Use A CD Ladder For Emergency Funds

May 18, 2013 | Kate

One popular strategy for earning higher-than-savings-account interest is a certificate of deposit (CD) ladder.  A CD ladder (or laddered CDs) is a way of purchasing multiple smaller CDs rather than … [Read more...]

Five Reasons Not To Co-Sign Anything

April 11, 2013 | Kate

Most of us have been there:  a friend or relative wants to make a purchase, but their credit isn't good enough to qualify on their own.  So they ask financially-responsible you to co-sign for their … [Read more...]

How Did You Learn About The Military?

April 10, 2013 | Kate

A very kind commenter at C'mon Folks, Know Your Benefits made the case that I need to be a little more patient with people who have difficulty learning about the military and how it works, … [Read more...]

Prevent Procrastination and Its Costs

April 08, 2013 | Kate

Why is it so easy to procrastinate, and why do we continue doing it even though we've experienced the downsides of putting things off?  I am a serious procrastinator, and it directly conflicts with … [Read more...]

Money Is Like Sports

March 29, 2013 | Kate

I've just come back from a fabulous SpouseBUZZ Experience.  I got to meet many cool people, and give a little talk with the lovely Scott Halliwell of USAA.  Some people asked about balancing … [Read more...]

THIS Is Why I Want You To Cut Costs

March 27, 2013 | Kate

If you spend anytime on the internet, you've probably seen at least link to some article talking about Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and her concerns about how the federal budget situation is … [Read more...]

Backing Up Data, Cheap and Easy

March 19, 2013 | Kate

I have a huge data problem...I'm always losing it.  My life revolves around the laptop upon which I am currently typing.  In theory, that would be fine.  In reality, my family is really, really … [Read more...]

SpouseBUZZ Is Coming To Italy

March 07, 2013 | Kate

Northern Italy folks, check your calendars.  Military.com's SpouseBUZZ Live is coming to Aviano on Friday, 29 March 2012, and I'm coming with them. SpouseBUZZ Live events are always full of fun … [Read more...]

Military Saves Week: Pay Off Debt!

February 26, 2013 | Kate

Tuesday is Pay Off Debt day at Military Saves Week 2013. I think this is my favorite day because I have seen the impact of being debt-free in my own life. As I've discussed, my husband and I had … [Read more...]

Military Saves Week: Forgotten Expenses and True Emergencies

February 25, 2013 | Kate

Here on Day One of Military Saves Week 2013, the topic is saving for emergencies or forgotten expenses.  I prefer to call them forgotten expenses, because 95% of "emergency fund" spending is for … [Read more...]

Military Saves Week 2013

February 24, 2013 | Kate

This week, 25 February through 2 March 2013, has been designated as Military Saves Week 2013.  Military Saves Week is a time for servicemembers and their families to consider their financial goals … [Read more...]

How Sequestration Will Affect Your Life

February 14, 2013 | Kate

Military families should know how sequestration will affect their lives, when and if it occurs.  Thankfully, pay is secure, but many other benefits are not. Pay Is Safe Military pay is specifically … [Read more...]

Focus On The Big Wins

February 12, 2013 | Kate

I spend a lot of time trying to save money.  I clip coupons, I buy gas when it is less expensive, and I try to make meals out of less expensive items.  And no one would disagree that this is … [Read more...]

Mail Call: Alimony Payments

January 31, 2013 | Kate

Divorce is an economic mess, no matter how you look at it.  It is more expensive to run two households than one, and there are a host of other ways in which divorce can be hard on the budget. … [Read more...]