Whoops – unemployed a little earlier than you thought you’d be? A little less income from those investments than you thought? Yes it’s been that kind of year. Well if you’re 62 or older, you do have the option of starting to take Social Security. But should you?

I encourage associating development of a budget with mindfulness – not with bureaucracy or regulation. I think of mindfulness – particularly when it comes to money – as being conscious of what you’re doing. A lot of spending is not mindful.
Drawing up a budget is, first and foremost, becoming aware of what you’re spending. The purpose of your initial budget is to establish what’s currently going on. Then you can consider why you’re spending what you’re spending and deciding what matters to you and what doesn’t.
The most important goal in …

Many of my friends – particularly those of us who are women over 50 – have been talking to me about overwhelming fear about money. Not surprising given the current economic downturn.