2009 July | You Have More Than You Think

My Misidentified Necessity

July 27, 2009 By Shawanda Greene 16 Comments

I purchased a new 2007 Honda Civic on March 15th of the same year. At the time, Betsy (my loyal 1995 Geo Prizm) was too unsafe to drive. The missing dome light and duct taped side view mirror didn’t bother me at all. Nor was I rattled when all the internal door handles crumbled and [...]

What’s In An Emergency Fund?

July 23, 2009 By Shawanda Greene 5 Comments

An emergency fund is an essential component of a sound financial plan. Having three to six months worth of living expenses in a high yield savings account is recommended by many personal finance experts. Before deciding how much money you need designated as an emergency fund, there are two big questions you must answer: How [...]

The Nefarious Redbox

July 20, 2009 By Shawanda Greene 4 Comments

Last weekend, I was looking forward to relaxing and watching a couple movies. So off to Redbox I went. For the most part, I have no complaints with the service. There were only two occasions where I didn’t return my DVD rental prior to incurring charges in excess of $1.

The Only Tip You Need to Start Saving Money

July 15, 2009 By Shawanda Greene 17 Comments

When you wander through life unconscious and unaware, you waste a lot of money. I mean, literally, waste it. You crumple it up. Toss it in the trash. Don’t confuse wasting money with foolishly spending money. Putting a round of drinks on your credit card when you’re flat broke qualifies as stupid.

6 Ways Patience Pays

July 13, 2009 By Shawanda Greene 8 Comments

One primary reason many people find themselves living paycheck to paycheck is there lack of patience. Once you get to the point where you’re willing to delay gratification, you’ll be able to accumulate wealth. Even after you start doing well financially, waiting for the things you desire can still pay off handsomely.

Before You Give

July 8, 2009 By Shawanda Greene 4 Comments

So you’re frugal? Do you have a three to six month emergency fund? Did you say you were totally debt free? Perhaps you’ve amassed a decent chunk of change in your investment accounts. Well, don’t pat yourself on the back just yet. There’s an obstacle you must still overcome. Being that you’re so tuned in [...]

How My iPhone Paid for Itself

July 7, 2009 By Shawanda Greene 7 Comments

In May 2009, I was in the market for a mattress. I’d slept on an air mattress for about a month before it began to deflate for no apparent reason. Once the air mattress gave up on me, I decided there was no point in buying another. It was time to look for a more long-term solution.

20 Foolproof Ways to Finish Poor (Part 2)

July 7, 2009 By Shawanda Greene 2 Comments

This post is the second in the three part series 20 Foolproof Ways to Finish Poor. Admittedly, I’ve been guilty of some of these items in the past. Okay, I still struggle with number 19. I’m a lazy bum.

Just airing a beef

July 6, 2009 By Shawanda Greene 1 Comment

I witnessed something truly egregious today. As you can see from the photo, I have a neighbor who failed to break down their moving boxes and recycle them. Ideally, they would’ve let the greater Washington, D.C. area know they had boxes to give away on Craigslist or Freecycle. This particular neighbor might not know there’s a super easy way to make sure their boxes are reused before heading to the landfill. For that, I’ll let them slide. HOWEVER…