Financial Planning: Most Popular Articles

Basic Budget Worksheet for Setting Up Your Personal Budget
Budget worksheet form for setting up your personal budget

How To Create a Budget
Creating a budget may not sound like the most exciting thing in the world to do but it is vital in keeping your financial house in order. Before you begin to create your budget it is important to realize that in order to be successful you have to provide as much detailed information as possible. Ultimately the end result will be able to show where your money is coming from, how much is there and where it is all going.

Personal Finance 101
Personal finance covers a wide variety of money topics including budgeting, expenses, debt, saving, retirement and insurance among others. Understanding how each of these topics work together and affect each other is important for laying the groundwork for a solid financial foundation for you and your family.

All About Personal Budgets
A One-stop Guide to Budgeting Advice and Budget Worksheets

How to Establish Credit
When you don’t have a credit history, it can be difficult and frustrating when trying to obtain a credit card or other type of loan. Establishing your initial credit history can be a Catch-22. If you don’t have credit, not many places are willing to give you credit, yet how can you ever establish credit if nobody is willing to give you any?

Make Saving Automatic
Do you have a savings account yet find it difficult to find money to deposit into it? This isn’t an uncommon problem and most people find it hard to save.

Your FICO Credit Score
Your FICO credit score determines your ability to borrow money and affects you in other ways that may surprise you

Check Your Tax Refund Status
Have you filed your tax return and are now awaiting a refund? The good news is that you don’t have to be left in the dark in regards to the status of your refund. The IRS has a great tool on their website that allows you to instantly check on your refund status.

Rules of Thumb
Everyone has a unique situation, and there are no concrete financial numbers that define success, but there are some rules of thumb that can help you gauge your progress.

Choosing a Planner
With a little knowledge and willingness to create and follow a financial plan, most people can adequately manage their own finances. Even so, there are many instances where you just don’t have the time or have a complicated situation that may need the assistance of a finance professional.

Buying Diamond Engagement Ring
What You Need to Know When Buying a Diamond Engagement Ring

Plan an Affordable Wedding
Plan an affordable, memorable wedding without going into debt or breaking the bank

U.S. Savings Bonds
If you’re tired of the pitiful interest rate on your savings account at the bank, you may want to look into U.S. savings bonds for an equally safe place to keep some of your savings. With most bank accounts, the safety of your money comes from being insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC. This provides insurance on up to $100,000 per depositor. Unfortunately, while your money may be safe, there is a good chance the interest rate on the account is quite low.

Budgeting Traits
Creating a budget is incredibly difficult, but where most people fail is trying to maintain the budget. It usually starts with good intentions, but just like dieting, it doesn’t take much to derail your entire plan. Here are three traits you must posses if you want to create and maintain a successful budget.

Budgeting
Budgeting - The First Step to Financial Success

Save Money On Gas
13 Ways To Significantly Reduce Your Gas Costs and Save Money

Top Personal Finance Software
Top picks for personal finance software programs

You Can Get Out of Debt
You Can Get Out of Debt, But Not by Paying the Minimum Balance on Your Credit Cards

What Makes a Good Budget?
What Makes a Good Budget? Top Ten Features of a Successful Budget

How to Contact the IRS
How to contact the IRS by telephone, mail, the internet, or fax

Secret to Budgeting
The secret to budgeting successfully

Eliminate Credit Card Debt
The Fastest Way To Eliminate Credit Card Debt - How to eliminate credit card debt before it threatens your financial health

Your Debt To Income Ratio
Do you have too much debt? Calculate your debt to income ratio to find out.

Guilt-free Budgeting
How to Achieve Guilt-free Budgeting and Take Control of Your Finances

Wedding Budget Worksheet
Click here for a printer-friendly version WEDDING BUDGET WORKSHEET Item Budgeted Cost Actual Cost PRINTING:

Emergency Funds
Emergency Funds: Why you need one, how much you need, where to keep it, and the secret to saving money

Top Ten Financial Tips
Top Ten Financial Tips: Keys to Financial Success

The Secret To Saving Money
One small and suprisingly simple secret can show you to save money.

