Manisha Thakor

In response to my last post about Jean Chatzky's delightful new book, Money Rules: The Simple Path to Lifelong Security, many of you wrote to me to share the money rules that had made the biggest difference in your life.

That got me thinking, "What are...

When economic times were flush, it felt relatively easy to figure out the next financial move to make. Today it feels like many of us are on a rapidly moving financial freeway with poor money signage.

Should you...

Have you ever wondered how your life might be different if you had All The Money In The World? In her new book by that same name, Laura Vanderkam turns that question on its head. Instead, Laura, who is also the critically-acclaimed author of

Last week my hubby and I had dinner with our dear friends Harry and Olivia. Towards the end of the meal Harry asked a very interesting question.

"When you pick up a menu, what side do...

Would you like to experience less (financial) stress and more (money) joy this holiday season?

If you're a flexible spending account (FSA) user, there's an easy way for you to get both: take a look at your current FSA account balance...

photo by Juliancolton2

"Where is the Life we have lost in living?
Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?
Where is the knowledge we have lost...

Can focusing on your health help you to pay less in taxes?  If your employer offers a healthcare flexible spending account ("FSA") and you elect to participate, the answer is yes!

Toward the end of the year I am frequently asked about...

What can four drunk airplane passengers, first time parents, and a delightful new book called Celebrity, Inc. do for your wallet?

Plenty.

Let me start with the drunks and new parents. Monday night I boarded a very delayed flight from Houston...

My husband and I recently finished a 2,200 mile motorcycle ride from Seattle, Washington to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Our journey was part vacation and part intervention for my ongoing struggle with workaholism. On the back of the bike, all...

My friend Marla is turning 50 this year. As she approaches menopause, this savvy fitness buff decided to explore acupuncture as a way to moderate her hormonal swings. When I learned that acupuncture is a practice that stems back to China's Neolithic Age, (c. 8000-3500 BC), I...

In the world of personal finance, we are often told what we should do. Alas, with the seemingly endless number of positive steps you can take, that approach can sometimes leave you feeling...

Eighteen month ago, I began working out in the gym with a functional trainer. His name is Michael and he has changed my life. His training philosophy is rooted in a belief that many pieces of modern exercise...

At the end of this summer, my husband and I flew into Houston's Hobby airport. We were coming in for his oral surgery appointment (to extract two teeth ... ouch!).  So as we landed in the 100-degree heat, we were not...

Given the choppy economic environment, a lot of people are asking what's the best place to invest. If you have high interest debt (or heck, pretty much any debt), paying that off is a great deal. It gives you a guaranteed return on whatever your interest rate is.

But what...

There are thousands of personal finance books, magazines, radio and TV shows.  Yet money anxiety persists. No one is immune.

Financial fear lurks in the once safe nooks and crannies of our daily lives. Millions of hardworking Americans are living paycheck-to-paycheck. With economic uncertainty so high, even those with emergency...

It's that time of year again, open enrollment period.  This is the annual window where you can sign up for, or adjust, your participation in a variety of employee benefits that range from traditional health insurance to one of my favorites--flexible...

For me it was reading Gabrielle Bernstein's latest work, aptly titled Spirit Junkie.  The book chronicles Gabrielle's personal journey from spiritually confused party girl to radically transformed believer in the...

Ask a working parent how they feel about summer and you may be surprised. Thoughts of beaches, barbeques, and balmy days at the ballpark are often overshadowed by something much less exotic - concerns about childcare.

57 percent of men entering the workforce negotiate their salaries, while only 7 percent of women do.

Ouch. This is one of the many powerful messages I took away from Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg's riveting TEDwomen presentation on why we have too few women leaders. I...

Do you ever worry about ending up "a bag lady"?

If so, you are not alone. And if current trends don't change, that fear is not entirely irrational.

Last week Merrill Lynch hosted an online presentation about the state of women & retirement. In our CrazyBusy 24/7 world it's so...