One of the more interesting places that you can use to create and manage savings goals is SmartyPig. The site allows you to set up separate accounts that you can label for different purposes. These accounts then earn interest, allowing you to have your money work for you while you minutely track progress toward your savings goals. Today, SmartyPig is announcing the introduction of a 12% cash boost program. Here is what a press release from SmartyPig announces about how the program works, and the possibilities:
Now, when customers meet their savings goal they can realize up to 12% in cash …read more

Here are 5 steps that can help you reach financial freedom.

One of the hardest things for many people to do is to be honest with themselves. And, when it comes to financial planning, this can be extremely difficult for some people. In fact, many of them don’t want to get down to the nitty-gritty of their true financial situation. Before you can move forward into yielding wealth and charting a course with financial goals, you have to be honest with yourself. I have mentioned being brutally honest with yourself before. That’s because this is important.
Being brutally honest is more than looking at your financial situation and saying: “This is where …read more

One of the keys to yielding wealth is financial planning. And you can’t have good financial planning unless you set financial goals. Defining your financial goals is an important part of the process. So, clear out an hour or so (or even clear out 15 minute chunks to tackle one goal at a time) and make defining your financial goals a priority.
Keys to defining your financial goals
When defining your financial goals, it is important to keep a few things in mind:

Be specific. You have to be specific. If you want money for a vacation, set this financial goal: “I want …read more

One of the best things you can do for your financial future is to have a plan. A financial plan is more than a budget. It is a comprehensive look at what you have, and what you want to have. And, more importantly, it maps out how to get there.
When you create a financial plan, you don’t have to go to a professional (although for some people this is the best option). You can do it yourself. The idea is to take an honest look at your finances, and define your goals. Then you need to realistically decide what needs …read more