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goals

Leaving a Legacy

My father passed away two years ago. He worked his whole career at a job he enjoyed. As a family of 11 (Mom, Dad, 5 boys and 4 girls) we never had a lot of extras, but our needs were met. Fortunately, my dad had a generous pension and government health benefits throughout retirement, which not only provided for my parent’s living expenses, but the extensive medical care my dad required.

But there’s really no “nest egg” for his children to inherit. The pension will stop after my mother is gone, as will the health benefits. There isn’t a lot left as far as other assets are concerned.

And that doesn’t matter at all.

Should I Pay Off Debt or Save?

If there’s any question more common in the personal finance world, it’s this one: Should I pay off debt or save that money instead?

I love this question, because it’s addressing a financial topic that I wish were on the forefront of more minds. Paying off debt and saving are two great ways to utilize our money that we should all be thinking more about. Your situation isn’t as cheery if you’re having to decide between paying off debt, saving, purchasing a new sports car, or buying a bigger home you can’t afford.

Your Holiday "Honey Do" List: 5 Financial Tasks In 5 Minutes

Picture this. It’s the Christmas holiday and you’re taking several well-deserved vacation days. You’re laying on the couch with a belly full of holiday goodness. You’ve napped, perused a book, and conquered a few family members in a rousing game of Monopoly.

If you’re anything like me, after a couple days you may start feeling a little antsy to get something done--but “working” will get you chided by your family, right?

Well if you need a little “work around” here are a few quick things you can do to shape up your financial life, each one literally taking about 5 minutes to complete. You’ll feel like you’ve accomplished something, and no one can blame you for working too much.

How to Prioritize Your Finances by Understanding Your Values

Conflicting priorities are at the heart of much of our everyday lives. We have a long list of things we know we should get done, but with limited time, resources, and energy. Unfortunately, family finances often fall to the bottom of the list.

This is a problem because our own financial picture and family goals probably look different than someone others. As a result, we need take steps to make sure our own goals are getting done, and in the right order.

As you think about how to prioritize your own financial decisions, here are some guidelines to consider.