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Cash. Dough. Bread. Dosh. However you name it, money is a delicate topic to discuss with anyone, and things can get rather precarious when talking about it with your partner. Before you find yourself surprised at discovering that your lover would like to sign a prenuptial agreement three months into your marriage, here are nine financial topics that you should talk about with him/her in the early stages of your relationship:

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You would assume when it comes to car insurance that the most important aspect in determining your insurance premium would be the number of accidents you’ve had in the past, right? WRONG! According to CNN Money, that might be the NEXT important thing after your level of education.

After studying the five major insurers in 12 cites, the Consumer Federation of America found that major insurers charged a safer driver with less education and a lower paying job higher premiums two-thirds of the time. In most cases the premiums were 25% higher, however in some cases the premium was double.

In one instance studied by the CFA, two women of the same age and with the same salary requested quotes from Allstate in Baltimore with the only evident difference being that one was married with a master’s degree, while the other was single with only a high school education. The woman with the master’s degree was quoted $1,248 compared to $3,292 for the high school graduate. Even though, the woman with only the high school education had a flawless 10-year driving record and the college graduate had recently caused an accident.

Surprisingly, other income-related factors like occupation were also weighted more heavily than driving-related factors like miles on the road.

Although I’m not sure how being more educated correlates with being a better driver, especially with all traffic tickets, getting a break on car insurance sounds good to me.

Whether you’re a college grad or not, per the advice of the Double Saving Divas, you’d want to ensure you shop around to find the best rate. Speaking of the Divas, be sure to check out Madame Noire Business and the Double Saving Divas money-saving chat on our Facebook page.

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Look around your house and you’ll probably find at least a half dozen things that you don’t need. Those items might not mean much to you, but they could have more value than you think.

We’re always looking for ways to save money. Enter Cristin Frank, who we’ve spoken to before and was willing to pull together a few tips to elaborate further. A blogger and author, she’s all about reducing waste and debt. After the jump, she has suggestions for making the most of the items that you already have, whether you repurpose them or sell them. Read on for more!

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Stuff is expensive. So where you can cut corners and still live as you like, you should. And in some cases, saving money is so easy, you won’t even notice the difference. Heck, it might even be better than spending the extra ducats.

Here, we offer up some suggestions that will allow you to save some money while hanging on to some of the finer things that you’ve gotten used to. You might even have a little fun while you’re at it.

And let us know about any of your money-saving tips. We’d love to include them in a future story.

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One of the nine ways that we suggested you can improve your game this year is to take the “52-Week Money Challenge.” One woman, Kassondra Perry-Moreland, decided to take the challenge for the New Year. After posting her intentions on Facebook, Kassondra’s 52 Week Savings Challenge has gone viral, with people from around the world joining in. Black Enterprise offers us the details.

From Kassondra’s 52 Week Savings Facebook Challenge

“When a 47-year-old, 911 dispatcher went to sleep on Dec. 31, 2012, she was like many of us: a hard-working woman struggling to understand why after 23 years on the job she had nothing to show for it,” the article says. “When Kassondra woke up on January 1, 2013, her prayer was answered.”

The group is not just a chronicle of how much people are saving, but how. To learn more, and maybe get a few tips about how you can participate, go to BlackEnterprise.com.

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Did you ever live on campus with a roommate? Move in with a best friend? Or even live with someone you met on Craigslist? Well, if you fall into any one those categories, you’ve definitely experienced your share of annoying roommate habits! Here are some of the most annoying roommate habits that will make you go crazy!

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Thrift shopping is a very cool endeavor that not only allows you to find one-of-a-kind pieces, but is eco-friendly as you recycle clothing items; but taking the time to search for items that you like, in your size, that are still of good quality can be quite a daunting task. There are often racks and racks of merchandise to be sifted through for that one great find. Yet, taking just a few key preparatory actions can make your shopping simpler, helping you to navigate in a way that scores you the best stuff.

Do your research – Check in with stylish friends, read blogs, do Google searches, read reviews at the Better Business Bureau website, post questions on social media. Whatever your preferred method, find out where the reputable thrift stores are in your area—ones that have been in business for a while, and are known for quality merchandise with fair prices. If you want to dig a little deeper, you may even be able to find the ones that suit your style specifically—whether you are looking for high-end items, items of a certain style or even from a specific decade.

Get friendly with the owner/staff – Thrift shop owners and staff are your absolute best resource at finding the items you want. They take in the merchandise from donations, they are savvy about the history of the pieces they sell and they often know when or from whom pieces are coming. Half of the battle in shopping at thrift stores is getting to the merchandise before someone else can pick it up. Give yourself a leg up by being friendly so that you know when items are arriving—bonus if they offer to put items you would love aside for you to preview first. You’ll probably even learn a thing or two in the process about the designers you love, specific periods or collections, authenticating items, etc. depending on the store.

Look for unconventional ways to wear conventional items – Can that dress you spied also double as a top? Would that pair of men’s jeans have the perfect amount of ‘boyfriend’ style slouch? Can you rock that fedora with a feminine menswear inspired business look? Would that bulky sweater be great if it were belted? Keep your eyes open for opportunities to layer or transform items that make them look totally unique when you put your personal spin on them.

