Do you remember the food they served in your high school cafeteria?  Well, let me remind you: pepperoni pizza, French fries, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, etc.  The food served in American schools might as well be poison because it is killing children in the long run.  Here are some fun facts on children and obesity in the US: – 16.3% of […]

A September New York Times article argued that the key to “wedded bliss”  is a shared viewpoint on money matters and I couldn’t agree more with the basic premise.  I’m sure you all know couples who couldn’t be more different: she likes Prada and drives a shiny black Lexus, while he dresses like he just returned from Woodstock and eats […]

Ten Big Tips for Recent College Graduates Graduating from college is a big adjustment for most students as s/he has to trade-in an insulated, academic, environment for the so-called “real world.”  The transition from student to working adult is critical, especially in regard to getting your personal finances off on the right foot.  The foundation a recent grad lays in […]

I came across some old philosophy books in my study this morning and it got me thinking about the value of an undergraduate degree in philosophy.  And I can already hear the jokes, so please keep them to yourself!  At first glance, a Bachelor of Arts degree (Why Major in Philosophy) in philosophy provides no real practical application in the […]

There’s something about Warren Buffett that makes me feel warm and tingly all over and it’s not his net worth of $62 billion!  Rather it’s a combination of his personality, habits, and life philosophy.   I first saw Warren Buffett on Charlie Rose (he and Charlie are very good friends) and become captivated with him from the get go (I remember […]

Given that most of you will likely be interacting with family and friends on Thanksgiving Day, I thought I would offer some “how to” tips on getting along with your dinner companions: – Be nice. Getting along with people is not rocket science.  If you’re coming across as cold, snobby, and unwilling to engage in a conversation, you’ll most likely be […]

One of my father’s golden financial rules is to not buy what you think you need.  As I’ve said in earlier posts, my father is an incredibly crafty individual, though I didn’t realize the full extent of his ability to improvise and save money until we purchased our own home. As new homeowners most couples are eager to make home […]

Sometimes it’s obvious, but most of the time it’s not.  What am I talking about?  I’m talking about how we, as humans, are comforted by following the pack or making decisions that everyone around us is making.  For example: – We like buying Google stock because it helps us find things (there are alternatives) and the media loves Sergey and […]

  (photo: the Scordo and Latella families in southern Italy during the annual wheat harvest) Every time I travel to Europe (especially outside of the big cities) I notice that the stress level tends to be much lower than what we have here in the US (regardless of city or town).  Yes, big city folks tend to always be on […]

Do you know those people who need to spend money in order to have a good time?  You know, the folks who inevitably see a movie, go out for dinner, buy a new pair of pants, and buy a few books at Barnes and Noble every weekend.  Well, it’s easy to fall into the trap of spending to put a […]