Ways to Improve Credit Score
Your credit score is a very important number that lenders use in order to determine whether or not to extend credit to you, and what the interest rate and terms of the credit or loan are.

How To Balance Your Checkbook
Balancing Your Checkbook: Step-by-Step Instructions

Bi-weekly Mortgage Payments
Bi-weekly Mortgage Payments: Save Tens of Thousands of Dollars on Your Mortgage But Avoid the Scams

Ways for Teens to Make Money
Jobs for Teens and Other Ways to Make Money

Net Worth Statements
Calculate your net worth to get a snapshot of your financial health

The Child Tax Credit
The Child Tax Credit - what you need to know to claim it properly.

Dumb Ways to Pay Debt
Debt Payment Methods You Should Avoid

Budget Worksheet for College Students
BUDGET WORKSHEET FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS Click here for a printer-friendly version of the College Budget

Top Picks: Personal Finance Books
Top picks for personal finance books

Maximize Your Benefits
Maximize Your Employment Benefits: Flexible Spending Accounts

Balancing Your Checkbook
Balancing Your Checkbook: Four Reasons You Should Do It and Step-by-Step Instructions

Cut Spending Leaks
Sometimes it is the little things that add up. Stopping the little spending leaks in your life may amount to significant savings over time.

A Budget Can Improve Your Life
Twelve Reasons Budgeting Can Improve Your Life

Save $ on Home Expenses
Tips on how to save money on your home expenses, including your mortgage and utilities.

Debt Snowball
The Debt Snowball is the fastest method of paying of credit debt. Here's how to do it.

Stay Away From Payday Loans
Quick and easy cash? There's nothing easy about payday loans.

Setting Financial Goals
Setting Financial Goals - The Second Step in Personal Financial Planning

Checkbook Balancing Form
Click here for a printable version of this checkbook balancing form. Checkbook Balancing Form 1.  Outstanding

Tweak Your Tax Withholding
Tweak Your Income Tax Withholding and Avoid Paying More or Less Than You Owe

Choosing a Financial Planner
Advice on what to look for in a financial planner, how to know if you need one, and how to choose one

Debt Warning Signs
Do you have debt that is bogging you down and keeping you from reaching your financial goals? Using credit and debt can be a powerful tool that allows you to buy a home, a vehicle, send children to college, and even provide leverage for other purchases, but when you accumulate too much debt, it can pose a serious problem.

Seeking Credit Counseling
Consumer Credit Counseling Services: Should You Use Them?

Planning for the Future
When it comes to planning for the future, most people think of retirement. Retirement planning is important because it allows you to do the things that you were unable to do while working—travel, start a business, go back to school, be closer to family, or simply relax. Because retirement is such an important phase in your life, careful planning is a must.

Introduction to Saving Money
The ability to save money is the cornerstone of building wealth. In order to save money, you need to spend less than you earn. This is often easier said than done, but there are plenty of ways to help you begin saving money on even the tightest budget.

Cut Air Conditioning Costs
Save Money on Air Conditioning Costs

Financial Planning - HowTos
An index of HowTos for the Financial Planning guide site.

Best Places to Stash Your Cash
The Best Places to Stash Your Cash. What you should do with your short-term savings

Monthly Budget Worksheet for College Students
MONTHLY BUDGET WORKSHEET FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS (Printer friendly version of this worksheet) CATEGORY MONTHLY

Net Worth Worksheet
Net worth worksheet for calculating how much you're worth financially

Money and the College Student
Money Advice for College Students. Leave College Without Credit Card Debt.

How To Calculate Net Worth
Your net worth can be a useful tool to measure your financial progress from year to year. Your net worth is essentially a grand total of all your assets minus your liabilities.

