All The Simple Dollar

In  most cases, bringing lunch to work instead of buying it at a restaurant is a far cheaper option. But there are a few exceptions. 

We all indulge in something–books, coffee, shoes, dessert. We crave these things. Giving into these cravings, however, can be pricey and disturb your financial progress. Here are some simple tips to help you curb your spending cravings. 

Caught yourself in the magazine aisle yet again? Bought one too many coffees this week? Hamm shares this simple rule to help you save: Resist the temptation to go into the store in the first place. 

Goal-setting can be an important part of achieving success. But like anything, you can overdo it. 

The fear of being confused about 401(k) plans keeps a lot of people from making the simple but vital move to simply sign up for a plan, Hamm writes. Here are four questions to ask when signing up for a 401(k) plan.

Spend less than you earn. At its core, that’s really what personal finance all boils down to, Hamm writes. But while personal finance advice might be simple, but it’s rather hard to implement.

Understanding the routine or pattern that leads to a spending mistake can help you find a resolution. If you walk into your favorite boutique every time you go to the bank, your resolution could be as simple as changing your parking place. Hamm explains how to change your routine so as to avoid repetitive spending mistakes. 

Hiring the right financial planner can be a very daunting task, Hamm writes, with a sea of titles and acronyms out there and many advisors clouding the water with clever marketing. How do we know if we’re hiring a good financial planner?

People only share with you their good side–they advertise their successes, not their failures and struggles. Hamm offers these tips to help you remember that so you don't feel down on yourself. 

Dinner parties and other events depicted in magazines and television events take several extra hours of planning and preparation. Not to mention a lot of extra money. 

Some say you don't actually have to pay your income taxes, or that a certain company or investment is sure to make you rich. Beware these three financial traps, Hamm writes.

For big purchases, there are lots of ways to ensure getting the best value. But what about small, day to day decisions? Three tips for making the right 'spur of the moment' purchase. 

Human egocentrism is inherently costly to your relationships and to your finances. Is a sense of entitlement costing you? Hamm explains how patience and selflessness are financial virtues. 

A well-executed bulk purchase of an item can save you a lot of money, Hamm writes, but a poorly-executed one can cost you money,

A new study throws a wrinkle in the timeless debate over whether making more money can make you happy.

Getting good at saving money and cutting back on expenses takes hard work and practice, Hamm writes, just like any other activity in life. 

If your spouse has bad spending habits, there are some simple steps you can take to financially protect yourself. 

There was always something new and something more to want, Hamm writes, but parents can teach their children how to control their spending and develop healthy shopping habits. 

Frugality is easy when you’re seeking the best deal on a very specific item, Hamm writes. It becomes much harder when you’re comparing the merits of two similar items and trying to decide which one is really right for you.

Once you see that you can behave in a financially responsible manner for one single day, Hamm writes, it isn't too much harder to chain a few of those days together. Once it becomes easier to chain a few of those days together, it isn't too much harder to simply adopt some of those better financial habits as permanent life changes.