Household budget Articles

This Couple Bounced Back From $160,000 of Debt in 3 Years

For most people, tackling the average $8,000 we carry in credit card debt seems like an unbearable task. What if you had 20 times as much to worry about?

Her Financial Goal: Cut Out All Those Small Money Wasters

Everyone has things they want to improve about their financial lives -- and we in the AOL newsroom are no exceptions. So we asked money expert Jean Chatzky for advice on how to reach our goals. Today: An AOL Jobs editor who wants to cut the small, everyday money wasters out of her budget.

My $5,000 Emergency: How I Managed It (and You Can, Too)

A $5,000 car repair bill is the kind of thing that can push even a frugal family's finances over the edge. But here's a simple emergency fund tip that will help you avoid a worst-case scenario when Murphy's Law catches up with your budget.

13 Financial Resolutions for Retirees in 2013

Being retired means not having to worry about waking up early to get to work. But retiring doesn't mean its time to quit worrying about making your money work as hard as it can. As we begin 2013, we offer these 13 financial resolutions designed specifically for retirees.

5 Sensible Ways to Combat Inflation in Retirement

Inflation may not feel like much when you are working, but it can have a significant impact on the buying power of your retirement savings. These adjustments can help you to minimize inflation's bite.

Year-End Review: Simple Ways to Cut Your Budget Now

If a fiscal cliff deal isn't reached soon, we'll all wake up on Jan. 1 with higher taxes and lower government spending. One way or another, you'll likely have a bit less cash to spend, so the next few weeks would be a good time to figure out where you can cut your spending to compensate.

No Man, More Money: Five Women Who Thrived After Divorce

Recent female divorcees are twice as likely to live at or below the poverty line as their male counterparts, a Spectrem Group study reports. But there are plenty of people who refuse to be bound by such stereotypes: These five women learned to whistle a far different -- and richer -- tune after their marriages ended.

Shedding $120,000 in Credit Card Debt Saved Her Life

When Franny Bostick thinks back on where she and her husband Jim were six years ago, with more than $120,000 in debt on 13 credit cards, she shudders. They not only faced financial ruin, but she also was on her way to a potentially catastrophic health crisis. But they turned it around. Here's how.

Twentysomethings: It's Time to Declare Financial Independence

As we prepare to celebrate our nation's independence, let's take a moment to think about our individual declarations of financial independence. If you're still ruled by debt, fiscal confusion, and reliance on others, here are a few tips for breaking free.