5 Ways to Remember the Reason for the Season
Dear Chuck, I cannot believe that it’s Thanksgiving week and Christmas is coming in weeks. Most of the time, I feel more stressed than thankful at this time of year (unless you count how thankful I feel when it’s all over!). Have any advice about making Christmas more about Jesus’ birthday and less about a […]
Why do the “Wrong” People Get Ahead?
Originally posted on the Christian Post on November 18th. Dear Chuck, I’m in a company where it feels to me that people who are good at flattering the boss – but not necessarily are good at their jobs – get promoted, while more talented people get ignored or passed over. It’s so frustrating to look around […]
5 Tips if Your Children’s Activities are Wrecking Your Finances
Dear Chuck, My wife and I are struggling with the costs of our children’s extracurricular activities, which seem to be getting more expensive all the time. One of our sons wants to be on a travel team for sports, which is not only expensive, but includes the costs of hotels, food, and all kinds of […]
12 Steps to a Healthy Lifestyle
With medical expenses being the number one cause of financial hardships, it pays to work at staying healthy. Here are few simple tips/benefits for staying healthy: Take advantage of free ways to exercise. YouTube sessions, walking, dancing, and stretching; check out churches, senior centers, or the YMCA for exercise classes for little or no cost. Park […]
8 Budget Hacks to Help You Save
Dear Chuck, I’ve seen that you really encourage people to save $1,000 that they don’t touch at all except for extreme emergencies, but seriously, I CAN’T DO IT! I need some advice on where to cut because I’m so close to the edge. Got any ideas? Open to Suggestion Dear Open, Trust me, you are […]
Is Divorce Easier for Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie?
Originally posted on the Christian Post on October 21. Dear Chuck, Recently several close friends to me have divorced, causing so much chaos and pain and financial difficulty, but then you see celebrity divorces like Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt after 12 years and six kids, or the break up of Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber […]
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Reverse Mortgages
Originally posted on the Christian Post on September 30. Dear Chuck, My elderly parents are considering a reverse mortgage because they are struggling on a fixed income. Is that a good idea? Could it do more harm than good? Worried for Mom and Dad Dear Worried, I share your concerns about reverse mortgages, called “the ugly […]
3 Tips for Dealing with College Debt
Dear Chuck, It’s back to school time for many families, but my children are finishing college and newly graduated, so I’m less concerned now that they have a diploma– and more worried about the debt they accumulated – the nasty student loan kind of debt.. Do you have any advice for my family and me? […]
Mortgages: Refinancing vs Recasting
Dear Chuck, My husband and I own a home and are trying to decide if we should change our mortgage to get in better financial health. I read recently about “recasting” a mortgage, which sounds a lot like a fishing term! Is that something worth considering? We’ve been looking into refinancing. What is the difference? […]
Are You Stressed About Your Medical Bills?
I recently received this question: My husband and I could really, really use some financial advice. We are both in our 20’s, have a baby, and have been married for a little over 4 years. Unfortunately, we’ve acquired quite a bit of debt, mostly from medical bills because I did not have insurance. But we […]
