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Money

My Argument For Married Couples Keeping Separate Finances

ByGrayson Bell 03/20/201401/18/2018

First, let me give mad props to my fellow personal finance blogger, Holly of Club Thrifty, for rocking a Wall Street Journal essay and a Fox Business TV interview. She was dealing with the topic of money and marriage. This is a very controversial topic in the world of personal finance and I understand why. I wrote about it briefly some time ago when I was talking about paying off a spouses debt when they incurred it before marriage. That one got me some angry comments and emails, but I powered through. I don’t mind causing a little controversy. I read both the arguments on the WSJ piece and I am going to provide my argument for separate finances for married couples.

Fighting Debt

Top 10 Overlooked Causes of Debt

ByGrayson Bell 02/27/201408/26/2022

Over the past decade, more and more people have found themselves deep in financial debt. While there may be some obvious reasons why some people have gotten into debt, there are also many other overlooked factors that could have led to their accumulation of debt. I have spent a good amount of my adult life in debt. I know how it feels. There is nothing fun about it, but that doesn’t mean it has to define you. Remember that you are the one in control of your money, so don’t let it take control of you. We all make mistakes and debt should be one that you only make once. I don’t plan on making the debt mistake again, so I hope you do the same.

Real Estate

Six Home Improvements That Can Add Value When You Sell

ByGrayson Bell 02/20/201407/12/2016

One of the popular ways to build long-term wealth is to own your own home. While simply owning a home and paying down a mortgage over time will lead a significant amount of wealth creation, those that are looking to maximize the amount of equity that they could ultimately have in their homes should look for ways to improve their home. Those that are looking for home improvement projects to consider, here are six specific home improvements that could add the most amount of value to your home when you ultimately try to sell your home.

Cell Phone Providers

ByGrayson Bell 02/06/201405/30/2016

Looking For A Cell Phone Provider? There is a large shift out there with regards to mobile phone providers. People are looking to lower their monthly expenses and cell phone service has become a viable opportunity. I used to be with Verizon, but after having a hard time with their customer service and paying a…

Banking | Reviews

American Express Personal Savings Review – A Good Option

ByGrayson Bell 02/04/201404/23/2022

As a reformed spender, I love the opportunity to save money. Unfortunately for all of us savers, the economy is not really geared to rewarding us for holding onto our money. Even with low interest rates, I still love to save money and want to tell you about the American Express personal savings account. One of my goals is to give my readers options on where they store their cash. I am a big proponent of spreading your liquid assets in different places, so adding another savings account is no big thing for me. I am also a big fan of American Express, because they are the holder of one of my favorite cash back credit cards. Since my large banks are giving their savings customers a paltry 0.10%, anything better than that is good for everyone!

Shopping

Why You Should Choose a Local Appliance Store

ByGuest Author 01/14/201401/13/2014

There comes a time in all of our lives that we have to make large purchases. Let’s face it, that is just how our lives work right now. Our modern lives demand dishwashers, refrigerators, washing machines and dryers. When we find ourselves looking to buy a new appliance, we shop around. We read the reviews, we analyze the reports, and we watch the sales. Here is my story about why you shouldn’t go with the lowest price, but shop based on the type of service that you will receive after the purchase is made.

Cell Phones

Dear Verizon, This Is Our Final Goodbye!

ByGrayson Bell 12/02/201312/01/2013

Dear Verizon Wireless, I have been a loyal customer of your cell phone service since I was 16. You provided the best service at a reasonable price. You allowed me to get a nice phone for very little money and pay it off on my bill every month. Then, you would reduce my bill after the phone was paid for. Those were the days! Unfortunately, times have changed. Here is our final goodbye letter letting you know that were are dumping you for someone a little less flashy, but way more affordable.

Money

How You Can Get Rich Quick – The Truth Of Making Fast Cash

ByGrayson Bell 09/09/201311/27/2023

So, you want to know how to get rich quick? Doesn’t everyone! I wanted to write this to show you how you can get rich quick and live the life you have always wanted. You might love those late night infomercials telling you that if you buy their book or course, they will show you how to make so much money that it will be mind boggling. The only problem is that those people are the only ones getting rich quick. I am going to show you the real truth about making money fast.

Home & Family

3 Budget-Friendly Alternatives to Home Security Equipment

ByGuest Author 08/29/201308/23/2022

When struggling with debt or making ends meet on a budget, it can be a bitter pill to swallow a monthly subscription fee for your home security needs. Sure, automated alarm systems can help deter home invaders and have been shown to limit the time they spend inside once they’ve broken in. But for those who want to make ends meet first (or supplement their home security measures already in place,) following simple home security tips and investing in cost-effective alternatives to traditional home security measures can save you hundreds of dollars.

Autos

Why You Should Pay Down Your Debt Before Financing a Car

ByGuest Author 08/27/201310/02/2015

It is always a good idea to pay down your debt. Surely, you have heard that mantra before. It is shouted from every personal finance rooftop on the internet. But why is it such a good idea, especially when you look at it in the light applying for a new car loan? There are many reasons you might not be immediately aware of, so here we go.

Savings

How A Window A/C Unit Saved Me Money

ByGrayson Bell 08/07/201308/06/2013

My home air conditioner is severely inefficient, so my wife and I decided to look into saving money another way. We love to have our room very cold when we sleep, but we just couldn’t afford it. In a way to save money, I bought a window air conditioner and looked to see how much I would save. Check out my saving experiment and see how much I was able to save each and every month.

Money

Love and Money – An Internal Debate

ByGrayson Bell 04/08/201308/23/2022

I have been following the questions posed by Chase Bank back in February about average couples. It is pretty much about love and money. I answered the questions in my head, but not on here because I found one question that I wanted to dig into deeper. I have been having an internal debate about this question. There are some people on the side of a simple yes. They would pay off their spouse’s debt if they had it. They feel that their money is together. Some feel it is part of being married. I, on the other hand, don’t know what I would do, but I lean very much toward no. I think this question is conditional. Let me explain my reasons.