If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen

The stock market is seeing historic losses today because Congress failed to pass the financial bailout plan.  Things are ugly, no doubt about it.  However, I remain optimistic that something will get passed in the next couple of days, creating a small (if temporary) rally in the stock market.  This should be a good time [...]

Always marry for money

No, I’m not telling you to turn into a golddigger and only target mates with loads of money.  However, you should make sure that you and your mate have similar attitudes and outlooks about money and personal finance.  If one of you is a hardcore freegan and the other doesn’t have the word “budget” in [...]

Financial market meltdown 101

The past several months, and the past 10 days especially, have been really crazy in the financial markets.  While a detailed analysis of what’s going on is out of the scope of this website (we’re supposed to be keeping it simple!), we realize some of you are curious about what’s happening.  Kiplinger’s has a pretty [...]

Step away from the 401(k)

The Wall Street Journal reported today that withdrawals from 401(k) plans are on the rise.  This, along with decreasing contributions, is not a surprise given the weakening economy and the stock market craziness we’ve seen.
However, remember to think twice before taking a withdrawal from your 401(k) plan.  Not only are you cracking open your retirement [...]

Where to park your money now

Do you have a stash of cash that you may need to access in the next 1 to 12 months?  You might want to look into a regular, old FDIC-insured savings account.  These offer safety and flexibility because they’re insured by the US government and allow you to get to your money anytime you need [...]

Just charge it! Should you pay off your student loans with a credit card?

Liz Weston says to be careful if you’re considering paying off your student loans with a low interest credit card.
Using low-rate credit cards to pay off other debt may lower your finance costs — or cost you a lot more in the long run.
That’s because the low rates offered by credit cards are typically temporary. [...]

Paying for ID protection

Is it worth your while to pay for identity theft protection services?  An article in the LA Times says “maybe.”
But should you spend money to buy services that promise to protect you from identity theft?
As in so many matters financial, it depends: on whether you don’t mind paying for something you could do yourself for [...]

25 Ways to Save Money

Consumer Reports features 25 Ways to Save Money in the October 2008 issue.  Reducing expenses means having more money to save and invest.  Bonus: most of the suggestions save energy, too!

Cubicle Life IS Deadly

Monotonous, uncreative environments are thought to impede the growth of brain cells, according to this article.  All the more reason to get out of your Dilbert-style workplace and try something new!

Hello world!

Welcome to Simple Rules of Money.  We believe that you don’t have to go through life confused and unsure about your personal finances — just stick to a few simple rules and you’ll be on your way to creating lasting wealth!