If you’re an iPhone user like I am, it’s never been easier to stay on top of your personal finances, thanks to the hundreds of financial apps available in the iTunes store.

There, you’ll find apps to help you manage all your finances, track your debt snowball, keep tabs on your credit score, manage your investments, keep track your expenses or mileage, find the cheapest gas and the best deals, and more.

Great Personal Finance Apps

Which financial apps should you choose to use?  Here are 9 great personal finance apps to get you started:

Credit Sesame - Credit Sesame gives you a free credit score from Experian and a complete overview of your credit profile and debt situation. But that’s not all!  The app continues to analyze your credit and debt situation daily and shows you how you can save on your loans, credit card debts, and home mortgages. Unlike many of the “free credit score” deals you find online, Credit Sesame does not require you to give your credit card number or subscribe to anything. Both the service and the app are free, and it takes just a minute to sign up.

Dave Ramsey Show – Now you can take Dave Ramsey with you wherever you go with this new Dave Ramsey Show app.  You can listen live when Dave’s on the air, listen to archives of recent shows, follow Dave’s Twitter, and hear Dave answer questions about dozens of financial topics in the “Ask Dave” section. The free version gives you access to “Ask Dave,” Dave’s Twitter, and 7 days of the live show and archives.  Full access to all the features is $24.99 a year.

Mint - Mint is an award-winning personal finance app that puts all your bank, credit card, investment and loan accounts in one place to make it easier to review and manage.  You’ll need to set up a free Mint.com account in order to set up and use this app to manage your money.

Debt Snowball+ - This app helps you pay off your debts using the tried and true debt snowball method where you pay off your debts one at a time and apply your previous debt payment to your next one until your debts are all paid off. With Debt Snowball+, it’s easy to find out how much time and money you can save by making extra payments. The cost for the app is $0.99

Shoeboxed – Shoeboxed is a fast and easy way to track your expenses. You simply scan or take a photo of your receipts to turn them into digital data for effortless expense reporting, accounting, bookkeeping, and tax preparation.  It’s free to get started, and paid plans start at $9.95 per month.

Portfolio Live - This is an excellent app for keeping track of your investments.  It pulls data from Yahoo! Finance, CNBC and Google to provide real-time stock prices and news and lets you customize your portfolios and search through your trade history. The “lite” version is free but it limits the number of stocks you can follow.  The full version costs $5.99 but is currently on sale now for $0.99.

iSlick - iSlick brings you the best daily shopping deals on clothes, sports, electronics, travel, home, health, jewelry and more. It notifies you of the latest freebies, hot deals, bargains, discounts, coupons, contests and sweepstakes, based on your preferences.

Gas Cubby - Gas Cubby is a great tool for tracking gas mileage and vehicle maintenance. Whether you’re wanting to see how far you can go, or just want a reminder to change the oil, Gas Cubby will save you money and keep your vehicle operating at its peak. The free version is fully robust but includes sponsored ads.  The paid version costs $2.99 and is ad-free.

Gas Buddy - This app will help you find the cheapest gas on the go and show you the stations nearest you and their prices.

The number and quality of personal finance apps continues to grow weekly, helping millions of iPhone users save more time and money.

What’s your favorite personal finance app and why?  What kind of finance app would you like to see created?  Leave a comment below!

Related Articles:

• Best iPhone Apps: 3 Great Personal Finance Apps!
• 5 Free iPhone Apps To Get Your Finances On Track
• 20 Android Budgeting & Personal Finance Programs
• Whats the best personal finance software?

Rich is a ministry leader, life coach, and blogger at Money Wise Pastor, where he writes on personal finance from a pastor’s perspective. He loves In-N-Out Burger (and has the t-shirts to prove it), urban living, homeschooling, Gungor concerts, helping people succeed in life and work, camping, dreaming with his wife, and equipping his five children to become financially faithful and free. Find him on Twitter and Facebook.

Learning how to invest in mutual funds online is surprisingly simple. If you are new to investing there are a few preliminary things you need to determine that will make the transition to buying your mutual funds online simpler.

Develop a System for Deciding Which Mutual Funds You Should Buy

Every investor has her how approach, system, or philosophy for buying mutual funds.

