Call me Scrooge McDuck. But I think kids should learn how to put money in a bank before they learn how to take every last penny they have and spend it on licensed merchandise.

In order to get a raise, the most important thing to do is deserve one.

...why is my accountant so expensive? Can't you go to H&R Block for way less? Yes, you can get someone to do your tax forms for way less, but it won't be a CPA-- it will probably be someone with very minimal training, whose goal is to do as many returns as possible, as fast as possible.

The other day, I was driving to work and I was lucky enough to receive a traffic ticket.

Before I start listing the financial costs and benefits of having a two-career family, I'd like to point out that many of the costs and benefits have nothing at all to do with money. Cost: I'm exhausted and don't get to spend enough time with my son. Benefit: I get to leave the house (by myself!), go somewhere where I am admired and valued for something that has nothing to do with parenting or housekeeping, and talk about something besides dinosaurs and model trains. I don't think I would want to give that up completely.