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Dear Penny, I left my husband in 1990. We were in a bitter custody battle for two years before I left. I was awarded sole custody. He had visitation rights, which he never used. Long story short, he never saw our children from the time I left him. He was on Social Security Disability, which meant the children received money from Social Security. He had to pay child support, which he was behind on for several years. Child support enforcement was very new at that time in my state, so trying to get them to go after him became a nightmare. My attorney at the time had the support order changed so it came directly from his SSD check. For me, it was the end of a nightmare of endless court battles. We never got divorced. There was no reason other than I was mentally drained with him trying to financially ruin me. I raised three wonderful sons. Recently, my oldest son informed me that he was told my ex won a substantial amount of money in our state lottery. As I mentioned we are still marr...

November and December bring a slew of our favorite holidays. While we get nostalgic about Christmas trees and New Years’ parties, what we really love is the food. Cookies, brisket, droolworthy mashed potatoes, spicy hot chocolate — they’re all important parts of the holiday season. Do you show love by making a ton of food for friends and family at this time of year? Does your neighborhood or work place organize potluck gatherings? If so, a word of caution: Holiday meals are expected to cost more this year , so all that feasting could take a big bite out of your budget. Now’s a good time for some common-sense ways to save money, and your spice rack is a great place to start. Spices are an essential part of holiday cooking, but they can be so expensive. Herbs, too. With all your other holiday costs, why spend a ton of money on them? You can beat high costs with just a little organization and planning. Read through our tips before you start baking and cooking for Diwali, Thanksgiving...

Some of the links in this post are from our sponsors. We provide you with accurate, reliable information. Learn more about how we make money and select our advertising partners . If you’re an employer searching for talent, you’ll have to meet job seekers in the places they frequent. ZipRecruiter and Indeed are two of the top job boards that job seekers visit regularly. Some test the job market monthly; others explore it once or twice a week; and others are on ZipRecruiter and Indeed almost every day, looking for the right opportunity. While these two job posting websites are both hot spots for job seekers, there are some key differences in the way they work and the people they attract. Exploring these differences can help you get a firm idea of which job board you should direct more resources toward to find new talent quickly and efficiently. Our comparison of ZipRecruiter vs. Indeed will help you make an informed decision on which job board will suit your business needs best. Wha...

Some of the links in this post are from our sponsors. We provide you with accurate, reliable information. Learn more about how we make money and select our advertising partners . The job search can be overwhelming — for both job seekers and employers — with hundreds of sites, thousands of companies and millions of positions to sort through. And while some people can get lucky with the perfect network connection or an actual, physical job board at their school or community center, the rest of us have to put in more work to find or fill a job. There are several major websites that can be used, but in this article we’re going to compare two of the top online job-seeking websites: ZipRecruiter vs. Monster. Whether you’re looking for top-quality applicants or need to find the best job for yourself, this information will be able to help point you in the right direction. What is ZipRecruiter? ZipRecruiter has only been around for a little over a decade, but it has already positioned itse...

Quick Navigation A Guide to Understanding Robo-Advisors What Is a Robo-Advisor? How Do Robo-Advisors Work? How Do I Get Started with a Robo-Advisor? How Much Do Robo-Advisors Cost? What Do Robo-Advisors Do? Pros and Cons of Robo-Advisors Should I Use a Robo-Advisor? Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) This article was reviewed by Robin Hartill, CFP®. Saving for your retirement at an early age is an important step toward financial freedom in your golden years, but with an alphabet soup of IRA, SEC and 401(k), many younger investors find themselves stumped. Turning to a human financial advisor used to be the sole way of getting help with an investment portfolio — until the rise of the robot, er, robo-advisor, that is. A Guide to Understanding Robo-Advisors Robo-advisors are gaining in popularity because they are cheap and accessible and often have much lower minimum investment requirements than traditional financial services. In this guide, we cover topics that will hel...

Freelance bartending is a great side gig for the holidays that doesn’t require bartending school and can earn you good extra money whether you’re working large events or something more intimate. Freelance bartenders can make anywhere from $20 to $50 per hour — and sometimes more — according to freelance bartenders we interviewed. That’s before tips, and those can bring in serious extra cash. “You definitely can make really good money bartending if you’re at the right place and you network,” said Nicole Freimuth, a freelance bartender in Chapel Hill, N.C. Do you know folks who want to hire bartenders at their private events? Friends who don’t want the hassle of mixing drinks while mingling at their own party? Read on to learn the ins and outs of being a freelance bartender. Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Freelancer Bartender? While freelance bartenders aren’t required to get special training, they do need other key skills such as a good personality, networking chops, a steady ha...

Some of the links in this post are from our sponsors. We provide you with accurate, reliable information. Learn more about how we make money and select our advertising partners . Micro-investing apps can be a great way to get your money in the stock market — even if you’re tight on cash or have little to no investing experience. But not all investing apps are created equal. Micro-investing works by consistently allocating small sums of money to an investment portfolio. It sounds simple, but each app has different fees, features and flexibility. If you’re interested in starting small, check out our list of the best micro-investing apps of 2021 to compare your options side-by-side and find one that works for you. Best Micro-Investing Apps of 2021 App Best for Account Minimum Fees Ease of Use Stash Hands-on investors $0 $1 to $9 monthly fee Very easy SEE DETAILS SoFi Invest Free investing $0 $0 Very easy SEE DETAILS Acorns Beginners ...