Couples Should Compromise On Emergency Safety Net - JEFF D. OPDYKE
In our joint savings account, Amy and I have exactly $15,401.99. According to financial-planning wisdom, we're not living by the rules.
According to those rules, before we invest elsewhere, we're supposed to have savings equal to six months of household expenses -- in case we both lose our jobs. This is money we'd need to live our life while looking for work. We don't come close: We need about $25,200 just to cover the bare necessities such as the mortgage, utilities, insurance, food, car notes and our son's schooling.
http://sunday.wsj.com/articles/SB1044719977352137240.html

Avoid the Minimum Payment Trap - Ronaleen Roha
I got a bit miffed when I opened my MBNA credit card statement this month. The "new balance total," which I typically pay every month, was missing from its prominent space at the top of my bill. All that remained was the minimum payment amount. I felt as if the nation's number-two credit card issuer was trying to trick me into carrying a balance.
http://www.kiplinger.com/columns/fitness/

7 Costly Pension Pitfalls - Russell Wild
You're expecting a nice pension—enough to keep you comfortable over the long haul. Better take a closer look at the fine print. After Social Security, employer-sponsored pensions provide more income to retired Americans than any other source. A pre-retirement checkup can mean the difference between a comfortable retirement and, well, an uncomfortable one.
http://www.aarpmagazine.org/money/Articles/a2003-01-21-7costly

Love & Money: 25 Financial Tips for Couples - Kathleen Gurney & Ginita Wall
The way we earn, spend, and save money is a practical expression of our most fundamental beliefs. When our priorities are out of sync, money can become the great divide in an otherwise harmonious relationship. By working together toward financial freedom, money can cease being a source of conflict and become a way to express our highest values, while providing comfort and security to those we love most.
http://www.wife.org/heard/25tips4couples.htm

Treasury Inflation-Indexed Securities (TIPS)
If U.S. Treasury bills, notes, and bonds are the world's safest investments -- and they are -- then you might say Treasury Inflation-Indexed Securities are the safest of the safest. Why? Because their ultimate value cannot be diminished by inflation.
http://www.publicdebt.treas.gov/sec/seciis.htm

How to Raise Money In Today's Economy - JANA MATTHEWS
With our economy currently in transition, this is a great time for entrepreneurs to get a strong foothold to succeed. As larger companies retrench or even threaten to topple over, smaller ones can be both creative and nimble enough to serve market demands. However, that opportunity is hard to attain if you can't fund your business.
http://www.startupjournal.com/columnists/growth/20030206-growth.html

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