
13 Mar
Posted by Allison Thomas as Finance Help
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Federal Reserve on Tuesday acknowledged recent signs of strength in the economy and said recent financial market strains have eased, offering few clues on the chances for further monetary easing.
The U.S. central bank described the economy as “expanding moderately,” unchanged from its January statement, and said growth still faced significant downside risks.
Policymakers said the job market had improved but unemployment remains high, reiterating its expectation that rates would remain near zero until at least late 2014.
A quickening in the pace of U.S. jobs growth and a sharp drop in the unemployment rate to 8.3% from 9.1% in August has led some economists to rein in their expectations for a further easing of monetary policy.
The Fed said a recent spike in energy costs would likely push up inflation but only in the short run. Richmo
One of the most common ways in which people keep their home safe is through the purchase of house insurance. Unless a house is bought outright, most mortgage lenders will expect insurance to be in place as part of the terms and conditions of the mortgage. This protects both the customer and the mortgage lender as any damages will be covered by the insurance company. Home insurance policies can also be tailored to individual requirements with additional benefits of cover which can be added on. This allows freedom to the customer and varying levels of security to choose from.
Another way in which people keep their home safe is as simple as locking all doors and windows before they go out, or go to sleep. This means that the property is as secure as possible whilst vacant, creating a harder target for thieves.
I have heard from my second and third business school. I got in! Now that business school is really going to happen, I am also figuring out what it means to be a full-time student again. The MBA programs I applied to cost around $150,000-$160,000 for two years: ~$50,000/year for tuition, books, and supplies, and an allowance of ~$25,000-$30,000/year for living expenses. No one ever said graduate school was cheap.
How do I plan to pay for this educational elephant? Fortunately, Ive been able to save up and I am able to count on some family help. $50,000 comes from my personal savings from post-college work, $40,000 comes from inheritance from my grandmother, and my parents will probably help me out with another $10,000. So thats $100,000 of tuition.