e-lifeandwork: Learn New Skills Online | Online Courses & Real-World

Your special someone is an amazing person who has improved your life in more ways than one -- including financially. Maybe you were decent at managing money before you met them, but they helped you become even better or perhaps your finances were a mess until they stepped in. No matter the situation, you received at least one valuable financial lesson from them that changed the way you view money. Now that you're a more responsible spender, less stingy or better at putting money aside for savings, you'd like to share your experience with others. This is great, because your partner's savvy financial advice also can have a positive impact on plenty of other people. Hearing how their advice helped you can inspire others to make changes they've been putting off or didn't even realize they were capable of achieving. Or, perhaps you're the one who imparted the financial wisdom that changed your partner's life. Regardless, sharing these tips with others --...

Talking about and handling money is one of the most complicated aspects of being an adult. And for many of us, the conversation can get uncomfortable fast. Whether that’s parsing through finances with your partner or negotiating salary at work, the issue can be a source of anxiety and discomfort. And while it’s normal to be a bit reluctant when it comes to cash talk, sometimes your negative feelings toward money come from past financial trauma. A condition you may not even be aware of. So, what is financial trauma? “Financial trauma is a financial wound or injury that can cause disruptive behaviors with money,” explains Stephanie Genkin, Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Certified Financial Therapist (CFT-1) and founder of My Financial Planner, LLC. “We tend to think of trauma as something extreme, but it’s not limited to dramatic events.” That means even the smallest incident can forever affect how you deal with money. In the same way that emotional o...

Warren Buffett is arguably the best-known, most-respected investor of all time. Buffett is also known for his folksy charm and his memorable quotes about the art of investing. When you're aiming to reach the top of the mountain, it's usually wise to closely follow the footprints of those who have successfully made the climb before you. Your odds of investing success can increase exponentially if you learn and apply Buffett's best investing tips. 1. Never Lose Money One of the most popular pieces of Buffett advice is as follows: "Rule No. 1: Never lose money. Rule No. 2: Never forget rule No. 1." If you're working from a loss, it's that much harder to get back to where you started, let alone to earn gains. 2. Get High Value at a Low Price In the 2008 Berkshire Hathaway shareholder letter, Buffett shared another key principle: "Price is what you pay; value is what you get." Losing money can happen when you pay a price that doesn't...

You might have heard this billionaire's name, but who is Mark Cuban and how did he make his money? It's possible you know him as one of the sharks on the hit show "Shark Tank," but Cuban is more than just a TV personality -- he's also the owner of the Dallas Mavericks and a successful investor. In fact, Cuban's companies are so successful that he made his first million in 1990 after selling his business to CompuServe and then earned a $5.9 billion paycheck after he sold his online streaming audio service to Yahoo in 1999. Cuban knows how to be rich and successful, and he isn't afraid to share his insight. Check out Mark Cuban's advice, so you can learn how to budget money and think like a billionaire. 1. Be a Little Bit of a Risk Taker Talk to any self-made millionaires or billionaires and they might preach the importance of taking calculated risks. Sometimes, risks and rewards go hand-in-hand, as Cuban pointed out in a 2017 interview with M...

It's impossible not to love sunflowers! Their cheerful faces brighten any garden, and they come in every color from the traditional sunny yellow to orange, red, and even creamy white. They have single or double petals, and range in height from two to ten feet tall. And they earned their name in a magical way: If you ever visit a sunflower field, you'll notice young sunflowers follow the sun's position throughout the day, a phenomenon called heliotropism or phototropism; although, as the flowerhead becomes heavy with seeds, the plant is less likely to exhibit this amazing natural feat. They're also a favorite of pollinators—bees especially love these flowers for late season food. Sunflowers are a favorite of The Pioneer Woman's, too. "They're so beautiful," says Ree Drummond, who started planting them years ago. "Once I realized that sunflowers don't need much babying to grow, I was hooked. They can tolerate drought, fierce sun, and s...

Even though the economic situation has become more stable now, many Americans keep on being in precarious financial shape. The pandemic has made thousands of people lose their jobs, become temporarily unemployed, and rely on simple fast loans when they are pressed for cash. Even today, many of them struggle financially and can’t pay their bills. Seven in ten people struggle with at least one aspect of financial stability, a new survey by the Financial Health Network finds. If your family struggles financially, here is what you can do to improve this situation. Why People Struggle Financially The Financial Health Network, a nonprofit financial services consultancy, conducted a survey of 5,400 Americans. This survey asked questions about the financial health of the respondents including the way they manage bills, income, savings, and debt. “The American economy has experienced a certain growth this year. However, many consumers still are still concerned with money issues,” m...

Most people know the importance of setting good financial habits and practicing these habits to reach their short- and long-term life goals. However, a common mistake many people make when deciding to improve their financial lives is getting overly ambitious. They may try to follow too many habits and struggle to maintain these financial habits. What's the solution to this recurring issue?  Tanya Peterson, vice president of brand with Freedom Financial Network, said to start with choosing just one or two habits. Here are seven financial habits you can set, and follow, each day to improve your overall financial health. Pay Bills on Time You might already be practicing this financial habit on a regular basis! Make bill payments on time. Peterson said you can do this by setting up a system. Consider using an app, online calendar or a paper file on your desk that you'll use consistently to make timely bill payments. Check Accounts Daily How much do you have in c...

Try A Reverse Bucket List To Kick 5 Financial Habits That Are Slowing You Down Previously, I’ve written about creating more time for the things are truly meaningful to you by saying “no” to tasks, activities, distractions and time wasters that don’t further your goals. Recently, I came across an interesting article by Harvard professor and columnist for The Atlantic, Arthur C. Brooks, about finding satisfaction in life. Brooks refers to satisfaction as one of the core “macronutrients” of happiness (the other two being enjoyment and meaning). He talks about why the quest for satisfaction can feel so elusive and fleeting, ultimately leading us to continually want more money, possessions, fame, power or whatever else we think will lead to feelings of personal fulfillment. He believes the secret to satisfaction lies in managing our wants. By managing what we want instead of what we have, we give ourselves a chanc...

When you are looking to manage your credit rating it is important to make sure you are aware of what makes a credit score a positive one. But what can impact your credit score and how can it continue to impact your finances moving forwards. In this article, we will be providing you with insight into some of the ways that you can begin to better manage your credit rating.  What Is A Good Credit Score  Before you begin improving your credit score, it is important to make sure that you are aware of what a good credit score is. With three major reporting systems in the form of TransUnion, Equifax and Experian all allowing you to check your own credit score it is important to make sure you know which score is an acceptable one.  A good credit score with each of these reporting agencies is as follows:  TransUnion – 781 points out of 850  Equifax Over 420 points out of a total of 700 Experian – A Grand Total of over 880 out of 999 Make Sure You Pay Eve...

What is financial freedom? Ask a room of people to define financial freedom, and you're likely to get a dozen different answers. For some, financial freedom means being able to pay the bills with money left over each month or having a fully funded emergency account. Others may want to retire early and travel extensively. Regardless of how you define financial freedom, everyone can benefit from taking a comprehensive approach to money management. "It's important to think about your finances holistically," says Elisabeth Kozack, co-head of consumer lending at Marcus by Goldman Sachs. The following 12 steps will help you achieve your vision for the future. Commit to living within your means. The path to financial freedom begins with a step many people overlook. It starts by developing a mindset in which you prioritize building a strong financial foundation of savings before you move on to spending and investing. "You'll never get ahead if you're...