Sharon Lechter

College graduation is coming up in several weeks, and students are less prepared than ever to join the workforce. That’s because a college education is woefully lacking in the most important element of a new professionals life – financial literacy.
The manager watched as I hesitated. “Are you having trouble?” she asked as I squinted at [...]

When you take an online assessment test, you may find out some new things about yourself that you never knew. The tests, such as ones on www.financialdna.com can be surprisingly accurate. Maybe you work better in a group, or individually. Perhaps you never thought of yourself as a creative person or a leader, but the [...]

With the invention and proliferation of credit and debit cards, cash has become much less popular.  In fact, it is used less and less as a form of payment. If you are struggling with your credit cards, try reintroducing cash back into your life. The simple rule is if you can not pay cash for [...]

Newer does not always mean better. In fact, there is a wealth of opportunities out there to find great used items. And it has never been easier because of the Internet. You will save yourself a good amount of money as long as you are a smart consumer and can spot a great used deal. [...]

Life is full of little temptations, and you are going to have a run in with them every time you visit the mall or one of your favorite stores. The retailers count on it, which is why there is so much merchandise around the check-out area. Many of us struggle with the impulse to buy! [...]

Dining out is often a ritual many families like to practice with their relatives and friends. It is a great time to catch up and socialize, but it can also be pretty expensive. Why not keep that special time with your friends, but invite them over for dinner instead? Start a new trend (or actually [...]

Cutting out parts of your budget that are more “wants” than “needs,” or just wasteful spending, will help improve your cash flow and savings. Consolidating the little amounts can also save you a great deal of money in the long run. It is easier than you think to save money in everyday living, and it [...]

Are you longing for something that you gave up during week one? You may not miss a thing so congratulate yourself.  If you do, a great way to cut those longings is to be creative about how you spend your time, not your money. By focusing your attention on something other than money, your creativity [...]

Try to save a certain amount of money each day. Be consistent (even if the amount is small), be proud, put the money away, watch it grow and celebrate the results. When you are creating your budget, allotting money for your bills and calculating your expenses, remember to always save a little bit and pay [...]

Meet with at least one financial planner – they have probably helped others with similar issues. Sometimes it takes an outside perspective on our finances to really begin to see through some of the bad financial habits we may have established over time. It is always good to get an outside educated opinion, and it [...]