How to be Rich, Happy and Free from Scams

By David Ning | U.S.News & World Report LP A comfortable retirement without money worries is a goal everyone strives for sooner or later. But even if you don't quite have the motivation to save aggressively for retirement yet, do yourself a favor and don't damage your path to financial independence too severely. Here are a few disasters you need to avoid, which will make your life much easier when you are interested in preparing for your future: Marrying a spendthrift. Marrying a spendthrift is a big no-no if you ever want to amass a solid nest egg. It's incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to save enough for a comfortable retirement unless both you and your significant other are on the same page. In fact, money problems always rank high in the reasons why people get divorced . Getting into credit card debt. Don't swipe your credit cards without thinking it through. Credit card debt can creep up on you, and before you know it you will amass...

A fat salary isn't the only way someone can strike it rich. Regardless of one's income level, people who live below their means, invest wisely, and live modestly are on the path to real wealth. Here are five frugal habits that many of the upper class have adopted to build long-lasting wealth and financial independence: Drive a modest car.   Your car should only serve the purpose of getting you safely and comfortably from point A to point B--nothing more. When you pull up to a stoplight in an expensive car, you might impress a stranger. However, don't let the price tag of your car define your character or image, because at the end of the day most people could care less what type of car you drive. Let Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, who drives a modest $30,000 Acura TSX entry-level sedan, be your role model on this one. Buy a modest house.   Warren Buffett famously still lives in the Omaha, Neb., home he bought back in 1958 for $31,500. Take Buffett's cue and don...

By Matt Nesto There's an old axiom that claims you get what you pay for, meaning value does not come cheaply. This is particularly poignant at a time when traders are on watch for the Dow ( ^DJI ) and S&P 500 ( ^GSPC ) to set new closing highs and investors seem immune to existing signs of caution. Even the worst GDP figure in 3 1/2 years didn't do much to slow the market's ascent. Even the most optimistic investors are getting a bit antsy these days, wondering how and when it's all going to end. For Tom Kee, president & CEO of Stock Traders Daily , the answer to that question is 'not well.' "I'm looking for another high in this market, then I am looking for a turn down," Kee says in the attached video, adding that he believes it is "going to come relatively soon." By downturn, however, what Kee real means is a crash to the tune of ''50 to 60%," which would bring the Dow Jones under 6,000. A plunge ...

Courtesy of a male friend on FB :) Agree that the flat does play a big part in rushing the couple towards marriage. But it actually goes deeper into a subconscious need for stability and privacy after marriage. At the same time, there is always the question of "Is he the O NE? Will there be a better ONE out there?" This is where the girl's age may make a difference. No offence to younger girls, but girls nearing thirties or in their thirties should generally have their character, preferences and life experiences more or less formed/settled. The question of "Is he the ONE?" may have lost its relevance somewhat, and the more senior girl would have found contentment (and possibly happiness) in accepting her current partner, rather than seeking a possibly imaginery ONE. This may however appear to be a sad state of resignation from the perspective of the more idealistic girl in her early twenties. Feel free to disagree with my analysis, as I wou...

As 2012 draws to a close, people in or nearing retirement face a stunning set of uncertainties about their finances and even basic health and retirement benefits. Congress has left Washington for the Christmas break without passing any measures to delay or soften the effects of the so-called fiscal cliff. Perhaps it might still act before the end of the year, but don't count on it. Odds are that the new Congress that takes office next year will take action to prevent the very worst outcomes. But after years of gridlock, should we really expect things to get better? Here are eight pressing money and benefit issues that are barreling down on seniors. All of them are bad news. And while there aren't a lot of places to hide, it's important for anyone trying to build or conserve a retirement nest egg to develop contingency plans. 1. Tax rates. The Bush tax cuts expire December 31. All income tax brackets will shift upward--the 10 percent bracket disappe...

Now that the President and Congress have reached a tax deal to avert the"fiscal cliff", many Americans are breathing a sigh of relief as most income tax rates will remain in place and certain benefits on which many Americans have depended have been extended or made permanent. Still, one major perk has gone away -- the payroll tax cut for most U.S. workers expired on December 31. This year, workers will see a two percent increase -- from 4.2 percent to 6.2 percent - in their payroll taxes from 2012 levels. This amounts to a reduction in an annual income of $1,000 for the typical U.S. family earning $50,000 a year. In addition, those workers who have been laid off in recent months or had work hours cut are certainly feeling a pinch. If you are among them -- or worried that you soon may be -- the start of the New Year is a great time to take the future of your financial situation into your own hands. Start searching now for ways to make extra cash to simply...