A close friend of mine started a really charming tradition. Every morning she writes out a gratitude list and emails it to her friends and family. She sits down quietly with herself, and jots down all the things in her life that she is thankful for. It can be as deep as "I'm grateful for the love and openness I share with my husband," or something light and joyful like "I'm grateful for Read more

Money clubs are a great and fun way to stay on top of your finances. With friends supporting you, you can conquer the world and money issues! LearnVest shares how you can start one. Thea, 31, a lawyer, lives in Brooklyn, NY. Although her friends are, in her own words, “bright, savvy, awesome women,” many felt lost financially — much like she did. “In fact, almost all of them knew someone Read more

Want to know the secret to success? The formula is part positive thinking and part self-awareness. It's easy to become jaded when life gets tough, but don't get caught up in negative thoughts because it may hinder your progress. Seeing the world as a glass half empty may lead you to give up easier and not try as hard because you may think that it's pointless to even make an attempt. Here's how Read more

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy! At first glance, it doesn’t seem like there are many money lessons to learn from The Real Housewives. One spent a season building a $1.8 million mansion and driving around a $1,280-per-month Escalade, only to file for bankruptcy with almost $11 million in debt. Shortly postbankruptcy, she dropped another $60,000 on a shopping Read more

Happiness is something you can't put a price on, and it's something you shouldn't take for granted. Despite what you think, no fancy car, flashy bling, or other material possessions will make you happy. True happiness has to come from within and just like most things in life, it takes effort and hard work to achieve it. Here are eight simple steps to becoming a happier person: Stop being Read more

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy! We all agree that time is more valuable than money. At least, that’s what we say. Then we turn around and spend hours watching bad TV we’re not even that interested in. Or 45 minutes on the phone with customer service fighting a $5 charge. Or years in a relationship or friendship we stopped feeling fulfilled by long ago. But Read more

To tip or not to tip, that is the question everyone is thinking about during this holiday season. Although we're emerging from the recession, the economy is still not a pretty picture. So how much should we tip others when we're carefully watching our purse strings? Here are some rules you should follow: Tip what you can afford. If you can't afford to tip, think about alternatives such as Read more

We're thrilled to present this smart Kiplinger story here on Savvy! 1. Give the traditional way. PayPal? Forget it. An end-of-the-year tip should be handed over in person. Tuck the money (crisp, new bills are a plus) into a card with a handwritten note expressing your appreciation. If you can’t do it face-to-face — in the case of, say, the newspaper deliverer who passes by at 4 a.m. — mail Read more

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy! As the holidays approach (just seven weeks away!), you’re only getting more prepared. If you’ve been following our weekly Guerrilla Guide to the Holidays, you’ve already made your travel plans and selected the perfect gifts for everyone on your list. And it’s only the first week of November. Since you definitely Read more

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy! Don’t look now, but here come the holidays (really, they’re just 10 weeks away!). This year, we’re going to make planning and budgeting for them a snap. That’s why we’re starting early to help you tackle the season step by step — and save time, money and stress. If you follow our Guerrilla Guide each week, we promise Read more