by Teri Cettina | Feb 22, 2016 | Money Stress, Taxes
Two years at about this time, I got this dreaded call from my tax preparer: “Someone has already filed a fraudulent tax return using your Social Security number. I can’t e-file your return,” he told me. Within a few weeks, dozens of my friends were in the same boat....
by Teri Cettina | Nov 25, 2014 | Consumerism
Our household has had a lot of good luck lately getting warranties to pay off. You know, those little cards included with your electronics, household item, or appliance that say, “If this gizmo fails within x months, we’ll replace it free of charge.” My new mantra:...
by Teri Cettina | Jul 3, 2013 | Money Stress
One of the first things financial planners suggest we do with our money—once we’re beyond the basics of getting our regular bills paid–is set some solid goals. For instance, is one of your goals to save up for a down payment on a house? Invest enough for a...
by Teri Cettina | Jun 20, 2013 | Frugality, Minimalism, Money Stress
It’s such an easy thing to do, especially when you’re feeling uncomfortable about your own money life. You look at a coworker who dresses snappily and talks about his second home and think: Why don’t I have all that? Is he making a lot more money than I am? Or you see...
by Teri Cettina | Jun 12, 2013 | Apps & Tech, Frugality, Minimalism
Who doesn’t? They’re hip, sleek and full of fun apps. And Apple has done a great job of convincing us that they’re better, easier, faster than most smartphones on the market. But truthfully, I don’t actually need an iPhone. Of course, that hasn’t stopped me from...
by Teri Cettina | Jun 7, 2013 | Charitable Giving
One of the first tips I gleaned from money expert Suze Orman wasn’t about saving or spending. It was about giving. Her words have stayed with me for more than a decade—probably from when I read the first version of her book 9 Steps to Financial Freedom. Orman talked...
by Teri Cettina | Jun 6, 2013 | Apps & Tech, Coupons, Food & Groceries, Kids
Between my beloved Maps and Kindle reader apps (the ones I use most often!), I also have a few favorite money-related apps I tap regularly: 1Password. I seriously can’t live without this program and its related app. It’s my little version of financial peace of mind....
by Teri Cettina | Jun 4, 2013 | Kids
I’m over at Equifax today, blogging about kids and summer work. My kids have done some kind of summer earning since they were about 8. Both have had stints as dog-walkers, plant-waterers and cat-feeders. But this year, we’re taking the idea of summer money...
by Teri Cettina | Jun 3, 2013 | Cleaning & Organizing, Debt, Minimalism, Money Stress
When you decide to work on improving your family’s financial picture, it’s easy to attempt too much, too fast. Maybe you want to pay off several debts, cut your monthly spending on non-essentials, increase your retirement savings, or refinance your mortgage. You get...
by Teri Cettina | Dec 5, 2012 | Kids
My 11-year-old daughter recently went on quite a spending spree. She gets a very modest allowance—$6 a week. So when she got home from an outing with a friend and her nanny, I was surprised to see her plop a big bag of goodies on the kitchen counter. Among the loot: A...
