budgeting

Budgeting for Baby: Money Advice for New Parents

A pair of soon-to-be parents wrote DailyFinance's Laura Rowley looking for "a good technique for budgeting with a newborn or just budgeting period." With the cost of raising a child just to 17 estimated at more than $250,000, they're smart to be thinking about those money issues early.

Are You Photoshopping Your Finances?

It's one thing to use Photoshop to make your waistline look slimmer in your snapshots. Many people also take a distorted view of their finances, fooling themselves about the health of their balance sheets. Here are some common self-deceptions.

Five Reasons You Shouldn't Cut Up Your Credit Cards

Recently, Wall Street Journal columnist Brett Arends wrote about how he's giving up credit cards and going all cash. He cited some compelling advantages to dumping his plastic, but it may not be right for you. Here are five things you give up by switching to an all-cash lifestyle:

Ask the Expert: Celebrating Your Financial Victories

In addition to chasing down answers to our readers' questions, we love to hear about your firsthand experiences with weathering this economic storm. And when we asked "Will you be better off next year?" at least one reader weighed in with a resounding "Yes!"

Money on Your Mind? Tell DailyFinance ... or Ask Us

We at DailyFinance want to know more about how we can help you with personal finance matters. So -- what's keeping you up at night? Personal finance columnist Regina Lewis has access to some of of the world's top experts, and will chase down answers to your most pressing money questions.

Recession Sobers Once Spendthrift Teens

Guess what the recession hath wrought: A little teen sobriety. According to a new survey, nine out of 10 teens say they were "affected by the recession," causing major shifts in perspective that include a greater appreciation for what they have and an increased awareness of financial hardship.

The Frugal Auteur: How Roger Corman Makes Cheap Great

What's the cheapest thing B-movie maestro Roger Corman ever did in the movie biz? Find out in our interview with the penny-pinching master of the low-budget film, who's in Cannes to promote a documentary about himself, Corman's World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel.

10 Things You Don't Want to Tell Yourself About Money

When it comes to money, mindset really matters. What you tell yourself over and over again becomes what you do -- over and over again. Don't fall into the trap of shoddy thinking: Here are 10 bad memes that can seriously mess up your financial health, and advice on how to avoid them.

How to Avoid Making Dumb Money Mistakes

Even the smartest people can do dumb things when it comes to money. Do you find yourself accumulating credit-card debt for goodies you don't really need -- and failing to plan for retirement? Here's one financial adviser's five-step plan to break bad habits.

Five Ways Women Sabotage Their Financial Futures

While both men and women are prone to a variety of costly financial blunders, many women seem to be plagued with a gender-specific set of tendencies that sabotages their relationship with money. Here's are women's most common financial missteps -- and how to avoid them.