When I first started investing in mutual funds (when I was 15 years old) my strategy was quite simple.  I set up an appointment with my parents’ financial advisor.  He suggested a fund and I decided to invest in that fund.  At the time I figured if his job was to make suggestions my job was to follow his suggestions.

The investment turned out to be a great decision, but I wouldn’t recommend this strategy.

An alternative approach is to use analytical tools like Morning Star to help you pick mutual funds.  Some people look for funds with long positive track records.

Regardless of your strategy you need remember that the mutual fund types (small cap, large cap, international, etc) you invest in is a more important decision than the actual funds you purchase since this will have the biggest impact on your returns.  In fact, asset allocation is the most important investing decision you’ll make.

Some Christians chose to do more personal screening and prefer to stick with mutual funds that are faith-based.

Another helpful Christian organization is Sound Mind Investing.  I’ve personally followed some of their strategies for probably about five years now.

Now that you know which mutual funds you want to buy you’re in a position to choose an online brokerage.

This will be a very important decision as it will greatly impact how much you’ll pay for your mutual fund transactions.

Important Mutual Fund Brokerage Considerations

1. Online mutual fund brokerages don’t carry every single mutual fund.  For example, if you want to purchase Delaware Smid Cap Growth Fund Institutional Class (DFDIX), you could purchase it if you had a brokerage account at Fidelity, but not if you had one at Charles Schwab.
2. Fund transaction fees vary from brokerage to brokerage.  Fidelity International Small Cap (FISMX) could be purchased from a Fidelity account with no transaction fees.  However, if you had a Charles Schwab account, you could expect to pay a fee to purchase the Fidelity mutual fund.

Since this is not an article on comparing or deciding between online brokerages I won’t go into any more detail, but you will want to do some thorough research about fund availability and fund fees before deciding on an online brokerage.

A couple of the cheaper (and ChristianPF recommended) online brokers are Zecco & Sharebuilder – each will allow you to start investing for as little as $50.

Now, (finally) you’re ready to actually start buying mutual funds online.  You’ve got a strategy in place for buying funds, and you’ve selected the brokerage that best compliments the types of funds you’re interested in purchasing.

How to Buy Mutual Funds Online

It’s actually quite simple now. While every online brokerage interface is different, here is a general procedure you’ll need to follow.

To access the correct place to buy mutual funds, you’ll likely click on a tab titled “Trade” or something similar.  Be sure you are in the part of the interface that is purchasing mutual funds.

You’ll need to be prepared with the following information:

Related Articles:

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• The benefits of mutual funds
• Learn How To Invest In Stocks – For Free

Craig is a fulltime missionary in Papua New Guinea who writes Money Help For Christians and Help Me Travel Cheap, a frugal family travel blog. He is the author of Money Wisdom From Proverbs, has a Masters of Divinity degree, and (most importantly) eats homemade pizza with his family every Friday night.

As a young professional, I needed to dress for success. When my husband noticed me struggling with my hair, he treated me to a visit to a salon. I enjoyed having someone create something beautiful out of the mop on my head and I left that day with a new “do”, renewed confidence in my appearance, and about $48 poorer—and that was 25 years ago.

Today, after decades of raising six children on one income, I could never spend $48 on a haircut. In fact, I would struggle to spend $15. But according to my salon-going son, that is what a man’s haircut costs*. Wow, when I had five boys at home, $15 each would cost $75 every six weeks. That’s about $675 a year—for just the boys. That’s more than our car insurance. That’s more than my monthly grocery budget. That’s more than I care to think. Have a tribe at home in need of some low-cost grooming? Let me share some ways that I’ve learned to save in this area.

1. Learn to cut hair.

A pair of Wahl hair clippers costs roughly $30 (the cost of two, count them two, haircuts). My first set, purchased 24 years ago, came with all the attachments, a pair of scissors, a comb, and—here’s the best part—a VHS demonstrating how to cut hair in all different styles. Then I checked several books out of the library to help my studies.

The new Wahl kits do not come with a video, but you don’t need one. Search haircutting on YouTube and you will find more than you ever wanted to know. In fact, I recently learned how to cut my own hair by watching several YouTube videos. I always wondered how people cut around the backs of their heads; but this video makes it so easy, you’ll be cutting your own hair in no time. And if you still think you need help, check out the CreaClip Professional Haircutting Tool. It’s amazing.

