MoneyZen Blog
Spirit Junkie: Gabrielle Bernstein on Money & Miracles
When was the last time you couldn't put down a book? For me it was reading Gabrielle Bernstein's latest work, aptly titled Spirit Junkie. The book chronicles Gabrielle's personal journey from spiritually confused party girl to radically transformed believer in the...
Common-Sense Reforms Could Improve FSAs
There’s no doubt that resolving our debt crisis is important, but what is top of mind for many is to find ways to deal with our own household economic needs. Beyond broader economic solutions, the federal government should seek to implement policies that provide...
Uncle Sam Wants To Help You… With Summer Camp Costs
Ask a working parent how they feel about summer and you may be surprised. Thoughts of beaches, barbeques, and balmy days at the ballpark are often overshadowed by something much less exotic - concerns about childcare. If you have children under the age of 13, and you...
A "Hair"-oing Tale: What Does It Mean For Your Career?
57% of men entering the workforce negotiate their salaries, while only 7% of women do. Ouch. This is one of the many powerful messages I took away from Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg's riveting TEDwomen presentation on why we have too few women leaders. I highly...
The Truth About Women, Aging & Retirement
Do you ever worry about ending up "a bag lady"? If so, you are not alone. And if current trends don't change, that fear is not entirely irrational. Last week Merrill Lynch hosted an online presentation about the state of women & retirement. In our CrazyBusy 24/7...
Are High Gas Prices Leaving You "Gas"-ping for Relief?
Commuter Spending Accounts Can Help! Recently a friend emailed me a photo from a gas station. It showed a $100 price tag for filling up the tank on his 2004, fully-paid-for SUV. The message said: "Holy Cow - I've never seen a bill like this before." Welcome to the...
The New Retirement? Working…If You Are Lucky
What's Your Retirement Plan? A recent study by Transamerica's Center for Retirement Studies concludes that for a large portion of folks, "never retiring" is their plan A. Alas, a significant percentage of the eager-to-keep-working population is unprepared with a plan...
The 77/11 Effect: Will It Hurt Someone You Know?
When you hear that women earn less than men... do your eyes glaze over? If you are like me, you've heard the statistics so often they almost don’t register: Women earn $0.77 on the male dollar, spend an average of 11.5 fewer years than men in the paid workforce...
Priceless Financial Advice For Recent Graduates
If you could rewind your life to graduation from high school or college, what would you have done differently with your money? Confession: I'm a financial voyeur. For as long as I can remember I've been fascinated by the unique relationships people (and especially...