Financial Advice for Your 20s
Financial Advice for Your Twenties or if You're Just Starting a Financial Plan, Regardless of Your Age

Joint or Separate Accounts?
Should You and Your Spouse Have Joint or Separate Checking Accounts? Tips on How to Decide and How to Make It Work

What is a 401(k) Plan?
Don’t let the cryptic name of the plan confuse you, these plans are actually fairly easy to understand. A 401(k) is a retirement plan offered by some employers in the United States. The plan received the name from the section of Internal Revenue Code it was named after.

Leasing a Car vs Buying
Should you lease your next car or buy it? Ten things you must know before buying orleasing your new car.

The Urge to Splurge
The Real Culprit Behind Your Urge to Splurge

Co-signing a Loan
Co-signing a Loan: What You Need To Know

Credit & Debt Basics
Credit cards and other forms of debt can be an essential part of your financial toolbox, but you must exercise care when using credit and taking on debt. Find out the difference between good debt and bad debt, and learn how to establish credit and maintain a good credit score.

Can You Afford to Have Kids?
Can You Afford to Have Kids? Financial Planning for a New Baby

Insuring Your Life
Understanding and Choosing Life Insurance - What Type of Insurance Is Best For You?

How Much to Budget by Category
What Percentage of Our Income Should We Budget for Each Expense Category?

Laddering CDs
Laddering Certificates of Deposit (CDs)to Maximize Your Earnings and Balance Risk and Reward

Turbo Tax Software
Product Review of Quicken Turbo Tax Software

Save Money on Heating Costs
Save money by reducing heating costs

Get Out of Debt Guide
Get Out of Debt guide - What You Need To Know Before You Can Get Out of Debt

How To Become a Millionaire
How To Become a Millionaire - Becoming a millionaire is not out of reach for many Americans

The High Cost of Credit Cards
The High Cost of Using Credit Cards. If you buy with a credit card, how much is that purchase really costing you? Find out what the credit card companies don't want you to know

The Minimum Payment Habit
One of the most costly mistakes you can make with credit cards is getting into the habit of only paying the minimum amount due each month. While the minimum amount may be affordable; it will also cost you more money in the long run.

Couples and Money
Couples and Money: How to Talk the Talk

Try Using Cash
If you are struggling to stay within your budget or always seem to spend more money than you should it might be a good idea to go back to using cash for daily purchases.

Identity Theft Insurance
Should You Buy Identity Theft Insurance or Credit Monitoring Services?

15-year Mortgages
Best Financial Moves - 15-Year Mortgages. Save large sums of money by having a 15-year instead of a 30-year mortgage

Should Teens Have Credit Cards
Should Teens Have Credit Cards?

Get Started in Investing
How to Get Started in Investing With Small Amounts of Money

All About Financial Planning
One-stop resource for financial planning information

Retirement Savings Late Start
Ten Tips for Late Starters To Boost Their Retirement Savings

Cut Homeowner's Insurance
Ten Ways To Cut Your Homeowner's Insurance Premiums

Five Worst Car Mistakes
Five Worst Money Mistakes to Avoid When Buying a Car

Insurance You Do Need
You can find an insurance policy to cover almost anything imaginable but only a handful of policies are actually ones that you need to have. You work hard throughout your life to build wealth and live a happy and comfortable life, so some types of insurance can protect your possessions, income and even provide for a loved one when you are gone.

How Much Home Can You Afford?
When the time is right to purchase a home, the first question you need to be able to answer is how of a home you can afford.

Dave Ramsey
Dave Ramsey, One of America's Best Personal Finance Experts

Credit Score Criteria
Your credit score is a number that is calculated with a formula that lenders use to predict how much risk you are as a borrower. This score is one of the most important factors used when determining whether or not to lend you money and at what interest rate.

Summer Saving Tips
You can save money throughout the year, but the warm temperatures of summer provide a few additional tips that can help you save even more money. Here are some things to try during those warm months.

