– Wise Bread has an interesting article on the pros and cons of pre-paying your mortage – I can tell you that I’ve been giving this one lots of thought and I still haven’t come to an easy answer   @ WiseBread. – Dough Roller posted a “festival of frugality” that contains some great information on frugal living, finances, debt, etc.  @ Doughroller.com […]

Good Life and Food Most people live beyond their means because they want to feel and be perceived as being wealthy.  A Coach handbag or Mercedes-Benz  sedan screams, “hey, look at me I can spend money and feel good about it!”  Feeling good about buying stuff or leading a “high-end” lifestyle is not inherently a bad thing, afterall we all […]

The process of buying a car is not what it used to be. Gone are the days of limited selection, brand loyalty, and the mysterious and long-winded pricing negotiation sessions.  Nowadays, consumers often focus on car reliability rather than brand name, the exact model that meets their families’ needs, and are well versed on exactly how much their car should […]

Guide to Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Eight Extra Virgin Olive Oil Basics Italians consume olive oil like it’s water and our grandparents, for example, used olive oil for cooking, shining shoes, preserving food, lubricating machinery (including various shotguns), and curing various ailments (including stomach ulcers).  I wouldn’t recommend you use olive oil to lubricate your shotgun, but we’d […]

They say that money can’t buy happiness and I certainly agree.  However, did you ever stop to think about what money can, indeed, buy? Here is a list of ten things that money can help you buy: 1.  Money can buy peace of mind.  Do you have trouble sleeping at night because you are worried about bills or your current […]

Now more than ever the idea of an emergency cash fund is critical.  Many personal finance gurus recommend that individuals and/or families put aside at least 3 months of living expenses in a conservative vehicle (such as a CD, money market fund, or traditional savings account).   Living expenses include: mortgage, taxes, utilities, food, gas, and car payments.   An emergency […]