In a tight economy, people are constantly looking for ways to save money, spend smarter, and earn a few extra dollars on the side. One of my friends, Eric Johnson, a technical trainer and supervisor in Des Moines, Iowa, uses several smartphone apps to make extra money by buying and selling merchandise online.

Eric is a savvy shopper, and he uses several smartphone apps to keep up with the latest deals (and sell merchandise to other people). Just like eBay used to be a popular way for people to make money by buying and selling merchandise, these smartphone apps are offering more efficient ways for people to find what they need – and for other people to earn a profit in the process.

Read the full post on Want to make money? Use these apps for a garage sale from your couch!.

There are so many new smartphone apps emerging each month, offering new ways to save money and spend smarter, that it’s often surprising to hear about an “obvious” app like the Amazon app. But just by using this simple app from one of the biggest online retailers, you can save money and shop smarter on your next big-ticket purchase.

We spoke with a friend, Todd Fox, who is an aerospace engineer in Houston, Texas, about how he uses the Amazon app to make his life easier whenever he’s in a store.

Read the full post on How to save money and shop smarter with the Amazon app.

Most Americans have credit cards or debit cards, and these little pieces of plastic have made it easier than ever before to make purchases and payments without using cash or checks – but now as more Americans are using smartphones, a new company called Dwolla is introducing a new way to pay.

Dwolla is a new online payment network that makes it possible for people to make purchases (and send money to friends or family) using a smartphone. Using Dwolla, you set up an online Dwolla account (from within the Dwolla website or mobile app) that connects directly to your bank account.

Read the full post on How Dwolla is giving people a new way to pay.

Smartphones are everywhere, and most smartphone users wouldn’t know how to live without them. Smartphones help us stay in contact with friends and loved ones, find our way around, and navigate the little challenges of everyday life. But did you know that your smartphone can also help you save money?

Smartphone apps and social media tools are offering many unique new ways for people to save money, often on everyday purchases that they’re already making. You might be surprised at how you can unlock the potential of your smartphone to help you save more money and have more fun at some of your favorite retail destinations.

Read the full post on These 4 social media smartphone apps can save you big money on everyday shopping.

Sports fans always complain about how their favorite pro athletes “hang on too long” before retiring, and how more guys ought to have the dignity to “go out on top.”

From Michael Jordan’s ill-fated comeback with the Washington Wizards to Brett Favre’s multiple non-retirements and the associated waffling and long goodbye, to Tiki Barber’s aborted attempt to make a comeback in the NFL after retiring a few years earlier, sports fans have seen many examples of athletes who couldn’t let go of the limelight.

Read the full post on Why pro athletes defy the rules of retirement planning.

Hurricanes, floods and wildfires are common natural disasters in the US, bringing with them loss of life and property damage running into the tens of millions. When we read about natural disasters in the newspapers, we don’t think that these things might happen to us. But they could occur at any time, so it is important for homeowners to be prepared. Here are 6 things every homeowner should do now to prepare for an emergency:

1. Make an Evacuation Plan

Read the full post on 6 Things Homeowners Should Do NOW to Prepare for an Emergency.

One of the most surprisingly entertaining and informative books I’ve read during the past few years was “A History of the World in Six Glasses,” by Tom Standage. This book is a history of six of humanity’s most popular drinks: beer, wine, liquor, coffee, tea and Coca-Cola. It discusses how each of these drinks were discovered/invented and how they came to be widely consumed.

There are interesting stories about the history and health effects of each drink, as well as the broader social trends that made each drink popular at each point in time. There’s a lot we can learn about human health and wellness by taking a closer look at these Six Glasses.

Read the full post on What can Six Drinks teach us about health and wellness?.

Right now, many of us are fighting to make it through the “I want it now” culture that tells us to spend today and worry about the consequences tomorrow. It’s just so easy to start living outside our means, hoping that eventually something will come through for us and help us get out from under a huge pile of debt that sometimes we get over our heads before we know what happened.

Read the full post on 4 Steps to Building a Personal Budget that Works.

Apple is one of the most admired, wealthy, valuable and powerful companies in the world. They are absolutely at the top of their game – their products have created entirely new industries and changed the way business is done in personal computers, movies, music, and mobile phone service. Apple has put computers in people’s pockets (with the iPhone) and brought Star Trek-like technology to life (with the iPad).

When you look at such a big, influential company like Apple, it can be hard to imagine how this company’s success might impact your life and your finances. But if you look closer, there are many lessons that we can learn from Apple as we try to improve our own financial condition.

Read the full post on What can Apple teach us about personal finance?.