Marriage - Mingling Your Money
Marriage - Tying the Financial Knot. The Way You Mingle Your Money Can Mean the Difference Between Wedded Bliss and Divorce Court

Where to Keep Your Savings
So, you’ve set up an automatic savings program and you’re finally building up that emergency fund, but where should you keep your savings so that it earns the most interest for you? Luckily, there are many different savings vehicles available, but not all of them are appropriate for every situation.

EE Savings Bond Changes
The federal government has changed Series EE savings bonds, and it's not for the better. Find out about the changes and alternatives to Series EE bonds.

Smart Moves for College Grads
Five Smart Money Moves for New College Graduates

Collecting Child Support
Collecting Child Support. Unpaid Child Support plunges millions into poverty. Don't be one of them.

Invest Small Amounts of Money
Start Investing With Very Small Amounts of Money Using Direct Purchase Plans

Biggest Money Mistakes
Seven Biggest Money Mistakes in Accumulating Wealth

Money and Unmarried Couples
Single couples living together face unique money issues. Learn the three most critical personal finance issues facing unmarried couples.

College Money Mistakes
Top Five Money Mistakes Made By College Students

Why You Need an Emergency Fund
In life you should expect the unexpected, and this is why you need an emergency fund. The best you can do is to prepare for emergencies that require access to additional money and having an emergency fund is the ideal solution. Financial emergencies can come in the form of a job loss, significant medical expenses, home or auto repairs or something you’ve never dreamed of.

Be Prepared for Closing Costs When You Buy a Home
Here's what to expect for closing costs when you buy a home, and how to be prepared to identify inflated fees

401(k) Loan
Many retirement plans such as 401(k)s and 403(b)s allow participants to borrow money from their retirement savings, but there are many things you should consider before tapping into that retirement plan with a loan.

Top Personal Finance Magazines
Top Personal Finance Magazines for the average person

Choosing the Best Mortgage
Choosing the Best Mortgage for You. Why It's Important and How To Do It

The Roots of Overspending
To build wealth and reach financial independence, you simply need to spend less than you earn. It is an easy concept to understand, but why is it so difficult? To answer this question, you need to examine the roots of overspending. When you know what factors drive your spending, you can fight back and save money so that you can spend less than you earn.

6 Retirement Mistakes to Avoid
We all make mistakes, but learning from our mistakes and identifying what mistakes to avoid can make a big difference. Here are six common mistakes people make with retirement planning that you should avoid.

Saving for a Down Payment
In order to receive the best possible interest rates and to avoid private mortgage insurance it is still a wise decision to have a significant down payment, but how can you save tens of thousands of dollars for this purchase?

1st Step in Asking for a Raise
Important advice on how to get a pay raise

Financial Planning - Before You Buy
An index of Before You Buy Articles for the Financial Planning guide site.

Are Budgets for Sissies?
Do budgets really work? Find out how an average family with kids and debt amassed a fortune

Tying the Knot Financially
Tying the Knot: A Financial To Do List for Newlyweds

Financial Issues of Divorce
Financial Issues of Divorce: Dividing Property and Debt, Child Support, Alimony, Taxes, Retirement Funds, and More. Protect yourself financially.

Private Mortgage Insurance
Save Thousands by Cancelling Private Mortgage Insurance

Top Online $ Calculators
Top Ten Online Money Calculators - Manage Your Finances More Easily

One-Stop Income Tax Guide
All About Income Taxes - Your One-Stop Income Tax Guide

Retirement Funds and Divorce
Protect your share of your spouse's retirement plan if you're getting a separation or divorce

Paying Credit Card Charge-offs
Payment of Charge-off recorded on credit report as a settlement instead of paid as agreed.

Personal Financial Plan
Step by step instructions for creating your own personal basic financial plan.

