Yes, California is expensive, but it offers better financial protection for consumers than most other states do. California’s state minimum wage is one of the highest in the country; as of 2024, only Washington state and Washington, D.C. have higher minimum wages. In some cities in California, the minimum wage is even higher.  The paid…

Some personal finance experts who shall remain nameless have made a career out of telling young, working adults that they could get out of debt simply by brewing their own coffee at home instead of stopping at a coffee shop on the way to work. Yes, the price of coffee shop beverages is astronomical, especially…

Social Media Business finances are consistently more complicated than personal finances. You have experienced this if you have ever filed individual tax returns and business tax returns. Likewise, divorce and probate cases are more complex when the couple or the decedent has an ownership interest in a business. The value of business assets fluctuates all…

Even though some shady credit repair services might try to convince you otherwise, a bankruptcy filing does not cast a dark shadow over your creditworthiness for the rest of your life. All the restrictions that bankruptcy imposes on your financial choices eventually go away, at least in theory.  The bankruptcy filing eventually disappears from your…

Expecting your fortunes to quickly and dramatically change for the better is not an effective way to deal with your debt situation, at least not if you also have a short-term strategy. Much personal finance advice falls into either of two categories; it either focuses on big decisions, such as filing for bankruptcy or getting…

One of the most frustrating things about debt is that in today’s economy, prices are higher than wages. You are not in debt because you spent carelessly on impulse purchases or lived an extravagant lifestyle; you are in debt because you went to the doctor when you were sick or because you bought groceries during…

People who are trying to get out of debt tend to have the same kind of love-hate relationship with credit cards that people who are trying to lose weight or improve their diet have with doughnuts. In their best moments, they write out a budget or a meal plan and follow it, but when things…

Having a salaried job can feel a lot better than not having one. You are not always scrambling to find enough gigs to pay your bills in time to avoid late fees. Your work schedule is at least somewhat predictable, so you can plan for your errands and housework instead of doing them in a…

Whoever is sharing content on social media about working adults being broke because they keep splurging on Starbucks and avocado toast did not have you in mind. If anyone knows where to find a discount, it is you. In fact, it seems like you spend all your time looking for discounts. You belong to Buy…

Californians have plenty of reasons to have a sunny demeanor, and not just because of the weather. California offers more paid medical leave than most other states, and in many California cities, it is easy to get from home to work on your bicycle or public transportation. Despite this, there is no escaping the fact…