Cross-post from Steve of GetOutofDebt.org. To make it through tough times more Americans have borrowed, stolen or raided their small retirement funds to make ends meet. Loans from retirement funds jumped 20 percent last year. This really can’t be a big surprise to many. Faced with difficult financial decisions people will tend to gravitate towards [...]

It makes perfect sense. That is, for a person to save at least 3-6 months’ worth of his monthly expenses for emergencies (prolonged sickness, job insecurity).  But really, that concept (that comes across as almost common sense, but not really) – does not even cross the mind of those uninitiated in money matters. Well, it [...]

Today I embarked on my journey towards becoming a Registered Financial Planner. I figured – I might as well plunge head-on into the world of personal finance.  And what better way to continue my education than by formal training. Good too that I got a semi-scholarship / discount through MoneyDoctors partner and friend, Salve Duplito, [...]

Well, at least, one time I did not. Because, in an email to me about his “breathtaking insight about customers and human behavior,” he discussed two categories of customers:

Everyone needs one.

And borne of a MoneyDoctors story, we have produced one. And we called it The Walking Eater.

Thing is, it is not just a MoneyDoctors story. It is actually our story. My husband’s story.

He is the walking eater.

… To read the full article, please click on the title …

It was a fine afternoon and Nannette and I got to talking.

I just passed the insurance examination given by the Insurance Commission and can now be ushered into the world of insurance agents and hustling and bustling. That made me uncomfortable and I told Nannette so.

Okay, I still had the image of the feisty, persistent, pesky seller of insurance who does not really explain or understand what he sells, does not hear the word “no”, does not stick around through the bad times (when the hapless insured can no longer pay the premiums), is just interested because of the commission he hopes to get from me.

I did not want to be that person.

I found this lone piggybank in a toy store and embraced it right away, looking suspiciously to my left and to my right to check if someone will get it from me.

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No other takers. I breathed a sigh of relief.

Kidding.

But to tell you the truth, when I got it, I initially thought of giving it as a gift to one of my nephews or nieces but then as the countdown to Christmas lost digit after digit, I started wanting it for myself (it would be perfect too for my daughter…).

Because it was not just your regular piggybank – it was a piggybank that makes a provision for savings, spending, donation and investment.

A relative does not like eating out, even on important occasions. You can actually feel his displeasure when we insist (except when it is the Sofitel buffet, which he loves).  This is because he thinks eating out is a waste of money.  This view is okay (and maybe true), except that he strongly suggests to [...]