We just got our tax refunds today so the guys are already asking around who are up for a round of drinks. While they were kidding around as to who is going to pay the tab later, they asked what I plan to do with the tax refund I just got. I just smiled at them and told them that I’ll use it for something else, leaving them to think about what that something is. But the truth is, I do not plan on spending my tax refund anywhere else. Some of you will think this is a crazy idea. It’...

Ever since I’ve read all about Sherlock Holmes, I’ve dreamed of becoming a detective someday.  Many years and a college degree later, I didn’t turn out to be the crime-stopping detective of my dreams.  But that didn’t mean that I totally forgot all about my dream. From time to time, I do a little detective work for my friends and relatives. Not to find where the car keys are misplaced (for the nth time), or prove that the dog really ate the kids’ homework....

If you’re like me who hates Math (okay fine. You don’t hate Math.  Math hates you. ), then you’re probably cringing at the thought of making your own financial plan. Finance = Math, so it has A LOT to do with numbers, right? Don’t hit your head on the wall yet. Financial planning isn’t as bad as you think it is.  It may not look fun, but it can be a very rewarding thing to do. So how do you start? No button bashing on the calculators just yet. The o...