2. Go to a barber.

If you don’t trust yourself to cut your family’s hair, try a barber.  Instead of $15 at the salon, the average barber in our area charges $7. That is great for the guys in the house; but some women are uncomfortable going to a barber shop. If that describes you, try a family salon. These places feature a stable of stylists lined up in their stalls cutting like it’s the Kentucky Derby. Family salons typically do not take appointments and charge a bit more than a barber, but much less than an upscale salon.

3. Go to a beauty school and have your hair cut by a student.

When you go to a beauty school a student will do your hair. She will have two years of education behind her before being allowed to work on the public; and an instructor will oversee her work. Beauty schools generally charge much less than the average salon. Depending on the laws of your state, some beauticians apprentice under a licensed stylist. Doing the book work at a school, she does her practical training in a salon. You may have to ask around to find a shop that participates in apprenticeship programs. Or you could ask someone at the cosmetology department of your local technical school.

4. Let it grow.

The best way for women to save on haircuts is to let it grow. The Bible says that long hair is our glory (1 Corinthians 11:15). Before I learned how to do it myself on YouTube, twice a year my daughter would cut my long hair straight across the middle of my back. I do my own bangs. It costs me nothing.

Check out some more ways to save money on ChristianPF.

How do you handle this often over-looked expense? Please give us some more ideas in the comments.

*Prices vary in different areas of the country.

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When I was going through the process of getting a student loan for my first year at college – I thought little of the fact that my dad stepped in to cosign my student loan. I had scant knowledge about the whole loan process and basically felt money just “grew on trees” (which probably led to my early money management problems when I entered the “real world”).

I now have a greater understanding of the risk he was taking by cosigning. If I failed to come through on my repayment of that loan, he could have been saddled with the debt.

Fortunately, the Lord has provided for me through the years where I’ve been able to meet my loan obligations. And about four years ago, I paid off the last of my school loan. Freedom!

Cosigning a Student Loan

Generally, a cosigner is needed on student loans because most young people do not have sufficient (or any) credit history to qualify for loans. To meet this need – someone close to them will step in (like my father) to “vouch” for the student. In essence – they become the guarantee to the creditor that the loan will be repaid.

Oftentimes, having a cosigner will help get the student a lower interest rate on their loans as well. This is one of the benefits of having a cosigner.

Due to the past recession and issues with home loans and lending – it has been a little harder to become credit-worthy. Having someone with a proven history of paying their bills on time and a good credit score will also bode well for the student applying for a loan.

(It is of note that a cosigner is only needed on a private student loan and NOT on a federal loan.)

Can a cosigner be released from your loan?

So you’ve graduated and you are ready to start making your way in the world. You’ve found a job, got some wheels, and are living with one of your roommates from college. Life is looking good.

You come to the point where you’d like to start cutting your ties with some of your financial supports. You’re making decent money (for a graduate that is) and feel it’s time. One of those “ties” is with your student loan cosigner. You’d like to release them from any future obligations as it relates to your student loan.

While your intentions are noble – there are a few things you’ll need to be able to prove to your lender before the cosigner can be removed from the loan.

Most lenders will require that you have made at least 12 to 24 consecutive monthly on-time loan payments before they allow a cosigner to be removed. This is why it is so important that a student remains faithful with their repayment schedule. Make paying on your loan each month a top priority (even if you sometimes feel as though you aren’t making a dent). Plus, your credit rating is being build during repayment and any slip or missed payment can have an adverse affect on your score.

A couple other lender restrictions may entail – meeting the “age of majority” (the age “society” has deemed you’ve entered adulthood – typically 18 in most countries), as well as underwriting and credit requirements.

Once these have been satisfied, the student can fill out a “request for cosigner release” with their lender. During the application review, it’s important regular loan repayments be made on-time.

That’s it!

Finally – be sure to check with your lender as each will have some adjustments to these requirements.

(It’s important to note that a cosigner will (in most cases) be removed from their loan obligations in the event of the borrowers death or permanent disability.)

Have you ever applied to have someone removed from your student loan? How did the process work for you? Leave a comment below!

Related Articles:

• What You Need to Know Before You Get a Student Loan
• College Debt & The Student Loan Trap
• Which Debt Should I Pay Off First: Car or Student Loan?
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Aaron helped start Three Thrifty Guys with his friends Charlie and Mark to help folks keep a few more bucks in their pockets. A designer by day, Aaron was once $40k in debt. After 5 years – he dug himself out and lives to tell about it.

