Money is money, whether it’s cash in our hands, plastic cards at checkout counters or encrypted bits of data coursing between computers on the internet. But our brains don’t view all money as equal, thanks to what behavioral economists call “cognitive biases”: —We spend cash more carefully than plastic. —We regard tax refunds as a […]
Recent Blog Posts
Q&A: Where to find help with managing your finances
Dear Liz: I am a mid-30s single woman who needs accountability in managing my finances and paying down debt. I have about $7,000 in credit card debt and $9,000 in student loans and I earn $55,000 a year. I feel as though I may have the financial means to do this but require a knowledgeable, […]
Q&A: Sheltering home profits
Dear Liz: I understand that the profit realized on the sale of a home is not subject to tax, as long as that money is reinvested in another home. What if the couple divorces before or after the sale? If they split the profit from the sale and one or both put those funds into […]
Q&A: Remarrying late in life
Dear Liz: This is regarding the letter from the children worried about their widowed father remarrying. My father remarried a year after my mother died. He was 86. His wife and her family gave him love, care and companionship until his death at 93. I gained a wonderful new family whom I love. Once my […]
Friday’s need-to-know money news
Today’s top story: A good retirement savings option for the self-employed. Also in the news: Jobs that could mark you as a risk for late payments, what to ask before giving a cell phone as a gift, and the financial perks of not celebrating Christmas. A Good Retirement Savings Option for the Self-Employed Consider a […]
Thursday’s need-to-know money news
Today’s top story: Manage your debt for a smoother divorce. Also in the news: Giving your child the gift of stocks, how to donate credit card points and miles to charity, and six ways to make the most of your holiday bonus. Manage Your Debt for a Smoother Divorce Making a difficult situation a bit […]