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.
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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.
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“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…
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.
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“I desperately need your help to create a budget for my husband and I. Can you direct me to a simple easy budget worksheet where I can enter what we bring home and what we pay out and this will show me what I need to save or how to save?” – Anonymous
Setting up a budget is a must – so I’m glad you’re reaching out for help! It’s a matter of figuring out where you are, and where you want to be. You need to ask yourself how much you’re bringing in each month, how much goes out each month – and when you spend that money, where it’s going.
How much you’re bringing into your household each month should include your take home pay, and any other sources of income you might have. Do you run a small business on the side? Do you have rental properties? Do you sell old books on eBay? Add it all up. If it varies, come up with the average over the past year. That will let you know exactly More…
This morning, Today’s experts answered your tough financial questions. How do you keep a business bankruptcy from going personal? No employer 401K, what’s the best way to save? Should you refinance your home loan? For answers to these questions and more watch the video below.
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We all know that shopping makes us feel good. It’s a scientific fact – when we see something we want, it triggers the release of feel-good endorphins and hormones that inspire us to make a purchase – something I talk about in my book, The Difference. But I know from reading many of your e-mails that, in some cases, this kind of feel-good shopping can become a real issue. When you shop compulsively – buying things you don’t need, and racking up debt – it can take a real toll on your life.
My good friend April Lane Benson, PhD, is an expert in overshopping – and how to stop. She authored a book – To Buy or Not to Buy: Why We Overshop and How to Stop – to help compulsive shoppers curb their behavior and live a financially responsible lifestyle. Recently, April let me know about a new study she’s working on to test her treatment for compulsive buyers. The treatment has been a success for more than 100 shopaholics – and it incorporates a series of steps that help to re-shape buying behavior, and keep you from falling back into a bad habit once you’ve fixed it. More…
The American Red Cross swimming program, at least as implemented at one Westchester County, NY daycamp, has discovered the secret of reaching your goals. Break ‘em into achievable benchmarks. My young friend Sasha, age 5, started camp as a non-swimmer, as did my own kids years ago. Back then, a half decade or so ago, kids had to cross a slew of items off their list to move from Level 1 to Level 2 and so on. It could take an entire summer to scale a single rung. No more. This year, within her level, Sasha has been challenged to hit a number of benchmarks within Level 1. She started as a guppie, moved to tadpole, then was a minnow, now she’s a frog. And, reports her mother, “she feels great!” More…
They don’t call it smart shopping for nothing but these days it’s not the money we spend that’s making us feel brainy – it’s the money we save. That’s what the researchers from Deloitte and The Harrison group learned. They surveyed 2,000-plus consumers and learned that four out of five say they find saving money using techniques like coupons and loyalty programs “fun.” So fun, in fact, that 93 percent don’t plan to return to their frivolous spending habits when the economy improves.
The research – which is called The New American Pantry Study (PDF) – pointed to five different, new consumer behaviors. Take a look. Join in. You may be more satisfied with how you’re using your money if you do. More…
New research shows that in our tighter economy, people are starting to feel better about saving than spending! How can you get that feel-good boost in your day to day life? Waiting for sales, cooking from scratch, and learning how to (conveniently) use coupons are just a few of the ways I highlighted this morning on the Today Show. Watch the clip below!
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