I’ve got my answer memorized when people ask how we feel about moving next month – “We are sorry to leave – but happy to arrive.”  My husband and I will be moving back to the Midwest after 24 years on the road with his military career.

Why are we leaving our beautiful bay area town and nearly perfect weather?  Cost of living is a major part of the decision.  Over the next 40 years, our money will go farther and we will have more purchasing power by living in a lower cost of living area.

On the non-money side of the decision, nearly all of our parents and siblings live within 90 miles of our soon-to-be hometown.  Those 2 factors help outweigh the downside of dealing with the snow and ice of winter, threat of tornados, and living with humidity again!

Let’s review some of the lowest cost of living areas in the United States – and how you can factor your place on the map as part of your overall financial plans and lifestyle goals.

Lowest Cost of Living Areas By City

Many different magazines and online websites list the lowest cost of living metropolitan areas.  Here is a sample.

Forbes Top 10 list of Best Places to Live Cheaply:

• Sandusky Ohio
• Monroe Michigan
• Cumberland,Maryland/West Virginia
• Kokomo Indiana
• Bay City Michigan
• Pocatello Idaho
• Fairbanks Arkansas
• Springfield Ohio
• Wheeling West Virginia/Ohio
• Elkhart-Goshen Indiana

Kiplinger’s Top 10 list of US cities with a Cheap Cost of Living:

• Brownsville Texas
• Pueblo Colorado
• Fort Hood Texas
• Fort Smith Arkansas
• Sherman Texas
• Springfield Illinois
• Waco Texas
• Fayetteville Arkansas
• Austin Texas
• Springfield Missouri

Small towns typically do not make these Top 10 lists.  You may personally know a gem of a town in your state that would never make the rankings.

However, small towns with a low cost of living may be hours from the nearest major medical treatment facility, airport, university, or even Big Box stores and have limited employment opportunities.

Lowest Cost of Living Areas By State

The Missouri Economic Research and Information Center has a Top 10 States list for lowest cost of living:

• Oklahoma
• Texas
• Tennessee
• Arkansas
• Nebraska
• South Dakota
• Missouri
• Kansas
• Georgia
• Mississippi

Cost of Living Elements

When a Top 10 list is created, typical living expenses are taken into account like consumer goods, housing costs, transportation costs, utilities, and health care.

Housing is the biggest expense for most people and has the greatest impact on spending power. This includes the average cost of a home and property taxes.

Income taxes are another consideration.  States like  Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Texas, Tennessee, Washington and Wyoming do not have income tax, but may make up for it with a higher sales tax or property tax.  That’s why it’s important to look at all the taxes for an area – property tax, sales tax, gasoline tax, retirement/military pensions, and income tax.

How to Compare the Cost of Living

People move for a variety of reasons.  Sometimes it’s by choice – sometimes it’s because of an employment change or opportunity.  How can you know if packing up the trailer will help you financially?  How can you compare your current salary with a promotion that’s available in another place?

There are several online tools that allow you to compare two major cities.  You might need to use a city on the list that closest to you.

Using the free tool from areavibes, my current area has an index of 136 (meaning it’s 36% above the national average) and my new town has an index of 93.  Our purchasing power is going to increase at least 30% with a majority of the savings falling into the housing category and taxes on current income and military pension.

Other comparison tools are available at Sperling’s Best Places and PayScale.  Each one uses slightly different scales, but the overall averages are close when I compared my two cities.

The Non-monetary Elements

Money isn’t everything – and it’s certainly not the main reason to live in a certain state or town.  Each of us have a list of important things to consider:

• Location of family members – adult children, parents, siblings
• Employment – major industries, unemployment rates
• Faith communities – will you find a new faith home easily?
• Weather – snow, ice, heat, humidity, natural disasters, on my!
• Education – specific programs or opportunities for learning
• Outdoor interests – do you like to ski, surf, or hike?
• Airports – how often do you travel for business or pleasure?
• Medical – do you need ongoing care or a specialists?

Are you ready to pack your bags?

Where you live impacts your life in a daily basis.  Are you near family for the next birthday bash?  Can you work in a master’s degree at night?  Will your children go to a good college-prep high school?  Can you afford your home as you as age or retire?

