From Debt to Wealth

It's Not ALL Bad News...

kristine@beacon-advisor.com (Kristine McKinley) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 20:11:49 PST

Post from my Money Wise Coach blog earlier today...

You'd never guess there was any good news in the economy based on the gloomy headlines and the lack of consumer confidence. The economy is definitely in turmoil right now, but I've always felt that the media focused on the negative...

A Simple Exercise to Reduce Your Financial Anxiety

kristine@beacon-advisor.com (Kristine McKinley) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 07:10:08 PST

I just blogged about an exercise that I use to reduce stress. While the exercise is really meant to help you de-clutter your mind when you have too much to do, it's also a great way to reduce stress.

Since the stock market and economy are causing a lot of stress for people lately,...

Have you changed your vacation plans due to rising gas prices?

kristine@beacon-advisor.com (Kristine McKinley) — Tue, 13 May 2008 11:19:50 PST

DH and I were planning on going to Colorado for vacation this year, but have changed our plans due to the rising gas prices.

Just wondering if others are changing their vacation plans due to gas prices?

Blogged about this on my regular blog earlier today...

Wow! It's been a while!

kristine@beacon-advisor.com (Kristine McKinley) — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 10:56:40 PST

I just realized that I haven't posted to this blog in almost a year! It's not that I haven't been posting, it's just that I've been busy posting to my Ebiz Tax Tips blog and my Financial Tips for WAHMs blog, that I haven't had time to post to this one!

Anyway, just wanted...

Buried in tax returns...

kristine@beacon-advisor.com (Kristine McKinley) — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 08:04:01 PST

I've been too busy to blog for a while, because I am buried in tax returns.

Not that I'm complaining; over half of the returns that I've received so far are from new clients who were referred to me by current (happy) clients. Nothing makes me feel better than to get a referral...

Any eBayers here?

kristine@beacon-advisor.com (Kristine McKinley) — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 13:37:01 PST

I've been noticing that more and more of my friends, family and clients are selling items on eBay and making a profit.

I sold quite a bit of stuff a few years ago - just trying to clean out the closets, etc. - but have never tried to make a real profit doing it.

Anybody having...

3 No Spend Days in a Row!

kristine@beacon-advisor.com (Kristine McKinley) — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 19:47:20 PST

Well, thanks to the freezing rain, snow, and ice we've had over the last few days, I've had 3 No Spend days in a row!

But, I have to say it was probably due to the weather more than anything else. Since I work from home, I was able to stay inside for the worst of the bad weather,...

Jump-Start Your Retirement Planning Days

kristine@beacon-advisor.com (Kristine McKinley) — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 12:11:42 PST

Twice a year Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine and the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) team up to provide consumers with free financial advice during Jump-Start Your Retirement Planning Days.

Jump-Start Your Retirement Planning Days is a chance for...

Two very creative finance blog carnivals

kristine@beacon-advisor.com (Kristine McKinley) — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 07:18:21 PST

I don't know if you guys read blog carnivals, but I've seen 2 this week that are very creative and interesting to read.

They are:

The Carnival of Personal Finance: Financial Superheroes Edit... by Get Rich Slowly, and

The Ten Commandments of Frugality (Festival of Frugality #56)

I...

My newspaper saved me $25!

kristine@beacon-advisor.com (Kristine McKinley) — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 11:30:55 PST

My dh frequently complains that the Sunday newspaper is a waste of money (probably because he just reads the sports and comic sections and throws the rest away!).

Our Sunday paper usually has a sticker on it that say's there are $35 in money-saving coupons inside (or whatever the...

1st No Spend Day

kristine@beacon-advisor.com (Kristine McKinley) — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 14:33:01 PST

Well, it looks like I'm going to finally have my first No Spend Day.

I mentioned in my previous post that the grocery store is usually what keeps me from having a no spend day.

I made it through today without going to the grocery store, but I'll definitely have to go tomorrow,...

I Want a No Spend Day!

kristine@beacon-advisor.com (Kristine McKinley) — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 14:51:16 PST

So far in 2007 I have not had a No Spend Day.

My biggest obstacle is that we go to the grocery store almost every day. As hard as I try (grocery lists, menu planning, etc.) I always seem to need something.

So... I'm on a mission to have my first No Spend Day (tomorrow - already...

Win Free Financial Advice!

kristine@beacon-advisor.com (Kristine McKinley) — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 08:55:51 PST

Money Smart Life is running a blog contest starting today. It's The Small Idea, Big Change Challenge.

Here's the post on his blog...

"The blogosphere is full of financial wisdom and inspiration. Often, the smallest idea or article is all we need to help us make a much needed...

It's FAFSA time!

kristine@beacon-advisor.com (Kristine McKinley) — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 08:21:29 PST

You can start completing and sending in your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) as soon as Jan 1.

Although the deadline for the FAFSA form isn't until July 2, 2007, you'll want to get yours in early. This is one case where the early bird really does get the worm.

Even...

Make your first million in 2007?

kristine@beacon-advisor.com (Kristine McKinley) — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 10:06:03 PST

I'm catching up on my reading this week. Piggybacking on my last entry What it takes to be rich, I just read another article on CNN Money's site called Make your first million in 2007.

The article talks about 5 ways to become a millionaire:

1. Make saving automatic - Sign...

What it takes to be rich

kristine@beacon-advisor.com (Kristine McKinley) — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 05:54:55 PST

I was reading CNN Money and ran across an article titled 'What it takes to be rich'.

Of the 4 people profiled, 3 were business owners and the 4th invested in real estate to become rich.

Although I agree that entrepreneurism and real estate offer some great opportunities to...

Holiday Spending Update

kristine@beacon-advisor.com (Kristine McKinley) — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 10:49:39 PST

I just added up my holiday spending for this year, and I did ok!

Although I don't stick to a strict budget, I did have a spending limit in mind - both a total limit and per person.

I have to say that I overspent on my two nieces (the two babies of the family - I just couldn't...

PMI insurance deductible beginning in 2007

kristine@beacon-advisor.com (Kristine McKinley) — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 08:21:05 PST

I just noticed that the newest tax legislation will allow taxpayers to deduct premiums paid for mortgage insurance beginning in 2007.

Mortgage insurance is typically required when home buyers purchase a new home with less than 20 percent down.

Mortgage insurance premiums typically...

Beware the high cost of payday loans

kristine@beacon-advisor.com (Kristine McKinley) — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 21:05:50 PST

I noticed that a payday loan store moved into my neighborhood recently, then I looked around and realized there are several in my area.

This made me wonder... how profitable are these payday loan places, that they are popping up on every street corner? I've heard that payday loans...

Financial Tips for WAHMs - new blog

kristine@beacon-advisor.com (Kristine McKinley) — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 20:16:38 PST

I just created a new blog, especially for work-at-home-moms.

The blog will feature articles, tips, worksheets and other tools on personal finance topics such as:

* budgeting and cash flow management
* debt management
* investing for beginners
* saving for college
* saving...