I scheduled 3 preventative surgeries in one year with no debt — and now I teach other people how to afford it
By scheduling all my surgeries in the same calendar year, I got the most out of an expensive health-insurance plan.
Milestone Moments
My disability forced me into early retirement, but I consider myself lucky compared with others
Rebecca Chamaa, the writer, was forced to leave full-time work in her 40s when her schizophrenia symptoms worsened.
For our destination wedding in Hawaii, my wife and I were thoughtful about every dollar we spent
For a destination wedding, the couple focused on spending on what mattered to them and worked with local small businesses whenever possible.
I never thought I'd leave the Northeast, but moving to the Florida suburbs has its perks — mostly for my wallet
When her family left Philadelphia for Florida, a lower cost of living plus a lower tax rate meant they no longer worried about money and could finally save.
When I adopted my daughter, I had just 24 hours' notice before I stopped working — and earning
I had been saving up money for 1 1/2 years in an investment account when I got the news that I could adopt my daughter.
I didn't realize how little I knew about money until my wife sat me down before we got married: She wanted a partner, not an employee
When Rob Phelan moved in with his now-wife, he didn't know how to manage his money. Fixing his knowledge gap was crucial.
When I moved in with my wife, our joint bank account made it easier to talk about money
My wife and I took steps to combine our money for shared home and living expenses while keeping separate individual accounts for personal savings.
When my job required me to return to the office, I used my emergency fund to quit. It worked out, but I should have saved more.
When my job announced we were returning to the office, I was able to quit and rely on my emergency fund while job searching. I still wish I had saved more.
When my husband returned to work after being a stay-at-home dad for 5 years, we made 4 changes to balance time and money
When Kelly Burch's husband returned to work after caring for their two children full time, they had to change how they ran their household and family.
I always dreamed of moving to New York City, so I took 3 steps to prepare myself — and my money
Jennifer Streaks, a journalist, fulfilled her dream of moving to New York. Here are the steps she took to prepare for this major milestone.
4 things that change when you go from renting to owning a house
When you own a home, you're responsible for keeping up with (and paying for) all repair bills, utilities, and property taxes.
7 hidden costs of parenthood most people don't expect to pay, according to financial planners who have kids
Financial planners say the major unexpected costs of having a family include birth costs, medical expenses, public school expenses, and childcare.
4 signs you won't be ready for retirement that are obvious by age 40
Retirement planning is a process that takes years, but the signs that you're not going in the right direction are apparent even when you're young.
3 smart ways to spend your money when you finish paying off your student loans
After paying off your student loans, put more money towards building wealth through investments or retirement savings.
4 things to do today to save money if you want to go to grad school in 5 years
To save money for grad school in five years, start by refinancing private student loans you already have, and saving in the right accounts.
3 signs you won't be ready to retire in 30 years, according to a financial planner
If you haven't funded a 401(k) yet and haven't realistically thought about how much it costs to retire, you may not be ready to retire in 30 years.
4 signs you can afford a second home, according to a financial planner
A financial planner says that if you're on track for retirement and can afford maintenance and emergencies on two homes, you might be ready for two.
3 reasons to combine your finances when you get married — and 3 reasons not to
Combining finances can work for some couples, and increase transparency and progress on goals. But, it could hinder others. Here's what to consider.
5 strategies any dual-income couple can use to manage their money
While it's different for every couple, making sure you're on the same page about goals, priorities, and spending is critical to managing two incomes.
How to save money if you're planning to have kids in the next 5 years
If you want to have children soon, start saving for medical expenses in an HSA, saving for childcare expenses, and for leave from work.