A list of cheapest places to live might not have you packing your bags next week – just keep in mind that your place on the map can help or hinder your financial journey.

Digging up my roots these past months has been painful as we leave behind great friends, a wonderful community, and perfect weather – but we will replant and grow stronger in our new hometown and our financial foundation will be stronger too!

Have you moved to a different location based on the cost of living?  How would planning a future move help your financial goals or lifestyle?  Leave a comment!

Related Articles:

• How does your cost of living compare to other cities?
• What in the World is Going On with the United States?
• Cost of Living or Standard of Living | Which Is To Blame for High Costs?
• 6 Low-Cost Transportation Alternatives You Can Try Out!

Cherie is a small business accountant with a passion to teach others about personal finance -especially military families through the Financial Peace program. With her son & daughter at college, Cherie enjoys spending time with her husband of 24 years, quilting, and volunteering.

Foreclosures are at an all time high. Millions of people have had their American dream turn into a nightmare. There are few things as devastating than the loss of your home. As dark as things may look if you have faced foreclosure, all is not lost. It might not feel like it now, but there is life after foreclosure.  If you follow a few simple steps, before long you can have your credit rating back on track and even qualify for another mortgage.

Step 1 – Regain control of your financial state

When your finances are out of control, everything in your life will follow suit. If you are facing foreclosure, then it is safe to say that something in your financial plan has gone horribly wrong. It could be that someone lost a job or they borrowed too much and the payments are unmanageable; it could be a combination of factors. Regardless of the reason, the valuable lesson to take away from the experience is that you have to be more prepared. Being prepared financially starts with a budget and a shift in focus.

In order to turn things around and regain control of your financial state, the focus must shift from being able to pay for all of the things that you have, to only having the things that you can comfortably pay for. Prepare a realistic monthly budget and stick to it.

Step 2 – Rebuild your credit rating

If you have credit cards before you went into foreclosure, chances are they are maxed out and have had some late payments. To turn it around, first you have to stop using them, and then you have to start paying them off. If you do not have any credit cards, you must establish credit. If you have trouble qualifying for an unsecured credit line, look into a secured credit card through your bank. Use them sparingly and pay them in a timely manner.

Revolving credit lines are a double edge sword when it comes to your credit rating. You must have open and available credit accounts to have a good credit score; however there cannot be a large balance and you must make monthly payments on time. Remember that a credit rating is a number that represents how big of a risk you are to lend money to. In order for the bureaus to determine that, they need to see that you use credit responsibly. For the best impact on your credit, keep the balance on your credit card account to less than 25% of the card limit and make all monthly payments on time.

Step 3 – Start saving

Creating a budget is one piece in developing your financial safety net. Saving is another crucial piece, especially if your goal is to qualify for another mortgage in the future. A successful monthly budget includes a budget for savings for the everyday issues, as well as a down payment for another home. Before you worry about future homes, make sure that you build up a cushion of savings that will protect you from facing other financial losses such as repossessions and evictions when faced with the loss of income or unexpected financial expense.

Step 4 – Sit tight

Once you have gotten control of your finances and are making your payments on time, the next step is to keep on doing what you are doing. Time is going to be an essential part of regaining your credit rating. Paying your bills on time and proving your ability to maintain control of your use of credit over a period of time will consistently increase your credit worthiness with each payment you make on time. You can expect to require two to four years before you will qualify for another mortgage, but if you maintain your budget and keep your payments on time for that period you will qualify for some very good mortgage programs.

Step 5 – Stay within your means

After working so diligently to regain your credit status after a foreclosure, the last thing that you want to do is get in over your head with your second chance. You must stay within your budget and maintain the ability to save with your new mortgage to avoid falling into the same financial traps that contributed to the foreclosure. Staying on track with your budget and living within your means is the best way to rebuild an impeccable credit rating.

Any other suggestions for those trying to move past a foreclosure? Leave a comment below!

Related Articles:

• Do you need help avoiding foreclosure?
• 6 steps to reducing your credit card interest rates
• 7 Steps To Help Get Out Of Credit Card Debt
• New Federal Program To Help Homeowners Avoid Foreclosure

This article was written by a Guest Author. If you would like to write a guest post for our personal finance blog, you can find out how here.

