Happy New Year to all you savvy readers! Now that we're right back at the start of a spankin' brand-new year, I'm sure a lot of you have a new set of goals. Let's start the year off right and share in the comments below what your savvy resolutions are — be it related to life, career, work, travel, and more. People are more likely to stick to their goals when they share it with other people Read more

It's good to have a balance of splurges and frugality. You don't want to deprive yourself, and at the same time, you don't want to go on spending sprees. Being thrifty is a harder skill to learn than being a spendthrift, so let's share our tips and tricks for slashing our budgets. As for me, I skimp by buying a lot of products from my neighborhood Japanese dollar store, and I'm always amazed at Read more

Those who faced a close brush with death ten years ago during the 9/11 attacks saw it as a wake-up call. Peter Work, an executive of an outsourcing firm faced a near miss when his morning appointment near the twin towers was canceled. After realizing that life was too short, he and his wife quit their jobs and started a winery near Los Angeles. Mary Skinner had a similar epiphany and left the Read more

I've been in many cabs in which the driver wouldn't let me get in until he was sure that I had cash. Many times you'll hear the excuse that their credit card-processing machine isn't working and cabbies might persistently push you to go to an ATM and pay them with cash. Although you may think you have a right as a customer to pay with the most convenient form of payment, know that the reason why Read more

Back-to-school season always makes me nostalgic about my student days. There are lots of things I miss, such as interesting lectures, the ability to choose when my classes will be (vs. the same 9 to 5 grind every day), and having the time to meet up with friends during the weekdays. However, I certainly don't miss the stressful exams and noisy dorms. How about you? What do you miss most about Read more

Now that Fall is creeping up on us, this got me thinking of all the students getting ready to pack up and start their new school year. I remember learning a lot at school, but to me, the bulk of the important lessons came post graduation. That's because I'm finally getting a taste of what "real life" is like, and am dealing with issues that can affect my finances instead of just my GPA. There's Read more

Everyone has something that they can't help but splurge on. I think my spendy vice is probably books. I'm such a bookworm, so every time a new novel catches my interest, I can't help but download it on my Kindle. Although I probably do spend more than what the average person does on books, I figure since I don't spend money on clothes and shoes, I don't give myself a hard time over this expense. Read more

The latest crop of graduates is now seeking their dream jobs and dealing with scary real-life issues that you and I faced back when we were fresh faced college graduates. Given the soaring rates of school loans and the disappointing number of jobs that are available, it seems that this year's college students might have it tougher than we did during the boom years. If you could give your college Read more

You've probably embarked on many adventures and travels over the years. As I reflect back on mine, a couple of them truly stand out. To me, the best trips are the ones that let me recharge and relax. I also appreciate having the right travel buddies along with me. One of my favorite travel experiences was a trip last year to Honolulu. I spent my days relaxing on the beach and tried my best not to Read more