The Diligent Dollar 

It’s the largest purchase most of us will ever make.

Since that’s the case, what’s the best way to know when you are truly ready to buy a home?

Financially there is much to be considered before taking the plunge.

• How much $ should we set aside for a down payment?

• ...

Your 30 year old self will thank you if you say NO to student loans.

...But it’s impossible to pursue a degree without taking out loans! … that’s what many people claim.

I am aware of the costs of college. Been there, done that. I completed my undergrad coursework and th...

Many dread it. Some love it. Wallets cringe. Yep, it’s back-to-school shopping! Every year as summer winds down, shelves are being stocked with school supplies galore. Parents are checking off lists posted by teachers as they walk down shopping aisles - kids in tow. Ev...

Just five more months until Christmas...and on December 26th many will wake up with a financial hangover that lasts months into the new year. It has happened to us - odds are that it’s happened to you as well. After all, we live in a crazy consumer culture that urges u...

According to a recent GoBanking study, 34% of the 7,000 people they surveyed have $0 in savings. Our grandparents and great grandparents did a much better job of saving than most of us do currently. Statistics speak to this. For many, saving money isn’t a priority whic...

Getting out of debt - easier said than done, right? When I’m faced with something that seems daunting, two parts of me often emerge: one part of me goes into stress mode and another part of me goes into full blown conquer mode. My conquer mode may sound like a good thi...

It might be the refrigerator that suddenly quits cooling . Or stitches for your youngest son. It could be the transmission in your car or a leaky roof. There are endless examples of “emergencies” that can occur in life. Some of these emergencies are the equivalent of a...

It was a process that required steady effort. We paid off two vehicles (on which we owed $27,000 combined) in less than two years. And the day that we paid off our second vehicle, we said NEVER AGAIN to car payments! Way too many of us think that we will always have to...

For the past year and a half, my husband and I have been saving up to buy a four wheeler. When discussing ‘saving’ goals recently with my Econ students, I told them my goal just to get the conversation started. Most of them smiled when I revealed what I'm saving for. S...