You’re a rock star and have set up a fully-funded emergency fund. Bravo! There’s only one problem: you find yourself using your emergency fund every month because of “unexpected” expenses! How can you make sure that your emergency fund is only used for emergency purposes? Here are a few tips to help get you on the right track . . . .

1. Give your emergency fund a mission statement.

Why is it easy to spend money from your emergency fund when a budget category is depleted? It’s because you didn’t give your emergency fund a mission statement in the beginning – you thought the words “emergency fund” were enough!

No worries. I’ve done the same thing.

In order to protect your emergency fund from delivery pizza, give your emergency fund a mission statement. It could go something like this:

This emergency fund is to be used only in the case of a real emergency. A “real emergency” is constituted as (1) a situation where the well-being of a family member is at risk (like in the case of a spreading disease) if the funds are not utilized, (2) transportation to an income-producing job is diminished due to mechanical failure (like an oil leak that is somehow coming through your floorboard), or (3) shelter needs are no longer met due to unforeseen circumstances (like a tree through your roof).

Your mission statement may look different (probably should), and you could certainly poke holes in mine, but all of that is okay. The point here is for you to make it more difficult on yourself to justify the use of your emergency fund.

2. Allocate more money to your budgeting categories.

Another reason you probably use your emergency fund too often is that you don’t adequately fund your budgeting categories. I’ve heard people say that they keep their budget lean and mean because they have an emergency fund for miscellaneous expenses. That’s not an emergency fund!

My argument here is that people should create realistic budgets in order to avoid pulling money from their emergency fund. For example, instead of only including gas and oil changes in your Transportation category, include tire replacements, parking meter expenses, and occasional repairs too!

I’ll be upfront with you: this requires a huge initial time commitment. When you’re trying to come up with every possible expense for a certain category, you can become pretty drained. However, you shouldn’t give up! Beef up your budgeting categories and you’ll have little excuse to use your emergency fund for non-emergencies.

3. Make your emergency fund difficult to access – but not too difficult.

Dave Ramsey tells the legendary story of a person who framed their cash emergency fund in glass and wrote on it: “In case of emergency, break glass.” That’s pretty funny, and I wonder if they ever had to break the glass!

Making your emergency fund difficult to access is one way to make you think twice before using your emergency money. One way to do this is by opening up a separate savings account at INGDirect.com and nicknaming it “Emergency Fund.” In order to use your money, you’ll have to log in to your seldom used account, withdraw the funds, and wait for them to hit your primary checking account. This isn’t too difficult, but it adds a couple more steps than simply keeping your emergency fund commingled in your checking (although you can get some pretty sweet perks by having a lot of money in your PerkStreet checking).

At one time, when our emergency fund was small, we kept cash in a box . . . in another box . . . and finally, in a safe. Oh, and I almost forgot it was rubber-banded! Not very secure – we should have used duct tape! Ha.

Have some fun with this one, but make sure not to prevent access to your emergency fund. You don’t want to bury it in a glacier or give it to your second cousin who lives across the country. Don’t make it too difficult to access, or you might have a real emergency on your hands!

Do you have some tips for using your emergency fund with wisdom? Leave a comment below!

Related Articles:

• 3 Steps to Strengthen Your Emergency Fund
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• How Large Should Your Emergency Fund Really Be?
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John Frainee is a personal finance writer at TheChristianDollar.com. His goal is to provide biblical financial principles that encourage people to live healthier lives. Beyond personal finance, John enjoys spending time with his wife and two crazy cats, playing a competitive game of Monopoly, and reading just about anything he can get his hands on. You can also find him on Twitter and Facebook.

When I graduated from college, there was no such thing as online banking because there was no such thing as online.  In fact, there was no such thing as personal computers or even handheld calculators.  My point?  Whereas the world is a much different place today than when I graduated, I have a hunch that the things I wish I had known at the time are not greatly different than what a typical graduate would need to know today.  I wish I had known . . . .

1. How to talk about money.

I am sure my parents talked about money, but never with kids around.  I didn’t expect them to share financial details, but I do wish they had explained such things as budgeting, saving for a rainy day or investing for the future.   My parents undoubtedly did lots of things right and several things wrong along the way; I wish they had been transparent enough to share the lessons they learned.

Fortunately for me, my wife grew up in a family where money discussions were not taboo – we have had no problem being open with each other and with our children about money issues.

