sandwich generation

While the hype of Thanksgiving week shopping deals surmounts, it is important to remember all that glitters is not gold. In other words, regardless of how well-crafted the holiday shopping season is presented, frivolous spending — even in the spirit of the holiday — is not consequence...

As millennials and older generations gear up to save this holiday season, the decade's long tradition of the Black Friday and Thanksgiving evening sales rush has dwindled for 2016. While the Thanksgiving week sales are still newsworthy, the extravaganza had fewer participants. Some retailers even...

For an event so universal no person in recent history has escaped it, death remains one of the most shrouded, taboo and euphemized issues. Couple that with the "impolite" conversation topic of finances, the negative reputation the funeral industry has received and the rampant emotions...

Long gone are traditional dowries, and coupled with the aging demographic of betrothed couples, so too are the customary financial roles. With the average American bride just over 25 and the average groom almost 27, many couples are expected to be financially independent in their own rights and...

Being productive does not have to be a massive undertaking. Quite counterintuitively, small steps often pave the way toward greater, more permanent change than massive, sweeping strides. Just as habitual psychology suggests making small changes slowly as opposed to embarking on an immediate 180...

It's amazing the allure of ignorance. People gravitate toward a life of "winging it" to escape the realities of the necessity of budgeting. Whether you make bank or barely enough to eke by every month, escapism is a Band-Aid that just delays the festering. It doesn't prevent...

While it's unpleasant to think about it, disasters happen. Things get stolen. Natural disasters leave homes unlivable and possessions beyond repair. That's why home and property insurance exist — to rebuild after things beyond our control leave us materially devastated. However,...

While the reasons vary and debt in and of itself is not an indicator of a person's character, cyclical debt is highly problematic. Unlike a single instance of debilitating debt caused by inexplicable bad fortune, cyclical debt is the yo-yo dieting of the financial realm. Individuals make poor money...

Members of the sandwich generation, take time to remember that the difficulties felt are virtually universal — from the older generation losing their independence but trying to maintain their sense of autonomy to the younger generation, trying to become independent for the first time....

Becoming a caregiver for anyone can be draining — emotionally, physically and even financially. But when the person in need of ‘round-the-clock assistance is a parent, the stakes become even higher. The decision should not be taken lightly, nor should it be fueled by emotions. Whether...

As summer continues to sizzle, your utility bills are likely to see an incremental spike over the next few months. However, if you have aging parents and are involved in their finances, you may be even more concerned about the increased expenses ahead. It’s important to realized that...

Taking care of another person, be it an aging parent, disabled child or extended relative who cannot live independently, can take its toll on the caregiver mentally, physically and financially. It is important to be aware that help is available to reduce the stress of these three commonly...

Employment has entered the retirement conversation in a new way. No longer does the topic only come up in an adverse existential way or through the negative (“I no longer am employed,” “employment was a part of who I used to be”), but it has become a continuation of the...

It’s a natural instinct to want to help those we love, particularly if we are in a position where that financial assistance is feasible. However, it’s often inadvisable to loan money to friends or family, and even more imprudent to co-sign on a debt. Keep in mind, that is exactly what...

While this holds true for everyone developing a spending plan/savings strategy, the crux of the matter is that for “Sandwichers” – the current demographic of adults with aging parents in need of financial support and their own young-adult children who aren’t yet...