If you were watching Today this morning, you know that today marks the end of my sixperiment (if you don’t know what I’m talking about, click that link for a briefer). I’ve officially made it through 30 days of wearing only six items of clothing, often updating Facebook, Twitter and this blog with my progress. It was fun, monotonous, frustrating, a little boring, and very often a bit of a relief. My morning routine was, to say the least, streamlined.
I also learned a lot about how to edit my closet – what I need, what I don’t need – and I have a few bags ready to be donated. To that end, I thought I’d share some tips with you. Even if you’re not ready or willing to limit yourself to six items of clothing – trust me, I understand – it can be really freeing to clean out your closet and live a little more simply, whatever that means to you. The extra money in your pocket is just icing on the cake. More…
Could you wear only 6 items for 30 days? This morning on Today we reviewed my Sixperiment. What can you live with? What can’t you live without? How would you accessorize? Would anyone notice? Watch the video clip below to see what I discovered.
This morning’s expert panel looked into your financial emergencies. How can a single parent save money for college? What is the process to remove negative activity from your credit report? For answers to these questions and more watch the video clip below.
In this tough economy some are praying on our nations most vulnerable. Watch the video clip below to learn what scams to look out for and tips to protect yourself from becoming a victim.
“Hi Jean- I watch you often on the Today show and am really in need of serious intervention-to say the least. My husband and I really don’t know what to do or where to go for help. So here goes:
We have been married for 4 years and have 1 daughter, Lucy 20 months.
We have $0 in savings and nothing for her. We both went to college and work-combined we make over $100K. But we have SO much credit card debt that we are overwhelmed and can’t save. I set up my cc for the hardship programs. I have-just in my name $35K in cc debit. My husband has about $20k in his name and he is working to pay them down. Should we go to a consumer credit place, file bankruptcy, get a loan? We just don’t know what to do and we really really want to save!
We got in this trouble from our first home-the taxes were $1500 a month and we just couldn’t afford that along with the mortgage payment so we started using credit to pay the taxes and utilities.
HELP please.” – Stacy
Hi Stacy,
I know how frustrating this is. You are making good money yet feel as if you’re getting nowhere. I’d give a credit counseling service a try — though I’m not sure how much lower this will make your payments (find one at debtadvice.org). More…
I’ve talked a few times about the importance of having life insurance as a parent. Â In fact, I touched on it just last week, and full details are in this post. Â But one question I get again and again from parents is whether they should purchase a life insurance policy for their children.
The answer is no. Â Children’s life insurance is typically marketed as a way to protect your child in case he develops a chronic illness later in life that would make him uninsurable. Â If you buy coverage now, he’ll already have that policy in place. Many insurers also tout the benefits of having a policy on hand that will pay for burial expenses, and some offer coverage as a way to save for college – the premiums you pay for a whole life policy will build up over time, and you can borrow from the cash value. More…
Anybody want a dog? I can vouch for Benjamin, the 3 year old snuggle muffin I carried onto the set. Seriously, Jill and Richard do an amazing job with all of these pups. I was tempted to take one home with me but wasn’t sure Teddy (the cockapoo in residence) would approve!
Today’s panel looks at ways to reduce debt and plan for a lengthy retirement. What’s the best way to lower student loan payments? How do you handle a large debt to the IRS? What should you do if you are upside down on your mortgage? For answers to these questions and more watch the video clip below.
Last week, we hit on budgeting. This week, it’s all about the future – college, yes, but also preparing for the unexpected. What does it take?
A will. When you’re a parent, you need a basic estate plan, and that means writing a will. It’s the only document that allows you to name guardians for your children, which means you’ll be able to select who will take care of them if something happens to you. If you don’t have a will, the choice may be up to the court and the rules in your state. If your financial situation is rather simple, you can make an inexpensive will on a website like LegalZoom. If things are more complicated – you have a lot of assets – you’re better off seeing an attorney. It will cost you about $1,000 for a basic estate plan, but it’s more than worth it. More…
HOW: Holly Craig was a former boutique owner and full-time mom. After her husband was offered a great new career opportunity, the family relocated to Nashville, Craig sold her storefront and its inventory, and planned to start fresh in a new town. Â She would have loved to find and open another retail spot, but the 10-hour days they called for weren’t possible with young kids. An online business, however, was another story.
In the spring of 2009 that Craig began developing an idea for an Internet-based eco-friendly boutique – hosting only handmade products. More…
If you were watching Today this morning, you know that today marks the end of my sixperiment (if you don’t know what I’m talking about, click that link for a briefer). I’ve officially made it through 30 days of wearing only six items of clothing, often updating Facebook, Twitter and this blog with my progress. It was fun, monotonous, frustrating, a little boring, and very often a bit of a relief. My morning routine was, to say the least, streamlined.
WHO: Holly Craig
