Have you thought about what sorts of financial documents you should have in your emergency kit? I admit, I know there should be some financial documents there, but I really hadn't put too much thought into what that all entailed. My plan was basically to grab everything in my firebox - birth certificates, passports, copies of my mortgage paperwork and some receipts for some large purchases. Turns out I'm on the right track, but boy am I … [Read more...]
National Preparedness Month – Are You Ready?
September is National Preparedness Month, and with all of the hurricanes, earthquakes, and fires that have hit North America over the past few weeks, I think we can all see the benefits to being prepared for an emergency. There are a lot of things that you can do to be prepared for an emergency. One of the simplest and most important things you can do is be ready to shelter in place for a few days. As we head into winter, you should ensure … [Read more...]
The Expenses of Car Ownership
So you're ready to buy your first car; congratulations. You've probably worked hard, saved money for a downpayment and have been daydreaming about the kind of car you will ultimately buy for sometime. Exciting stuff. There are several things that you should know about car ownership and the expenses associated with it before you dive in. The largest expense for car ownership is the purchase price. Depending on the year, make and model of the … [Read more...]
What is Emergency Savings For?
You hear about emergency savings all the time. You should put away money for emergencies. And since people so often say that you should try to save three to six months worth of expenses, it naturally follows that emergency savings must be to pay for what you need in case you lose your job, right? Definitely not! Yes, if you can manage to put away six months worth of expenses, you will be in a great place if you happen to lose your job. … [Read more...]
Emergency Evacuation Documents
This past week, many of us in the United States had our eyes on the southeastern part of the country as Hurricane Matthew set its sights on the Caribbean and the US coast. A number of my friends were in mandatory evacuation areas, and one shared on Facebook that they were loading up all of their important papers and their pets and getting out. That small statement made me realize that while I have done plenty of emergency preparations for if … [Read more...]