All The Simple Dollar
- Want to save money this spring? Lose the storage space.
Spring cleaning isn’t just an opportunity to clear out your living quarters, Hamm writes. It’s a chance to earn some money, re-examine your possessions, and even look toward the possibility of more cost-efficient housing.
- Digging out of debt: the first step
Turning your finances around doesn't happen all at once. It comes in stages.
- Dress for success without breaking the bank
Keeping up with the dress code at your new workplace doesn't have to mean shelling out big bucks on a new wardrobe. Mix and match pieces and a little help from your co-workers is a good place to start.
- Emergency funds: How much should you save for a rainy day?
Figure out an emergency fund size that’s right for your life and start saving for it, Hamm writes. When things in your life don’t go as planned, you’ll be glad you have it.
- Where has all your money gone? Into small, daily purchases.
Frugality isn’t about deprivation or being cheap, Hamm writes. It’s about making your money go somewhere that matters more rather than somewhere that matters less.
- Should you get a second job?
It’s worthwhile for everyone who’s serious about improving their financial state to spend at least some of their time and energy improving their income generation, Hamm writes.
- Shopping begins and ends with 'price per unit'
Paying attention to 'price per unit' only saves you a few dollars in the short term, but if you make it habit, it can really add up in the long run.
- How to talk about money without arguing
Success in discussing financial issues comes down to setting a few ground rules, Hamm writes.
- Beware the financial impact of pet ownership
Choosing to bring a pet into your home is a responsibility that comes with significant cost, Hamm writes.
- The problem with stock market advice
There aren’t any secrets to stock market success, Hamm writes. If the stock market secret did get out, it would be completely dominated by someone who studies this information far more than you or I.
- Looking to buy a house? Don't forget transportation costs.
The place you choose to live has a huge impact on your housing costs, but it also has a tremendous impact on your transportation costs as well, Hamm writes.
- Creating a 'to do' shelf
Putting all of the things you want to get done in a single place will accomplish two things: getting them done, and preventing you from spending money on entertainment.
- Teaching money lessons at a restaurant
- How to build a financial safety net
If life is something like a high wire act, everyone needs a financial safety net. Hamm offers his advice for developing a financial safety net for if you fall on hard times.
- How to save money by keeping car insurance costs low
If you take steps to improve your auto insurance rate, Hamm writes, you’re likely taking steps that will save you in other aspects of your financial life.
- The money is in the details
Frugality reduces your monthly bills, Hamm writes, thus increasing your financial gap between spending and saving regardless of your short term professional or business success.
- How to save money when everything you enjoy is expensive
It is really tempting to fall into a cycle of endlessly indulging expensive desires, Hamm writes. But there are a few ways to avoid constantly spending money on high-priced luxuries.
- Is the stock market right for you?
Over a long period of time, volatile investments like stocks and real estate can yield big returns. But you have to be comfortable dealing with big potential losses.
- Taking on debt to make money: When should you do it?
Taking on debt for a reliable business venture can be a smart move if you follow a few simple guidelines.
- A guide to dividend stock investing
Hamm offers a step-by-step guide to investing in dividend-paying stocks.