Hawley Personal Finance

Providing objective, practical and as-needed advice to answer your personal financial questions.

The Boring Secret to Getting Rich

The media likes to paint a certain picture of what it means to be rich — huge mansions, expensive cars, high-powered Wall Street or tech-startup-type jobs. If you buy into that image, being rich may feel like an impossible dream.

But the truth is that most “rich” people live very normal lives. You probably wouldn’t even know they were rich if you saw them because they don’t fit the stereotype. Most rich people are a lot like you and me. They just know a secret that, while incredibly effective, isn’t very sexy ... Read More.

4 Steps to Prep Your Finances for Your First Baby

If you’re getting ready to welcome your first baby, you probably recognize that your financial situation is going to change. With diapers, wipes, baby furniture, doctor visits and so much more, you’ll have to account for some new expenses. And if one parent will be staying home with the baby, even if it’s just a temporary maternity or paternity leave, you may be facing a reduction in income at the same time.

It’s enough to stress anyone out. But there are some simple ways to plan ahead to make the transition as smooth as possible ... Read More.

Don’t Wait Till Year’s End to Fix Up Your Finances

Can you believe we’re well over halfway through 2015? It’s amazing me how quickly things move. In just a few months, you’ll start to see a lot of articles full of end-of-year financial advice. That December 31 deadline is always a powerful motivator — not to mention it makes for good headlines!

But you shouldn’t wait until the end of the year to get your finances in order. If you can find just one thing to improve right now, take action! ... Read More.