Family Finance Favorites
S2-20: Market Free Fall, April Inflation & Deep Dive on Why is Childcare So Expensive
Last week, we saw the 6th consecutive week of down markets, with both the S&P 500 and NASDAQ hitting new lows, as investors continue to digest the latest Fed rate hike and last week’s April inflation numbers. Catch it all on this week’s podcast, along with a deep dive on the childcare dilemma featuring three…
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S2-19: Bear Market, Q1 GDP Miss & A Deep Dive on Cryptocurrency and NFTs
Last week, we saw the 4th consecutive week of down markets, with April performance coming in as the worst month since March 2020 for the S&P 500, and the worst month for the NASDAQ since 2008. The week also included an expected decline in real GDP for Q1 2022, adding credibility to investors’ recession concerns.…
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S2-18: Market Correcting, Housing Update & A Deep Dive on US Agriculture and Rising Food Prices
On this week’s episode of Finance Explained, the market had its third consecutive down week this month and is now in correction mode and headed for bear market territory. I’ve got the latest on the housing market through March, as the spring selling season starts to pick up. And this week’s deep dive features a…
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Why Are Gas Prices Going Up Because of Russia
We all watched in horror last week as Russia invaded Ukraine, completely unprovoked. We have also watched oil and gas prices escalate in recent months as the likelihood of this conflict escalated. President Biden, in announcing the initial sanctions against Russia, also indicated “defending freedom will have costs for us as well and here at…
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5 Key Challenges to Watch Driving the 2022 Financial Outlook
If any of us had an actual crystal ball to give us the 2022 financial outlook, we’d be billionaires… but the reality is there are a lot of unique, atypical, and historically unprecedented economic and financial data points right now. So, what can we expect economically and financially in 2022? There are 5 key challenges…
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Awesome Finance Books Every Woman Should Read
The most successful people in the world all have one thing in common: they never stop reading. Having previously shared what I consider the best books about finance, many of you expressed interest in reading and discussing them together, as well as having regular recommendations on finance books to read. And so last year, the…
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How to Keep Money Problems Out of Your Marriage
Money problems and marriage don’t have to go hand in hand. Learn how this simple solution can keep money problems out of your marriage for good. How many of you struggle with money problems in your marriage? I have a secret for you… you are not alone. Very few marriages are free of money problems.…
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10 Different Ways 2020 Hurt the Average Family Budget
One of the most popular posts here on Family Finance Mom is the example of a family budget, based on the 2018 Consumer Expenditure data released annually by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This month, the BLS released the data for 2020, giving us a detailed look at just how 2020 – with the pandemic,…
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How to Calculate How Much House I Can Actually Afford
First time homebuyers, and even experienced homebuyers who may be buying in a new area or buying into a higher price point, often ask me how much house they can really afford or how much of their income their mortgage should be. The key to answering these questions is understanding that the total cost of…
Read MoreSavvy Shopping with Groupon Coupons
This post has been compensated by Groupon Coupons. All opinions remain 100% my own. Financial savvy is not only about saving money. It’s also about spending money wisely. This month’s Financially Savvy Friday topic is Savvy Shopping. To kick off the topic for the month, I’m going to give you the inside scoop on Groupon Coupons to save…
Read MoreCutting the Cost of Cable
Last month, you made your budget, and (gasp) realized how much you actually spend! You might be thinking, I pay HOW MUCH for that?!? I know the first time I went through the exercise one line item that jumped off the spreadsheet for me was cable. I remembered signing up for the ‘Triple Play’ to save all this money,…
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6 Holiday Gift Giving Ideas for Big Holiday Savings
We can’t play Santa to everyone during the holidays. While our shopping list might seem as long as his, we don’t have unlimited funds, an army of elves, and a workshop in the North Pole cranking gifts out all year. From extended family and friends, to teachers, neighbors and co-workers, the list to buy for seems…
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Market Update 3-28-2022
Last week, the market rallied for the second week in a row, finishing the week up +1.8%, up +3.9% for March thus far, but still down -4.7% for the year. The big story of the week, however, was a major move in interest rates. Learn just how much interest rates are increasing, what’s driving it,…
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Market Update 2-7-2022
It was a calmer week for the markets as a whole (though Facebook shareholders may not agree) AND for economic data, but Q4 earnings season is still in full swing… and drove more than its fair share of excitement in the stock market. Get more details on earnings season, the labor market releases last week,…
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Market Update 1-31-2022
It was a BUSY week full of economic data updates, Q4 earnings releases, and even an FOMC statement and press conference. And while the market finally finished a week in 2022 in the black, it was a volatile 5 days. Get more details below for this week’s market update or listen to this week’s episode…
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How American Student Loans Morphed from a Hand-Up to Hopelessness
The Federal Student Loan program first began in 1965. It was intended to make student loans accessible to all, to make the American Dream – going to college and earning more money – possible for everyone. A Federal American Student Loans program was supposed to be the great economic and opportunity equalizer… but somewhere along…
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How To Get Personal Finance Classes in Every High School
There are two things I hear consistently from Family Finance Moms on a daily basis: I wish I had learned this when I was in school. How do I make sure my kids learn what I didn’t about finance? The way to address both of these is simple. Personal finance classes in every high school…
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20 High School Seniors Ask: How to Prepare for College Financially
I remember my college search process, the campus visits, and final choice like it was yesterday… my thought process went something likes this: I deserve to go anywhere that accepts me. Cost barely registered in my decision-making – and certainly not because my parents could afford it. My mom just kept telling me “we would…
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Lazy Mom’s Quick and Easy Shepherd’s Pie
One of my favorite, go-to meal plan ideas for Fall and Winter is Shepherd’s Pie… but seriously, who has time to cook the filling, make mashed potatoes, put it all together, and then, bake it all over again??? Here’s how I make all the same flavors happen in 30 minutes or less for a quick…
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10 Best Things to Buy At Costco
When it comes to saving money on groceries, I swear by two things: meal planning and Costco! For families, you can save tremendously on your grocery budget by buying right and buying in bulk… and there’s no better place to do it than Costco. Just before the holidays, I asked my Instagram followers what are…
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How to Save Money At the Grocery Store
When it comes to budgeting, many families struggle with sticking to their food budget every month. There are lots of ways to lower your monthly grocery spend: you can save money on groceries by meal planning, eating in instead of eating out, but you can also learn how to save money at the grocery store…
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Budgeting Your Time to Maximize Your Mom Schedule
If you’re a busy mom who feels like your days are passing in a blur, while your to-do list grows faster than you can ever seem to keep up with, this one’s for you. While it may seem as a stay at home mom in particular, you should have all the time in the world,…
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How to Protect Your Children: 10 Things to Know About Will vs Estate Planning
No one likes to think about their own mortality. However, once you have children who depend on you, it becomes essential. If something happens to you, what will happen to them? How do you make sure they are protected and financially provided for? I was recently asked about wills during a weekly Ask Me Anything…
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The Ultimate Guide to Finance for Baby’s First Year
Congratulations, your precious baby is finally here. Now the real fun begins! While you may have purchased everything on your baby registry list, there are many family legal and financial tasks you cannot actually begin until your baby arrives, and some come with significant time sensitivity. So even if you’ve been preparing for a baby financially…
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