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10 Things That Aren’t Worth Going Into Debt For — No Matter How Normal They Seem

Going into debt has become so common that many Americans barely question what they’re borrowing money for. From expensive vacations to everyday shopping, purchases that once required saving can now be financed through credit cards and installment plans.

Budget and the Bees · Oct 12

Good Service Is Now Costing More Than Ever-Here’s What You Should Really Be Tipping Your Wait Staff

A 20% restaurant tip can feel almost automatic now, but the bigger problem may be figuring out what that 20% actually means. Add a mandatory service charge, a suggested tip on the full bill, or one of those payment screens offering 25%, 28%, and 30%, and dinner can suddenly involve…

The Free Financial Advisor · Oct 6

Would You Delay Retirement to Help Your Adult Child Buy a House?

Your adult child has a steady job, decent credit, and enough income to handle a mortgage, but there’s one obstacle standing between them and homeownership:...

Saving Advice · Oct 3

Couples Who Earn Very Different Salaries: The Money Fights That Start In Year One

When two people fall in love, a salary gap may not seem like a relationship problem—until rent, vacations, retirement contributions, and everyday spending become shared decisions. For couples with different salaries, the first year of combining financial lives can expose disagreements that never surfaced while dating. One partner may earn…

Budget and the Bees · Sep 28

Money Market Yields Slide After the September Fed Cut—When to Move Cash to a CD

Money market yields are moving after the Federal Reserve’s September decision, but there is a twist worth catching before moving a pile of cash. The Fed raised its benchmark rate by a quarter point on September 16, taking the target range to 3.75% to 4%.

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 28

The Family Group Chat Wants Another $200 — When Is It Okay to Say No?

The family group chat can go from birthday photos to a money request in seconds: $200 for a relative’s emergency, a group gift, travel costs, or another expense everyone is expected to split. Saying yes may feel easier than explaining why you cannot—or simply do not want to—contribute again. But…

Budget and the Bees · Sep 25

Would You Rather Have $10,000 in Savings or No Credit Card Debt?

Seeing $10,000 sitting in a savings account can provide a powerful sense of financial security, especially when an unexpected car repair, medical bill, or job disruption could happen tomorrow. But carrying thousands of dollars in credit card debt at the same time can quietly eat away at that security through…

Budget and the Bees · Sep 24

She Makes $80,000 but Still Lives Paycheck to Paycheck — Where Is the Money Going?

She earns $80,000 a year, has a steady job, and by most measures appears to be doing reasonably well financially. Yet a few days before every payday, she is checking her bank balance and wondering how another paycheck disappeared.

Budget and the Bees · Sep 23

10 Places Americans Are Getting Tired of Being Asked to Tip in 2026

You order a $5 coffee, tap your card, and suddenly the screen is asking whether you’d like to add 20%, 25%, or 30%. Five minutes...

Saving Advice · Sep 22

Could You Go One Week Without Spending Money on Anything You Didn’t Plan?

A coffee on the way to work, a takeout order because nobody feels like cooking, and a $22 online purchase can seem harmless on their own. Add enough of those decisions together, however, and they can quietly consume money you intended to save or use somewhere else. A no-spend week…

Budget and the Bees · Sep 20