Personal Finance Tips

Taking real, intentional steps towards being responsible for your finances and financial future is a true test of maturity. Far too many Americans let their money lead them astray, instead of taking full command over how their money is utilized. I made many financial mistakes as a young person and going into adulthood, but luckily once I started making a full-time income, I started down the path to financial recovery and eventually towards financial prosperity.

Whether you listen at the gym, in your car, or riding the subway, podcasts are a great way to pass the time while also learning something new. One of the fastest-growing parts of the podcast industry is Business & Finance.  Need help with your personal finances?  There are podcasts for that.  Need to earn some extra income with a side gig?  There are podcasts for that, too.  But with so many to choose from, which one is right for you?

If you're in the market for a personal loan, you are not alone. The personal loan market has surged recently, with the total outstanding debt now over $156 billion. And if you are considering a personal loan, it should be clear that there are more lenders than ever before. Fintech startups, online banks, and traditional lenders are all vying for market share in this growing space.

In the Christmas classic "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," Clarke W. Griswold (played by Chevy Chase) guides his family through what can only be described as a disastrous Christmas. The generous-but-inept Clarke goes all-in by placing a down-payment on a backyard pool -- before he's received his yearly bonus. This error in judgment tortures Clarke as he waits day after day for his check. It finally arrives amid a Christmas Eve fail for the ages. Hoping his financial problems having been solved, he rips open the letter only to see that he's been enrolled in a jelly-of-the-month club. For those fortunate enough to get a yearly bonus -- and wise enough not to spend what they haven't received -- the choice of what to do with a bonus can be overwhelming. Should you spend it? Invest it? Pay down debt?