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A British journalist, Oliver Burkeman, conducted a little experiment: He left his credit cards at home for a few weeks in favor of going all-cash (or all-Pound, as it were). The idea is that people who use plastic spend more money than those who use hard currency.

According to Fox News, there is research to back up this belief. However, proving the “cause and effect” — using credit cards causes a consumer to spend more money — hasn’t been proven. “People who use plastic are often more affluent than average, while people who pay in cash sometimes do so because they have no choice. Perhaps they can’t get approved for a card because their finances are in a mess, and consequently they endure serious liquidity constraints,” the article says.

Moreover, there’s the suggestion that people who use credit cards think differently about their purchases, taking features and benefits into greater account. Those using cash, the research asserts, think foremost about price. Perhaps. But surely, anyone spending money on an item would be willing to spend a little more, if possible, to ensure that what they’re buying won’t fall apart right away.

We would recommend that you try and use cash as much as possible, especially if you are living on a tight budget (saving for a big purchase, trying to pay down debt). It’s really mental. When you think about your lush, green dollars slipping from your hand and into that cash register, you can’t help but to ponder a little more closely whether the purchase really needs to be made. And, once the purchases are made and your wallet is empty, it’s much easier to see where your money went. How many times have you looked at your bank statement and had your memory refreshed — Oh yeah. I spent $50 on drinks with friends on Thursday. And $75 on that dress on Saturday. And $50 on that fancy body lotion I treated myself to in celebration of surviving a rainy Monday. You’ll wish you’d just gone right down the block and gotten some Nivea.

The story points out some clear benefits to using plastic. If you run into a problem with a purchase, you have a record of it. A lost card can be replaced whereas money is gone forever. And the rewards can add up to a nice little something.

But with all of these perks, what’s really important is strategy. For instance, you have a card that offers points, which can be redeemed toward an airline ticket. Perhaps you decide that all of your clothing, restaurant and salon purchases for the next six months will go on the card. There’s no need for an extra pair of boots, an additional night out on the town, or an extra deep conditioner. The point is to get something extra. If you spend the cost of the airline ticket on all these extraneous items, what have you gained? If you find that you’re not earning enough points, maybe start putting your groceries or gas purchases on the card; things that you would normally buy anyway. The point is to make the money you spend every day go a little farther. But keep in mind: credit cards charge interest. If you can, pay off the bill in full every month. Then, you’re really taking advantage of that bonus.

Credit and debit cards definitely have their advantages, so we wouldn’t say you should swear them off entirely. But if you have spending issues, you have to take that into account when you’re budgeting your credit card expenditures. If you go swipe happy, you’ll eventually get very, very sad.

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Michelle Thornhill’s first trip abroad — in fact, her first time on an airplane — was for a visit to Finland when she was 17 years old. It was not only a voyage beyond her familiar surroundings, it was an eye-opening experience that Thornhill, now the senior VP of Diverse Segments for Wells Fargo, describes as “transformative.”

In a special guest column, Thornhill offers advice for making the international excursion of your dreams a reality. From the start, you have to be prepared for one thing above all else: “tradeoffs.”

 Click through to the next page to read on.

Source: ABC 6 News Indiana

For the past fifteen years an Indianapolis godmother has been collecting pennies in an effort to save up for her goddaughter’s college tuition. How many pennies did this godmother collect? Five hundred thousand.

ABC6 News in Indiana reports:

In 1997, Faith Hammock, 40, began saving spare change in an effort she called Pennies From Heaven so that her goddaughter, Kyla Gilbert, could someday attend college. Hammock was born with a brain condition and is mentally disabled.

When Gilbert was just 3-years-old, Hammock began collecting rolls, baskets and fists full of pennies, and once she spread the word, more donations began pouring in.

“Faith even had us picking up pennies off the street. If we see pennies on the street, you got to pick them up,” said Hammock’s mother, Janice Mays.

The years of hard work and determination by her family have paid off for Gilbert, RTV6’s Chance Walser reported.

“All this hard work that they’ve put in to me, I had to put it into something else and show them that I’m a good student. They are investing in me and they are investing in something good,” Gilbert said.

On Sunday, Hammock presented Gilbert with a check for $5,000, the culmination of a nearly two-decade penny collection.

“She is about to go to college in the fall, and I’m going to be happy for her,” Hammock said.

As an honors high school graduate, Hammock will be attending Indiana University in the fall with hopes of one day becoming a nurse.

“She’s kept me going for years and years. I just don’t know what I would do without her. I’m so happy to have her. I wouldn’t want any other godmother,” Gilbert said.

Along with the pennies from heaven, Gilbert has earned other scholarships and said her entire college tuition is nearly paid in full.

Gilbert said she plans to use Hammock’s donation for room and board.

Five thousand dollars is a lot of money to save in bills, let alone pennies!  This sort of diligence is incredibly inspiring. I wonder if the godmother saved other change too and has about 10-grand for herself in dimes, nickels, and quarters! Seriously, what a heartwarming story. This girl is lucky to have a selfless godmother like that. I hope she does well in college.

Do you save change? Does this story make you want to start?

Alissa Henry is a freelance writer living in Columbus, OH. Follow her on Twitter @AlissaInPink

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