How Much Can You Afford to Pay for a House?
People that are looking to purchase a home frequently question how much they can afford to pay for a house. Although numerous financial experts claim to have a simple formula for
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Finances
What Happens if You Don’t Pay Your Student Loans?
With an estimated 15% of student loan holders in default at any given time, the question that often comes up is “What happens if you
Smart Consumer
Door to Door Sales: Scams, Schemes, and Annoying
Door to door sales would seem like it should be something of the past. Yet, it seems there are still quite a few businesses that
Making Money
Are Employee Satisfaction Surveys Anonymous?
Many companies like to give employee satisfaction surveys. They do this by explaining it helps the company identify areas of improvement. Businesses claim employee surveys
Life
Outrageous and Unrealistic Housing Prices: Something Needs to Change for the Survival of the Middle Class
Most markets around the country are seeing outrageous and unrealistic housing prices. According to a Bankrate report, the average home price has increased by about 30% in
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Sky High Theme Park Prices – Theme Parks are Outpricing the Middle Class
Theme parks seem to be more about the money than the magic these days. The price of tickets and vacationing at popular parks around the
A Good Auto Mechanic Can Be Hard to Find
An automobile is just part of life for most people unless you live in a big city with great public transportation. A car is a
The Income Gap Is Likely Going to Get Wider
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted lives socially, economically and will forever change some families who experience lost loved ones. The lasting effects are going to
Managers Are Rarely Leaders
If you have been in the workplace for any amount of time, chances are you have had a terrible boss. The kind that creates consistent
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What is Smart Start Money?
Smart Start Money provides information on making smart money decisions. Providing tips, personal experiences, and money-saving resources, the goal is to help people start each day by staying out of debt, build wealth, and remain on a path of financial freedom.
Times have changed since getting a job and keeping the same place of employment for a lifetime. The average time spent with one employer is now three to five years. Companies are replacing workers with lean staff that previously held more people to accomplish the same tasks. This has resulted in periods of unemployment for many people making it challenging to save for retirement and stay debt free.
The rising costs of healthcare, consumer goods, and wages that often do not seem to keep pace with the cost of daily life make it more important than ever to make smart financial decisions.