Save Money on Credit Cards
Save money on your credit card expenses with these money-saving tips

Itemize Deductions
Reduce Your Income Taxes by Itemizing Deductions

Dealing With Divorce
Dealing with the financial impact of divorce. Know your obligations and how to protect yourself financially

Everything Personal Finance in Your 20s and 30s
Erase your debt, personalize your budget, and plan now to secure your future with Everything Personal Finance in Your 20s and 30s

Credit Card Minimums Double
Your Monthly Credit Card Minimum Payments May Double

Changing Jobs and Your 401(k)
Changing Jobs and Your 401(k) The Wrong Move Can Cost You Thousands in Taxes, Penalties, and Forfeited

Successful Budgeting 101
How to Budget Successfully

Financial Planning - GuideReviews
An index of GuideReviews for the Financial Planning guide site.

Review W-4 Exemptions
If you work for an employer that automatically withholds taxes from each paycheck, then you have the ability to adjust how much is withheld by adjusting the exemptions on IRS Form W-4. This is important to review because many different changes in your life could impact the amount of money you should have withheld.

5 Ways to Save on Gas
Make no bones about it, gasoline is expensive and it isn’t getting any cheaper. You don’t need to switch to public transportation to cut costs at the pump. There are a few basic things you can do that could considerably save money on gas.

Guide Picks for Tax Software
Top Picks - Tax Preparation Software Reviews

Traditional IRA
A traditional IRA (individual retirement account) is an account that is used to save pre-tax dollars for use in retirement.

Debtors Anonymous Can Help
Even with all of the advice and information available to help people break their overspending habits, for some, this desire to spend and rack up insurmountable debt becomes a serious problem that overtakes other aspects of their lives. As with any addiction, this can negatively affect your performance at work, quality of life, and relationships with family and friends.

Beware Payday Loans
Beware of Payday Loans: Dangerous Consumer Rip-Off

How Bankruptcy Works
Bankruptcy - How It Works and How to Prevent It

Build a Financial Safety Net
Building a Financial Safety Net

Before Buying a Home
For many people, owning a home brings a sense of pride and freedom that cannot be matched by renting. When you own your own home, you aren’t bound by a landlord’s rules, and your monthly payments are actually building equity. Although buying a home may be the first step you take toward building long-term wealth, it is important to understand the pros and cons of home ownership before taking the plunge.

Save Money on Long Distance
Save Money on Long Distance Calls. How to Choose the Best Long Distance Calling Plan For You.

Can't Pay Your Income Taxes?
What To Do When You Can't Pay Your Income Taxes Due: The Worst Thing You Can Do Is To Do Nothing

Importance of Credit Score
Your credit score and underlying history is one of your most vital parts of your financial life. Your credit score follows you forever and it will play a huge role in many major financial situations throughout your life.

Personal Finance 20s and 30s
Personal Finance in Your 20s and 30s

You Can Afford to Stay Home
You Can Afford to Stay Home With Your Kids. How to Calculate What That Second Income is Really Costing You and What It's Really Worth.

Financial Planning - TopPicks
An index of TopPicks for the Financial Planning guide site.

A Car or a House?
Your car payment may prevent you from qualifying for a mortgage. Choosing between owning a new car or your own home.

Get Your Free Credit Report
Get Your Free Credit Report - Now Available by Law

Dollars and Sense for Kids
Teaching your kids about money to help them grow up to be financially savvy adults

Should You Refinance?
How to Take Advantage of Lower Mortgage Interest Rates

Get Money You're Entitled To
Get Unclaimed Money or Property You're Entitled To

Survive the Real Estate Bubble
What is a real estate bubble, what causes housing bubbles, how do they affect me, and how can I protect myself?

Biggest Taxpayer Rip-off
Income Tax Refund Loans: Taxpayer Rip-off

Affluenza: A Disease of Overconsumption
The Epidemic of Affluenza How to Diagnose It. How to Treat It.   Related Resources •  Avoid Bankruptcy