Is there anywhere to put a portion of a monthly pension (VA disability benefits) that is safer than cash?
My spouse and I both receive VA disability benefits, but I worry about changes in government and inflation. Some of our money goes to the our investment portfolio, real estate, money markets, etc, but is there anything that's actually safer than a good-ole savings account/envelope under the mattress...
Mortgage financing: Do banks really care if your driveway is paved?
I'm looking to take out a mortgage on my house and I've heard that paving my driveway will increase the value of my house. Should I do this before so I can take out a larger mortgage or will it not dramatically make a difference? It's a pretty substantial financial decision so any and all advice wou...
When does re-financing a mortgage make sense?
I have a 3.99% mortgage, and have been in the house just more than 2 years. We expect to be here at least another 3 years, maybe longer? Given that we might be moving in the not-to-distant future, does it make sense to refinance? I understand rates are really good right now. Is the...
How long will a short sale stay on my credit report and what's the best way to deal with it after the fact?
I had a short sale in my past that really butchered my credit for a long time. It took about 10 years for the blow to soften and my credit score to return to the 750+ range. In the future, and for others who don't have the luxury of waiting 10 years, are there better ways to deal with this outside o...
What's the phrase that describes a willingness to spend extra cash in a way that you wouldn't otherwise, because you're already spending a lot?
I thought this was "The Fallacy of Large Numbers", but that actually has to do with probability. A good example of this would be if you buy a $50,000 car and they offer an option for an automatic garage door opener for another $300, and you think "Oh, what's another $300 -- I'm already spendin...
Is a credit union better than a traditional bank?
I have always banked at traditional banks for checking and savings. I recently learned that my local credit union is open to community members. (I always thought you had to be a teacher or a government employee to join these.) My friends who have belonged to credit unions have always talked about th...
Would you move to a barter economy?
Money is tight right now, but we have time, talent and a lot of stuff! My roommate and I are increasingly bartering for things and services we need. I recently saw a story on Good Morning America about people who "trade up" for what they want. The woman in the story was attempting to trade up starti...
What is the best way to learn QuickBooks?
I was looking into becoming savvy in QuickBooks to help keep track of my finances and perhaps help others too. What has been your experience with QuickBooks and how did you go about learning it?...
