Momma always said money can’t buy happiness.  Princeton University may have just proved her wrong.

The Sept. 27, 2010 issue of Time reported on a Princeton study showing that $75,000 seems to be the threshold to happiness. The further a person’s household income falls below $75,000, the unhappier he or she is.

Interestingly, the converse is not true.  No matter how much more than $75,000 people make, it won’t bring them any more joy. [Read more…]

Every now and then, I need a dose of money management wisdom.  How about you?

Here’s a list of “The Financial Ten Commandments,” taken from a message given by Bill Hybels at Willow Creek Community Church (located in the Chicago area) in January, 1999.

I thought this list was interesting when you think of how our money decisions today will impact, for good or bad, our lifestyle design process, and our future lifestyle.

The Financial Ten Commandments

1. Thou shalt work hard.
2. Thou shalt establish a plan.
3. Thou shalt avoid debt like the plague.
4. Thou shalt distinguish between needs and wants.
5. Thou shalt determine when enough is enough. [Read more…]

Are we on the road to recovery from this current economic crisis? Or is the worst yet to come? Either way, chances are good that we’ll face another economic downturn sometime in our lifetimes.

Here are eight tips from Frugal Dad on how to prepare for the next financial crisis:

#1 Get Your Financial Documents in Order. If you don’t have one, buy a file cabinet to store important statements and a fire-proof box to store your most important documents in it.  Plan on taking half a day on a Saturday to get everything organized.  Be sure your will and advanced directive for health care are up-to-date.

#2 Reduce Your Monthly Bills. Look at ways to save on monthly expenses like cell phones, cable tv, and car insurance.  If you have credit card debt, don’t be afraid to ask for a lower interest rate.  A few phone calls could save you $50-$100 or more per month. [Read more…]

Are you looking for the best gift for high school or college graduates this year?  Give them the gift of financial freedom!  Truly, it’s the gift that will keep on giving for a lifetime!  What do I mean?  Read on…

The months of May and June seem filled with high school and college graduations in our area.  It’s a time to celebrate what students have accomplished in school, and a time to encourage them as they go out into the world to set their own course.

This weekend at church, our pastor invited all the high school seniors up onto the stage so the congregation could congratulate them and pray a blessing over them.

Next, he did something I thought was unique and very fitting.  He gave each grad a copy of Dave Ramsey’s book, The Total Money Makeover:  A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness.  Dave Ramsey, a financial expert who has touched the lives of millions through his radio and TV shows, has been a good friend of our church over the years, as we have hosted many of his speaking events. [Read more…]