10 Ways to Avoid Overspending on the Biggest Shopping Day of the Year According to the Balance, 133.7 million Americans went shopping on Black Friday weekend in 2014 and spent a total of $50.9 billion. Stores count on bringing in at least 30% of their annual sales just between Thanksgiving and Christmas, making you the […]
Originally posted on the Christian Post on November 18th. Dear Chuck, I’m in a company where it feels to me that people who are good at flattering the boss – but not necessarily are good at their jobs – get promoted, while more talented people get ignored or passed over. It’s so frustrating to look around […]
Dear Chuck, My wife and I are struggling with the costs of our children’s extracurricular activities, which seem to be getting more expensive all the time. One of our sons wants to be on a travel team for sports, which is not only expensive, but includes the costs of hotels, food, and all kinds of […]
Christine wrote me with this question: I have worked several different jobs. I have retirement money affiliated with each employer. I am considering consolidating to one new account, but I am confused on who to invest with and what type of account to open? Your suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Christine, you have a few […]
According to Heather Gilmore, a writer for The Dollar Stretcher.com, “emotions can lead to the desire to shop or, on the other hand, shopping can lead to emotions. Shopping can be prompted by sadness, grief, loss, insecurity, guilt, and excitement.” Shopping can create a pleasurable experience making people want to experience the “high” again. The after-shopping […]
Originally posted on the Christian Post on November 4th. Dear Chuck, With just days to go until the election and so much fighting on all sides, I wonder if the Bible has anything to say to us about how to govern when this mess is over. Where do we go from here to create a […]
With medical expenses being the number one cause of financial hardships, it pays to work at staying healthy. Here are few simple tips/benefits for staying healthy: Take advantage of free ways to exercise. YouTube sessions, walking, dancing, and stretching; check out churches, senior centers, or the YMCA for exercise classes for little or no cost. Park […]
Yahoo Finance recently reported that paying with cash helps you save and gives you more joy. Avni Sha, a professor at the University of Toronto Scarborough, studied the effect of paying with cash and says it does indeed make us more frugal and adds positive emotion to transactions. Further, it potentially promotes repeat business. Cash […]
Dear Chuck, I’ve seen that you really encourage people to save $1,000 that they don’t touch at all except for extreme emergencies, but seriously, I CAN’T DO IT! I need some advice on where to cut because I’m so close to the edge. Got any ideas? Open to Suggestion Dear Open, Trust me, you are […]
Originally posted on the Christian Post on October 21. Dear Chuck, Recently several close friends to me have divorced, causing so much chaos and pain and financial difficulty, but then you see celebrity divorces like Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt after 12 years and six kids, or the break up of Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber […]