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So, your whole life you knew you had to invest in your 401(k) to secure your financial future. You’ve invested both time and money into it… and you’re now retiring. What do you? If this is an accurate description of you,  I highly recommend you check out this article from CNN Money entitled Retiring? What to do with your 401(k). It’s loaded with helpful, easy to understand information.

Not quite yet ready to retire and confused about how to grow and protect your 401(k) investments? Watch this CNN Money video entitled Rules of Retirement: Growing Your 401(k).

Happy investing! : )

We’ve seen better days when it comes to high return rates on savings accounts. But, that doesn’t mean that we should stop paying attention to them. Where we place our money is very important.

That’s why I found an awesome website, money-rates.com, that regularly monitors rates from over 200 banks and shows the highest savings account and money market account rates out there. This website is user-friendly and full of great information.

Check it out so you’re informed on all of the possible savings account options out there! Happy saving : )

I have a budget and… in theory… I stick to it

I’m sure we can all agree that budgeting is difficult. Unforeseen costs just have a way of popping up! So, this month I’ve decided that better budgeting isn’t about being perfect… it’s about being better! A splurge or two might happen at times, but that shouldn’t throw us off track!

I found a great article on bhg.com, one of our websites here at Meredith, entitled 25 Tips for Keeping Your Budget on Track. Following some or all of these simple tips will help us spend less and budget better!

Take Control Of Your Online Finances

There are many benefits of living in today’s electronic world. Everything seems to be easier and faster… so much faster. And, although speedy transactions are sometimes very convenient, it can be good to slow down when it comes to your finances.

If you’re anything like me, you pay your bills online and, every now and again, your statements shock you. I sometimes feel as if I’m not even in control of my checking account- my bank is. There are fees and automated payments coming in and out of my account and, well, it can be a bit overwhelming!

That’s why I’m sharing an article entitled Where Is The Money? How to Control Electronic Spending. I found this article on one of our Meredith websites, FamilyCircle.com. It shares some great tips and tricks on this topic! Enjoy!

I was recently out to lunch with some friends when one of them (who is, by the way, always impeccably dressed) mentioned that she never spends money on clothing. I was shocked and immediately asked what she meant.

She explained that she goes to Buffalo Exchange, a thrift store, and then began to sing its praises. When she grows sick of her wardrobe, she simply brings it into Buffalo Exchange and gets a whole new one! She mentioned that the quality of the clothing is excellent (lightly used for the most part) and that there are tons of designer brands.

This news was too good to not share with you all : )

There are many Buffalo Exchange locations all over our country. If there is one near you, you may want to check it out!

I believe that your kitchen should be a space that you and your family love spending time in! I also believe that most people (me included) have some big ideas for changes they’d like to make to their kitchen but hesitate because it is a huge financial undertaking. That’s why I’m sharing this great article entitled 11 Ways to Save on a Kitchen Redo. I found this article on one of our Meredith websites, MidwestLiving.com. It has some great, money saving tips on how to refresh your kitchen! Enjoy : )

Happy remodeling!

I don’t know about you, but I love to eat. Often times I think that the majority of the money I spend is on FOOD!

So, today I’ll be sharing some great recipes for leftovers from our very own Better Homes and Gardens website. And remember, the word “leftover” is really two fold because it will also help you have some leftover money in your checking account!

Check out how to create the chicken and sausage gumbo that is pictured above (doesn’t that look delicious?!) and many more leftover chicken recipes.

I recently bought a car (check out my tips on how to save money when you buy a car) and I now find myself at the gas station much too frequently! My guess is that many (if not most of you) feel the same way. So, today I’m sharing some fantastic tips from the Federal Trade Commission on how to save money at the gas pump.

For example, did you know that an extra 100 pounds of anything (i.e. golf clubs, baby stroller, etc) in your trunk can reduce your fuel efficiency by 2%?!

Drive safely… and wisely!

Today I found a great article on Parents.com, one of our sites here at Meredith. The article is entitled 32 Ways to Save Money When You Have a Baby. It covers everything from added costs right there in the hospital, to budget breast-feeding, to cost conscious clothes… and the list goes on! The article is jam packed with tips and tricks… it covered everything I could possibly think of.

Enjoy!

It is way too expensive!

Do you want to fly somewhere, but the costs of airfare are sky high?

I’ve encountered that same problem. So, today I’d like to share a great video with you that I found on About.com. It shares helpful tips on saving money on airfare!