Unless you’ve been living on another planet, you know that Wal-Mart is a controversial subject in this country. So why all the fuss about this retail giant? First a little background: The first Wal-Mart store was opened by Sam Walton in 1962 in Rogers, Arkansas. In 1970 it opened its first distribution center and in 1972 it was listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The rest, as you know, is history. Today Wal-Mart has over 6500 stores in 16 countries. But despite its success, Wal-Mart continues to spur debate on whether or not its organization is good for workers … Continue reading →

Last week’s mail included the August issue of Money magazine. This issue contained one of my favorite features…Money’s Best Places to Live rankings. According to the article, their goal this year was to find small, but not too small cities (between 50,000 and 300,000 in population) that “combine the vibrancy of the city with the comforts of the suburbs.” As a born and raised suburbs girl who enjoys visiting big cities, I couldn’t wait to see what they had come up with. Here is their top ten: 1. Fort Collins, Colorado 2. Naperville, Illinois 3. Sugar Land, Texas 4. Columbia/Ellicott … Continue reading →

One of the most basic building blocks of any financial plan is the emergency fund. Every family should have one. An emergency fund is designed to protect you when a major setback occurs in your financial life. Things like a job loss, a medical crisis, or even a death. The first rule of an emergency fund is that it should be put somewhere safe; under the mattress won’t do! It also should be liquid, or readily accessible. Bank checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, etc. are all good choices. Resist the urge to put this fund somewhere where the … Continue reading →