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Leasing a Car? Know the Downsides

For many people, car ownership is the second biggest ticket purchase that they're likely to make (after real estate). No matter how you slice it, a car is a substantial purchase. My late grandfather was fond of pointing out that every vehicle he purchased in his lifetime cost as much as all the previous ones [...]

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How to Be Lazy (And Succeed in Money Management)

Let's be honest: most of us would love to spend less time worrying about our money. Maybe you're not a procrastinator at heart, but when it comes to managing your money, you can succeed by being lazy and doing less. I've talked at length about why investing is a lazy man's game: buy index funds, [...]

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Where's Your Paycheck Going?

You may know where your money is going, but how does it compare to the average consumer? There's a fascinating look the average U.S. Consumer unit expenditures, using figures from the Dept. of Labor. Check out the chart below (via Visual Economics). Click it for a full-size version.

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How to Save 70% Off Your Next Car's MSRP

Automobiles have a unique place in American consumption and personal finance. Nothing else costs so much and depreciates so fast and we continue to buy them. As everyone knows, cars are more than transportation. For businesspeople, it is often important to have a newer car to project an image of prestige and prosperity. Others are [...]

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Savings Rate Hits 6.9%, Highest Since 1993

More good news coming from the recession: the personal savings rate continues to increase, hitting 6.9% in May. That's up from 5.6% in April, and the highest since December of 1993, when it was 7.6% (according to the Wall Street Journal). At the same time, spending was up 0.3% in May and disposable personal income [...]

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Ask the Readers: Do You Still Write Checks?

Honestly, I can't remember the last time I wrote a check for anything. All of my spending is using debit cards with the occasional cash purchase and once-in-a-while credit card charge. All of those checks that I ordered way back when are just sitting around, yet to be used. Probably the only time I'd be [...]

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Ask the Readers: Do You Budget or Track Your Money?

Everyone has a different style when it comes to their day-to-day money management. Some people check in everyday, others use the envelope system to budget, and others only update once-a-month. For the most part, if you are just starting out your financial journey, budgeting is the best way to find where your money is going. [...]

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