Question: We are having trouble paying our bills, and we are concerned about losing our home. I’ve heard something about homesteading your property so that nobody can take it away from you through a lawsuit or something like that. How do we go about homesteading our house to protect it if we can’t afford...
Read More »

A wicked combination of bad weather and rising fuel prices will have you paying more for many items at the grocery store. via HeraldNet.com – Work: Bad weather, fuel costs raise food prices in Snohomish County.
Read More »

Groupon is the mother of all daily deal sites, with a rapidly growing number of competitors. The concept is simple: A product or service is offered at a discounted rate, but the deal only goes through if enough people buy it. The businesses make out — in theory — on volume, while the buyers...
Read More »

Jobs aren’t exactly pouring out of every corner of the market right now. Whether you need a full-time job, a part-time bill payer, new clients for your business, or a second job, the market is tight even for the most qualified candidates. This means that in order to be considered for a job now,...
Read More »

The latest unemployment numbers continue to show weakness in Whatcom County’s job market, a troubling sign heading into the prime spring and summer months. via Whatcom unemployment rises; expert sees trouble behind numbers – Business News – bellinghamherald.com.
Read More »

Unemployment continued to rise in Snohomish County in February, climbing slightly to 10.3 percent, the state Employment Security Department reported Thursday. via HeraldNet.com – Work: Unemployment in Snohomish County climbs again, to 10.3 percent.
Read More »

You don’t have to be an expert to manage your money and prepare for life’s unexpected twists and turns… via 10 Quick Pickups for Your Personal Finances – Megan McArdle – Business – The Atlantic.
Read More »

We’ve kept chickens on our small 3-acre farm for over five years. I grew up raising them, so I’m comfortable with the ins and outs of the practice. As food gets increasingly pricey, and consumers turn to organic and free-range for their egg and poultry needs, a backyard flock is becoming more popular each...
Read More »

Last year Congress passed the massive Dodd-Frank bill as a response to the reckless actions of Wall Street and to establish protections for consumers. But some of the new regulations will cost banks significant revenue, and stories are running rampant on proposals banks are considering to recoup costs — each at the consumer’s expense....
Read More »

The good news is that, on the average, very few people get audited by the IRS. Better still for some of us, the less money you make, the less likely you are to be audited. According to the IRS, for Tax Year 2009, if you made less than $200,000, you had a slightly lower...
Read More »