Melissa Batai - Everything Finance

5 Ways to Avoid Debilitating Student Loan Debt

Published on Jun 17 2013 // Debt, Kids and College, Loans, Student Loans

If you’re a recent college graduate, you likely have student loan debt, perhaps crippling student loan debt. I graduated from grad school 14 years ago, and finally, this year, I’ll pay off the last of my student loan debt. (Debt taken out for a career field I’m not even in anymore.) If...

Where Do You Draw The Line at Excess Consumption?

Published on Jun 10 2013 // Budgeting

Personal finance is so interesting because it’s just that–personal. While you might not think anything of paying $100 for cable, others may choose to go without it entirely because they’d rather read or do something else. You may scoff at buying shoes for $40, while another person...

You Want to Give Your Child The Best of Everything, But Should You?

Published on Jun 03 2013 // Budgeting, Kids and College

As parents, we want to give our kids the best of everything. We want to give them all the things and advantages we had as a child, or, alternatively, all the things and advantages we DIDN’T have as a child. We want them to take the best lessons and classes and to have the best vacations. We...

Save on Your Groceries with a CSA

Published on May 27 2013 // Savings, Shopping

Want to save on your groceries this summer? Who doesn’t, right? If you’re already clipping coupons, menu planning, and shopping the sales, there is still one more way you can save: join a CSA. You may not have heard of CSAs yet, but they are growing in popularity and becoming mainstream. What...

Everything Finance Monthly Round Up: Tornado Season Is Here

Published on May 26 2013 // Finance Around The Web

Tornado season is here. The nation watched and mourned with the residents of Moore, Oklahoma as an F-5 tornado ripped through the town and took over 20 lives, including several elementary school students. If you live in an area prone to tornadoes, make sure to take the time to review with your family...

How to Get Rich: Wealth Building for the Financially Illiterate by Barbara Friedberg – A Review

Published on May 20 2013 // Debt, Finance Books

There are hundreds of personal finance books out there. There are so many to choose from that it can be overwhelming. However, if you’re looking for a straightforward guide who speaks in plain English and wants to help you become a financial success, look no further than Barbara Friedberg. Barbara...

3 Painless Ways to Be Frugal

Published on May 13 2013 // Savings

Frugality gets a bad rap. I’m guessing that it’s because being frugal is often confused with being a miser. You know, those people who won’t spend money on anything. Those people who drive 5 miles out of their way to get gas for 3 cents less per gallon. Those people who take...

Home Ownership–Would You Move to a Lower Cost of Living Area?

Published on May 06 2013 // Cost of Living, Mortgage, Taxes

The average age of first time home ownership in the United States in the last 10 years has varied from 30 to 32 years of age, depending on the economy (Economists Outlook). My guess is that it might also depend on the area of the country people reside in. Certainly buying a house in rural Iowa is...

Use Pinterest to Save Money

Published on Apr 29 2013 // Personal Finance, Savings

Have you looked around Pinterest? Or, are you a Pinterest member who has to spend a few minutes (or more) every day browsing and pinning? (It’s addictive, I tell you!) I recently spoke to a friend who said she never went on Pinterest because she thought it was just a place for bored housewives...

Everything Finance Monthly Round Up: Boston Begins to Heal

Published on Apr 27 2013 // Personal Finance

What a crazy few weeks it’s been. Just a few short weeks ago, the Boston Marathon bombing happened. What followed was surreal with the entire city of Boston on lock down and shoot outs happening in the streets. In the end, one suspect was dead and another was arrested. Now Dzhokhar Tsarnaev...

Want to Save More Money? Look at Your Waste

Published on Apr 22 2013 // Cost of Living, Savings

How many pounds do you think the average American family wastes in food each week? (If you’re like me, you’re surprised that the total is even one pound let alone pounds.) Any guesses? According to ABC News, the U.S. average of food waste is 14 pounds a week! (ABCNews). One family ABC...

7 Ways Warmer Weather Can Save You Money

Published on Apr 15 2013 // Savings

Though for many areas of the country spring seems slow to come, there’s no doubt that it’s on its way. Even if you still have chilly weather, there’s no denying that the grass is getting greener and the flowers and trees are beginning to bloom. You can take a hint from Mother Nature...

5 Ways to Save for a House Down Payment

Published on Apr 08 2013 // Debt, Housing Market

After years of waiting, we’re getting the itch to buy a home. However, for most people, the process of beginning to thinking about buying a home to actually buying one is usually several years, largely because you need to get your finances in order and save for a hefty down payment. Before you...

Everything Finance Monthly Round Up: North Korea Tension

Published on Mar 31 2013 // Finance Around The Web

As we draw near the Easter holiday, tensions between the United States and North Korea continue to grow. After the United States flew stealth bombers over North Korea, North Korea responded with propaganda videos and threats. Tensions are rising, and hopes for a more reasonable North Korean leader...

Debt Heroes – A Book Review

Published on Mar 27 2013 // Debt

Are you saddled by debt? If so, don’t be embarrassed or ashamed. Most of us have debt or have been in debt before. If you’re deep in debt, you may feel like you’ll never get out of debt. You may feel discouraged and overwhelmed. In the new ebook, Debt Heroes by Ben Edwards and...

Why Property Management Is a Great Business

Published on Mar 25 2013 // Uncategorized

Do you enjoy working with people? Are you naturally social yet are a firm disciplinarian type? Are you detailed oriented and organized? If you like variety in your day and to do a number of different tasks, pursuing a property management career may be perfect for you. A property manager fills...