Accumulating wealth shouldn’t be your main financial goal

By Joe Plemon

I love writing financial tips to help you better manage your money. I want you to get out of debt, have a sound emer-gency fund and a plan to retire with dignity. I want you to be so smart with your money that you will, over time, build wealth. But I don't want wealth to be your goal.

Nov 19, 2009 | 12:30 am | Loading…

Credit-card countdown

By Claudia Buck, McClatchy-Tribune News

Companies again pumping up rates, fees in another rush before new law takes affect

Nov 12, 2009 | 1:00 am | Loading…

• Related: So what can you do? Advice for cardholders

Being a slave to debt takes away your freedom to live your life

By JOE PLEMON

Do Solomon's words, "The borrower is a slave to the lender" apply to you? Before you answer, read the following scenario:

Nov 12, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Keep health care costs down

Nov 12, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Learn the facts on the energy tax credit

BY AL HEAVENS, MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE NEWS

There appears to be a cauldron of federal stimulus money going to waste these days because large numbers of Americans are more concerned about saving their houses than improving them.

Nov 05, 2009 | 12:30 am | Loading…

Substitute creativity for debt this holiday season

Question: I nearly had a panic attack when I looked at the calendar today and realized that Christmas is next month.

Nov 05, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Book helps sort out health plan benefits

"Navigating Your Health Benefits for Dummies" is a handbook written in simple language to explain how health benefits work - and it's free.

Nov 05, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

How to deal with being employed, but overworked

BY MEGAN K. SCOTT, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sure, you're grateful that you still have a job. But you're also feeling overworked, stressed out and anxious about the future. Here's what to do to keep your job and your sanity:

Oct 29, 2009 | 1:00 am | Loading…

Where should home sale equity go? It depends

By Joe Plemon

Question: I am in the process of selling my house and purchasing another house. With the $60,000 I will clear from the sale of my house, I need $25,000 for a down payment on the new house. My question is this: Should I apply the remain-ing $35,000 toward the purchase of my new house or is…

Oct 29, 2009 | 1:00 am | Loading…

H&R Block to give $1 million to high school personal finance courses

McClatchy-Tribune News

Although most parents think it's important to discuss personal finance with their teenagers, more than three-quarters flunked when tested on their own knowledge of personal financial management, according to a survey by the University of Kansas. In another survey, more than half of high s…

Oct 29, 2009 | 1:00 am | Loading…

Negotiating better prices is easier in this economy

BY MEGAN K. SCOTT, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

You've done it at the car dealership, the flea market and the garage sale. But what about the depart-ment store, the jeweler, the doctor's office?

Oct 22, 2009 | 1:00 am | Loading…

• Related: Looking for deals? Bargain-hunt like a pro

Even the most average of us can reach excellence

By Joe Plemon

Author Malcolm Gladwell, in his new book "Outliers," shares his research that very few people achieve excellence without putting in at least 10,000 hours of preparation. He dispels the notion that people can be at the top of their games with talent alone.

Oct 22, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Looking for deals? Bargain-hunt like a pro

The Associated Press

Bargaining can be time consuming, intimidating and downright frustrating, but it can result in better deals.

Oct 22, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…