Author: online.bizshow@gmail.com

    Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich talks to Natalie and Chris, married with two young kids and a net worth of $1.3 million. Despite their significant assets, money remains a constant source of conflict, especially when unexpected expenses arise. Chris tends to “freak out,” emotionally withdrawing and becoming zombie-like, leaving Natalie feeling alone. This pattern, which Chris describes as “catastrophizing,” has intensified since their kids’ expenses piled up.  Their therapist recommended they talk to Ramit, hoping to establish a financial game plan to prevent Chris’s emotional collapses. Currently, 81% of their income goes to…

You’ve paid your bill, avoided big splurges, and still, your credit card balance keeps creeping up. What gives? The culprit might be hidden credit card fees, which are small charges that love to hide in the fine print.   From credit card annual fees to cash advance fees on credit cards, these sneaky costs can quietly eat away at your budget month after month. And the worst part is that most people don’t even know they’re paying them.   Knowledge is power. Once you know where these fees come from, you can make a plan to avoid (or at least reduce) them. Learn why hidden credit card fees are so damaging, plus the most…

Happy New Year 2026 everyone! With another year wrapped up, I thought I’d do a 2025 year in review so I can one day look back fondly as an old man. Overall, I give the year an A for effort, which is all I can really control. Unfortunately, the result didn’t match the effort, as I give it a B minus, maybe even a C plus. The main reason for the B minus is ongoing family issues that negatively affected my spirits. I am naturally a happy and joyful person – a steady-state 8 out of 10. But for much…

Retirement calculators can help us plan and prepare to retire. When we are years away, these online tools can help us determine how much we should be saving. As we approach our time to retire, they can help us understand how much we can spend each year in retirement without going broke. Not all retirement tools, however, reach the same result. They take different approaches to what is a complex series of calculations and assumptions. One study examined five popular retirement planning software packages and found stark differences in outcomes. As a result, it recommended that individuals use “multiple programs…

Happy Money (Payoff.com) is a technology lending platform much like an Upstart or an Upgrade. A huge difference with Happy Money is that the money behind the loans comes from credit unions. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Some would see it as a good thing. The reason I have to point this out is for those of us that end up in a situation where we are struggling to keep our payments on time. This is where most credit unions (not all) are just different. While credit unions provide focused local and community banking with attributes that many…

The investing information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. NerdWallet, Inc. does not offer advisory or brokerage services, nor does it recommend or advise investors to buy or sell particular stocks, securities or other investments.Managing money doesn’t have to be complicated or time consuming. Still, about a third of Americans (32%) feel anxious about their finances going into 2026, according to a new NerdWallet survey.You got this. If you focus on the little things and do them consistently, you’ll feel great about your financial life, says Lisa Eaton, accredited financial counselor and founder of Firm Footing Financial…

Total credit card debt in the United States reached roughly $1.23 trillion in Q3 of 2025. This means that the average American consumer is carrying a credit card balance of around $6,473.  With such high debt levels, it makes sense to wonder: “Can my credit card company garnish my wages?” This guide explores what you need to know.  When Can a Credit Card Company Garnish Wages?  Defaulting on credit card debt doesn’t mean your credit card company can garnish your wages automatically. First, they must sue you in civil court, win a money judgment, and secure a writ of garnishment.  Only when they provide the…

I’m back in Honolulu for the winter holidays, visiting my parents, and I’ve been looking forward to this trip for months. Especially after spending about $41,000 remodeling and furnishing a neglected two-bedroom in-law unit attached to their home. The goal was simple: test whether the in-law unit could comfortably house my wife, daughter, and son. My wife and daughter would each get one room, and my son would get the sofa bed in the living room. I would sleep in the main house, as I’d be the least disruptive to my parents. This arrangement would hopefully provide for maximum sleep…

The Norwegian Viva, which offers cruises in the Mediterranean and Caribbean, features a three-level racetrack, where guests pilot electric go-karts around tight turns while enjoying open-ocean views. But the ship isn’t just about thrills.It also offers live entertainment, stylish outdoor areas and excellent dining options — like the Indulge Food Hall, which serves seven different cuisines. Compared with other Norwegian ships, the Viva, which debuted in 2023, feels more boutique and design-forward. The racetrack on the Norwegian Viva. (Photo by Hamilton Nguyen) At nearly 1,000 feet long, it accommodates around 3,200 guests. It’s large enough to offer robust amenities and…

Many people look for ways to manage debt when monthly payments start feeling unmanageable. Two common options are debt consolidation and credit counseling. While they both aim to make debt easier to handle, they work in very different ways.  Debt consolidation focuses on combining multiple debts into one, usually through a loan or balance transfer. Credit counseling, on the other hand, helps people create a plan to repay what they owe—often with the support of a nonprofit agency. Understanding how each option works can help you choose a path that fits your situation and comfort level.  What Debt Consolidation Means  Debt consolidation means rolling several debts into one new…