| I have student loans and a wee bit of credit card debt. And although I’ve never missed a payment, never been late, and always pay more than the minimum amount due, it felt for years and years like I was never getting ahead, never making a dent. Then I switched from the “avalanche” method to the “snowball” method of paying off debt, and everything changed. It was like the sun came out — and this neat little trick might work for you, too. Are you content being the tortoise in the tortoise-and-the-hare scenario? Or are you a person who needs to see immediate results in order to stay the course?Conventional wisdom says you should pay off debts by focusing on loans or balances with the highest interest rates first — the "avalanche" method — since that saves interest in the long run. But some people may get discouraged or give up when it takes longer to see a debt paid off. If that’s you, switch to the "snowball" method. You’ll pay off balances faster, which keeps you motivated. Casey Bond, our new Money reporter, explains. But don't neglect the future We don’t mean to scare you. Actually, we mean to terrify you. Do you know that 21 percent of adult Americans have no money at all saved for retirement? If you’re young, your current circumstances and immediate needs probably make saving for retirement right now seem impossible. And if you’re not young, maybe you think it’s too late to catch up, money is tight, or you’re just planning to work longer and wing it.Unfortunately, every day you delay will hurt you in the long run. And if you need some motivation to get on it — or to increase your contributions — we’ve got 11 numbers that will terrify you into saving for retirement right this minute. It’s one of the most important things you can ever do. The actual sales price of a house isn’t what matters most when you’re buying a home. If you can budget about $2,000 per month for your mortgage, you could afford a $397,000 loan today. But in mid-September, you could have afforded a $430,000 loan. The difference is the mortgage interest rate, and we’ve got everything you need to know about how it works — and what it means if you’re selling or buying this year. You know how much you earn. You know your credit score, too. But do you know your net worth? Having your entire life boiled down to a single number can seem intimidating, but that’s exactly what your net worth does: It’s an indicator of your overall financial health, and a good marker to see if you’re on track to reach your goals. Here’s how to calculate your own net worth.
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