LOS ANGELES, Dec 30 (Reuters) – When P.K. Drago graduated from George Washington University in 2009 at the peak of the Great Recession with $40,000 in student loan debt, she decided to do volunteer work. “It was not a good time” to get a job, the 26-year-old now says, and so she joined AmeriCorps, a […]
Recent Blog Posts
Can you be too cautious about spending money?
Dear Liz: I think I have a phobia about spending money. I’m a young professional who has devoted a lot of time to building up my savings account. I also contribute sizable amounts to my 401(k) and IRA each month. I pay off my credit cards each month, and I am making larger-than-necessary payments on […]
Don’t invest emergency cash
Dear Liz: I always hear you talking about having an emergency savings fund. Most people that I’ve heard talk about this recommend keeping it in cash. I just couldn’t stand watching that money languish in a low-interest savings account, so I recently moved it over to my brokerage account and purchased a few exchange-traded funds. […]
Use a credit card like a debit card to avoid debt
Dear Liz: Here’s a suggestion for the reader who prefers a debit card to a credit card so she will not get in debt: Use your credit card as a debit card. Every month I pay any credit card balance plus an additional amount equal to a month’s average purchases. Then I keep track of […]
5 LAST-MINUTE MONEY MOVES BEFORE 2014
Okay, you’re on overload with all the last-minute shopping, cooking, preparing for guests and/or traveling. But try to squeeze in a few money tasks before year-end. Including: Contribute to an IRA. You can put money into an IRA even if you have a retirement plan through work, but you may not be able to deduct […]
Three ways to fix financial aid form flaws
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Starting January 1, families with college-bound students will begin submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is the key to getting most grants, scholarships and loans, but filling it out can be a nightmare. The application form “is much too complicated,” according to financial aid expert Mark […]