2. That money can’t buy happiness.

I give my parents credit for never opting for the biggest and best.  Mom made many of our clothes and we drove used cars.  However, the world around me seemed to reflect the belief that more money equates to more happiness.  After all, the kids who drove the sportiest cars seemed to be happier than those of us who drove the family station wagon.

Of course, when I looked beyond the façade, I figured out that even the ultra-wealthy are not necessarily happier than the average blue collar worker.  When I began investing my energy into my relationship with God and with family, I began to experience a happiness which transcends the almighty dollar.  It just took me too many years to figure it out.

3. That the purpose of higher education is not to make more money.

I don’t remember my parents, my friends or my high school counselor saying, “You need to go to college so you can make a boatload of money”, but the message was always in front of me.

“If you want a good job, you need to go to college.”

“A college degree is the pathway to a successful life.”

“You will never be able to compete in life without a college degree.”

Don’t get me wrong. I was the first person in my family to earn a college degree and I am glad I did.  But somewhere along the way, I learned that the purpose of education is to make me smarter, not richer.   After all, wouldn’t you rather be focused on achieving excellence in your vocation instead of how much money it will make for you?  I hope so.

4. To follow my dreams.

My parents grew up during the Great Depression; a time when survival was paramount, steady work was coveted, and dreams were few.  Paying the bills and putting bread on the table trumped discovering your passion and excelling in it.  I have no regrets in becoming an engineer – it was a solid career that I liked, but never loved.  Fortunately, since retirement from engineering, I have been following two dreams: counseling people about their finances and writing.

5. To focus on my strengths instead of my weaknesses.

When I brought home a 7^th grade report card with 7 A’s and one C, my dad looked it over before saying,  “That is a good report card, but you need to be working on that C.”  I carried the mindset of focusing on my weaknesses well into my adulthood, but I finally learned that spending time on something I have no aptitude for is detrimental to developing excellence in the areas of my strength.  The world would be a different place if George Washington had remained a surveyor or if Michael Jordan had focused on his college major (cultural geography) or if Bill Gates had actually studied law at Harvard.  You get my point; those who strive to be good at everything will seldom be great at anything.  God has chosen to uniquely gift each of us.  We should therefore fully harness the greatness God intends for us by developing those gifts.

As I reflect on this list, I am convinced that every one of the things I wish I had known when I graduated are completely relevant today.  Times may have changed, but people haven’t.

What do you wish you had known when you graduated?  Leave a comment below!

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Joe Plemon, a retired engineer, financial counselor and blogger, lives in Southern Illinois with Janice, his wife of 40 years. Joe likes online Scrabble, St Louis Cardinal baseball, blues music, power naps, high school football, short term mission trips and Sunday family dinners. You can read more from Joe at Personal Finance by the Book.

Yesterday one of the biggest phenomenons in the internet world offered themselves for sale in what was one of the largest IPO offerings to date. Facebook sold selling 180 million shares for about $38 per single share. Are you interested in buying a piece of the pie?

Before you poo-poo the idea – consider that one share of Apple purchased some 15 years ago for $5 would now be worth in the neighborhood of $560. How do you like them apples?

My first foray into buying stocks was back in early 2000 – when I was working at my first full-time gig out of college. I had discovered this clever doughnut shop while living in L.A. where folks would stand in long lines, waiting for this “glazed perfection”. I knew it would take off if it ever went public – and sure enough – when I came back to the Midwest – Krispy Kreme doughnuts sold itself to the world. While I only had a handful of shares, it was amazing to see the rise in company earnings and the stock price. When I held it – it must have split some 2 or 3 times and I tripled my money. All in all – it was a good first experiment in buying stock.

So, what if you wanted to jump on board the Facebook IPO? How could you buy a single share?

It’s really not all that difficult. What you’ll need to do is to connect with a broker. The one that I’ve been with for over 10 years and am happy with their service is Etrade. They do have some requirements before you can open an account with them however. They include:

• Be a permanent resident of the US
• Deposit at least $500 – within the first 60 days of opening account (for it to remain active)
• Present an employers address

If you are more concerned with the novelty of owning a piece of stock – like the stock certificate itself – then I would recommend going through another online company called GiveAShare.com. They sell actual stock certificates with the purchase of any share – and will send you a certificate you can frame.

