Show your kids that needs and wants are two different things. The best way to teach our kids to be smart consumers – and savvy savers – is to model good behavior for them. Jean Chatzky Read Quote
If salary is your most important consideration, make sure you don’t take too much time off beyond the allotted 12-14 weeks of maternity leave – and certainly don’t leave altogether. Jean Chatzky Read Quote
You can cut the fat from your spending: Stop taking taxis, call your cable company and ask for the same deal new subscribers get, have dinner at home and then a drink out instead of a $100 meal with wine. Jean Chatzky Read Quote
It doesn’t help to follow every rise and fall of your portfolio. It’s better to tune out the day-to-day shifts, in fact. But getting a handle on the larger picture will make you feel more secure, and that goes a long way in calming your fear. Jean Chatzky Read Quote
Your credit score takes into account years of information in most cases. It’s not going to improve in a day. But it may improve more quickly than you think. Generally, the last 24 months carry the most weight, so if you can keep clean for that long, you’ll see a boost. Jean Chatzky Read Quote
If you decide you need a secured card, use it to charge small items every month, then pay the balance off in full. If your credit score improves, and the bank doesn’t offer to upgrade your card within 12 to 18 months, give them a call. If they refuse, try another lender. Jean Chatzky Read Quote
Secured cards can be helpful credit rebuilding tools for two reasons. First, because of the collateral, you can get them at a time when you’re not likely to be approved for nonsecured cards. And as long as you maintain an on-time payment history, they can help you start to build a recent credit history that’s fairly pristine. Jean Chatzky Read Quote
Women take fewer financial risks than men do, but not because we’re wusses. Both sexes secrete the hormone oxytocin in stressful situations, but women secrete more of it, which helps us stay calmer. Jean Chatzky Read Quote
Your retirement comes before your children’s tuition. That’s because there’s no financial aid for retirement, and there’s still a good deal available for college. Jean Chatzky Read Quote
Eliminating or substantially lowering just one major monthly expense can give you enough cushion to move into a more comfortable place financially. Jean Chatzky Read Quote
