samalexis

Financial solvency can be a tall order in the current economic landscape, especially if you’re a single mother. But the road ahead can be cleared of hurdles by adhering to a regiment of money-saving strategies. Here are some tips for getting your finances back in order: Pay as much as you can into a 401(k) plan Due to the wretched economic conditions spurred on by the recession there are much fewer companies out there offering their employees competitive retirement plans. If you are... Read Full Story

A regular reader sent me a question the other day that I think is important for me to share. She gave me permission to use her letter and share it with you. Hi Samantha. I’ll be saving some of my tax return this year. Where should I put my money to get the best return? Open an ING account? Some other savings account where I can earn interest and have access in case of emergency? Thanks! Here is my answer: Hi! Thanks for asking me about this. It’s an excellent question. I did a little... Read Full Story

Thank you for stopping by after reading my article on FatWallet.com. To learn a little more about me as a personal finance blogger, personal success champion, and mom blogger is to know that I am passionate about becoming my best self. This includes discovering new ways to earn, manage, and save money. FatWallet.com was one of the first places I landed when I began my search for ways to save money and find ideas for making money online. It has been a valuable resource. Don’t let my blog... Read Full Story

I’m getting the travel bug like never before. I am itching to pack my bags (and the kids) and hit the road. In fact I am planning to travel extensively this summer across the U.S. It is time for me and the kids to see what’s beyond the southern regions of this country. The slow economy hasn’t hindered travel plans for most families. Family travelers take an average of 4.5 trips each year, according to the U.S. Travel Association . Savvy families are able to travel and build lasting... Read Full Story

Credit is what runs the world these days so if you have less than perfect credit don’t despair. You can fix your credit with a a few steps and lots of persistence. I did it before I bought my first house. It took 3-6 months to get it to the point where I could qualify for a loan. It takes time so don’t expect overnight results. Your credit didn’t go bad overnight so it won’t be fixed overnight either. If you find yourself with less-than-good credit, you are not alone. Business Insider, an... Read Full Story

In the way of tax legislation, 2011 was a relatively quiet year. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t tax law changes that will affect this year’s tax returns.“The changes enacted at the end of 2010 will still impact this year’s and next year’s federal tax returns,” says TaxACT spokesperson, Jessi Dolmage. To help you maximize your refund , here are some tax law changes you should know about before filing this year’s return. * Your federal return must be filed by Tuesday, April 17... Read Full Story

In this episode we give rave reviews for the new George Lucas film Red Tails. It’s a great movie with lessons for everyone. We also talk about political correctness, art, and eggs. Check us out, subscribe, send us your questions, and tell your friends about us. Read Full Story

I was looking for information about how single moms can budget their sometimes limited income. It’s easy to find information for two parent households but rarely for one parent households. I found something that might be helpful for single moms (with one child) who make less than $25k a year. The following image shows the percentage that could be spent for three income amounts. They are broken up over about 10-15 categories. If you make more or less you could still take the percentages... Read Full Story

My daughter Lexi and I have a new show. We always have great conversations about so many topics. One day I said, and she enthusiastically agreed, that we should do a show. That was last year. We’ve been planning and meaning to get started but could not get our schedules together. So this is our first show. We call it Mother2Daugher: Keep It Reel because we are, of course, mother and daughter talking about topics that impact our lives. We are sharing our opinions, whether they are popular or... Read Full Story

My daughter just got her driving learner permit. She nagged, harassed, and begged me to take her to get it. She studied the book and even enrolled in the mandatory Georgia driver course online. So we went and she passed the test with flying colors. She can now learn to drive, but I’m still hesitant about teaching her. The times are different now and it’s not like it was 20+ years ago when getting on the road as a teen wasn’t so expensive. Yep, I said expensive. I’ve been thinking about... Read Full Story