The only catch with these guys is that you will likely pay a premium. For example – right now Amazon is going for $224 a share. If you were to buy one share with GiveAShare – you’ll pay about $444. But, it is a unique gift – that’s for sure. With the online brokers (eTrade, Zecco, Sharebuilder) – it’s whatever the stock is going for – plus about $10 in transaction fees.

So there you have it – are you going to be buying? 

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Aaron helped start Three Thrifty Guys with his friends Charlie and Mark to help folks keep a few more bucks in their pockets. A designer by day, Aaron was once $40k in debt. After 5 years – he dug himself out and lives to tell about it.

Do you remember if you had a job when you were 18 years old? I do. I worked at a golf course doing grounds maintenance work. Being a golfer – it was a fun job to have! I got to pick out the holes for the days play and cut the greens. The only thing bad about it was starting work at 6:00 in the morning!

I’m now a step-father to a soon-to-be 18-year-old and it’s a whole new world. The Internet has changed so much about how we do things and is offering a lot of ways to make money for the entrepreneurial teenager. It’s funny to think when I was that age – there was no Internet (wow, I’m old!).

While the current job market for the high-schooler and college student looks a little downcast right now, I still believe breaks abound for those who have applied themselves and have a desire to succeed.

As a parent I think it’s important to let your teenage work (especially if they want to and have proven themselves to be responsible) in high school. I know there are many different schools of thought on this. Overall, it can be a great learning experience for them – as it will teach them the value of a dollar and stewardship. The job can also provide them with a stepping stone or a jump start on a future career.

The Best Jobs for 18-Year-Olds

I’ve compiled a list of 18 jobs that are best suited for 18-year-olds. Of course these are not exhaustive – but I hope they provide some ideas for a parent helping a teen or a teenager looking to find some work on their own.

1. Waiter/waitress

This is a great way to make extra money and is a great way for teens to learn valuable social skills.

2. Errand-runner

Typically a teen will have their license by 18, so this can be a unique opportunity for an 18-year-old to make money while setting a flexible schedule and gain experience running a business.

3. Lawn-care

Use the parent’s mower and tools and you’re all set!

4. Work at a nursing home

This has to be one of the most over-looked and devalued jobs around. I wish I would have done this as a teenager. It’s a super way to bless others in their golden years and honor/learn from those who have valuable life experience.

5. Pet-sitter

So many folks have pets today – start your own pet-sitting business! Low over-head, you could take care of the pet at their house or yours (ask the folks first!).

6. Concessions at a theater

This one has some benefits. You’ll likely get free popcorn and see the occasional flick for zero dollars!

7. Bank teller

Learn financial skills, how to deal with people, and get paid!

8. Tutor

Teach a kid who is younger than you in a subject you are knowledgeable in.

9. Vending business

May take an initial investment from the parents – but this can be a great way to make some passive income.

10. Virtual assistant

With all the new website businesses out there – many owners are looking for someone to “manage the store.” Duties could include everything from answering emails to assisting with an online purchase.

11. Warehouse work

If you like to work with your hands – you may want to check out a local distributor or warehouse.

12. Car dealership

Like being around cars? Maybe it would be a great place to get your feet wet! Duties could include car washing/detailing, driving folks to work/back when their vehicle is in repair, or setting up cars for display.

13. Positions at parent’s employer

While probably not the most popular idea – if you ask your parent to see if their employer offers any summer jobs or entry-level positions, you’ll likely be surprised. My place of work hires several 18 to 22-year-olds every summer which are referrals from parents/other co-workers.

14. Catering

Many caterers hire high school/college help for food prep and serving.

15. Coach

Your local city recreation department is likely in need of coaches for various sports and activities. Great opportunity to mentor and teach kids.

16. Tech Support

Teenagers are inherently good with electronics – including cell phones and computers. Be a local techie-on-call to your neighbors and family and soon your services will spread via word-of-mouth.

17. Personal care attendant

Another great chance to bless others and get paid.

18. Photographer

Have an eye for a good photo and know your way around a camera? You can take pics at weddings, sporting events, or even portraits for good cash.

What other jobs can you think of that would be perfect for 18-year-olds? Leave a comment below!

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Aaron helped start Three Thrifty Guys with his friends Charlie and Mark to help folks keep a few more bucks in their pockets. A designer by day, Aaron was once $40k in debt. After 5 years – he dug himself out and lives to tell about it.