I scheduled 3 preventative surgeries in one year with no debt — and now I teach other people how to afford it
By scheduling all my surgeries in the same calendar year, I got the most out of an expensive health-insurance plan.
Zina Kumok
After I opened my first high-yield savings account, I loved it so much I opened 10 more
I use each high-yield savings account for a different goal, like a vacation to Ireland, a kitchen renovation, or future car repairs.
I asked 2 financial planners whether unmarried people need life insurance — their answer was almost always yes
Just because you're not married doesn't mean you shouldn't consider having a life insurance policy, especially if you share expenses with a partner.
I had to have several surgeries a few years ago — it taught me that disability insurance isn't optional
I had always assumed I didn't need disability insurance since I was in good health and didn't do manual labor. Then I couldn't work for much of 2019.
I got a new debit card before a 2-week trip to Japan, but there was a much more important card to have
I didn't withdraw as much money from ATMs as I thought I would, but I used several strategies during my trip to save money on every purchase.
A financial planner says American expat clients often make the same money mistake when moving abroad
Chris Chen, CFP®, has worked with expat clients and lived abroad himself. Your financial responsibilities will change when you move abroad.
Even if the interest rate on your high-yield savings account has dropped, you should still leave your money alone
Interest rates on savings accounts have been dropping since March, but chasing the best rate might be more of a headache than it's worth.
Putting my money in the market is a much better investment than whole life insurance — here's why
Consumers who choose whole life mostly do so because they want to leave an inheritance. But it's better to pick term life and invest the rest.
I've saved thousands by filing taxes jointly with my husband, but it's not the right decision for everyone
Married couples can either file their taxes jointly or separately. According to the IRS, less than 3% of married couples filed separately in 2016.
I was earning next to nothing after college and worried about losing my job, so I used bank sign-up bonuses to build an emergency fund
She was worried about losing her job as the newspaper industry was collapsing and needed to build an emergency fund — fast.
I applied for life insurance after finding out I'm at risk for breast cancer and almost made a mistake that would have cost me well over $100 a year
People with preexisting conditions will have better luck getting an affordable policy if they get multiple quotes.
2 signs you should upgrade your student credit card — and 2 signs you're not ready
If you're looking to upgrade your wallet after graduating, ask yourself these questions to decide whether it's time to apply for a non-student card.
After I opened my first high-yield savings account, I loved it so much I opened 10 more
I use each high-yield savings account for a different goal, like a vacation to Ireland, a kitchen renovation, and future car repairs.
I swore I'd never take on debt for a car, but I was surprised by how well my first auto loan fit into my financial plan
"I swore I'd never get an auto loan, but when my transmission died, I had to be flexible in a way I never thought I could."
4 times money can actually buy you happiness, according to research
It's not about amassing wealth, but rather using that wealth as a tool to cultivate long-lasting feelings of positivity.
My husband I don't have kids, but writing a will means our money — and our dogs — go to those we love most
A will is the document that allows the people you leave behind to mourn your passing without legal complications and petty squabbling.
A phone call to my student loan servicer changed the way I saw my $28,000 debt, and spurred me to pay it off 7 years early
I graduated college with $28,000 in student loans. My minimum student loan payment was $350 a month, which was 20% of my take-home pay.
I relied on my dad's investment advice for years until a casual conversation with a friend showed me a better way
I've always trusted my dad's investment advice and haven't managed my own portfolio, even though I'm a personal finance writer.
I thought I knew enough about money to handle my family's finances, but a financial planner showed me 4 blind spots
As a personal finance writer, she felt confident about her savings strategy. But she hired a financial planner to make sure she was on the right path.
After 3 major surgeries, spending $21 a month on disability insurance means I won't have to panic if I get sick again
The surgeries went smoothly, but they made her realize she wasn't invincible and could lose her income if her health suffered again.