• About
    • Archives
    • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Building Your Wealth
  • Economics Basics
  • Melissa Recommends
  • Copyright
Critical Financial

A Financial Guide to America in the 21st Century

  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Pinterest

Do You Want To Build Credit?

Do You Want To Build Credit?

Jul 16th, 2020 · 0 Comment
  Do you know what to do to build credit and establish yourself as a good credit risk? Believe it or not, the way you approach a small...
more →
Four male Funko Pops.

The Funko Pop Craze: Are They Worth It? (Critical Financial’s Review)

Nov 14th, 2023 · 0 Comment
Funko Pops are fun, low-cost toys that kids know and love, partly because there are so many different figures—from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer... more →

Caveat emptor – Anton Kreil May Not Be Worth His $3,000 Price Tag

Oct 19th, 2023 · 23 Comments
Everyone wants to be the king when it comes to day trading. Some people build their fortunes over years of hard work and dedication, while success... more →
Old Person's Hands on a Keyboard

How to Start or Rebuild Retirement Savings in Your 40s

Oct 19th, 2023 · 0 Comment
My husband and I didn’t start saving for retirement until our early 30s. We’ve had a slow start, and we’re still working hard to build... more →

The Wonders of Walmart Check Cashing

Oct 6th, 2023 · 0 Comment
In recent years, direct deposit has begun to take over most forms of transactions. For the rest of us, well, we still have to take a physical... more →
Plumber installing a new faucet in a bathroom sink

How to Save for and Afford Home Repairs

Sep 19th, 2023 · 0 Comment
Too many prospective homeowners look at the price of the home and the monthly mortgage payment to determine how much house they can afford.... more →
start investing

How Old Must You Be to Start Investing?

Sep 11th, 2023 · 0 Comment
If investing is something that holds your interest, you may have already done some reading and research about the topic. One of the key ingredients... more →
how do you know if a company is worth investing in

How to Know if a Company Is Worth Investing In

Aug 31st, 2023 · 0 Comment
  How to know if a company is worth investing in? It’s not enough to know a company’s worth–smart investing involves researching... more →
Magnifying glass over a 1040 IRS tax form.

3 Reasons to Keep Your Receipts

Aug 15th, 2023 · 0 Comment
Do you keep your receipts? For appliances and other large purchases, I keep them for approximately a month—long enough to verify I’m keeping... more →
The Lottery Mentality, building wealth

Building Wealth From Nothing; Take Action, Avoid The Lottery Mentality

Jul 30th, 2023 · 7 Comments
Successful Lottery winners look really happy when they pose with their oversized checks for the cameras. The untold story is that many of them... more →
Blocks that spell out

9 Strategies for Achieving Work-Life Balance While Advancing Your Career

Jul 4th, 2023 · 0 Comment
For most of us, the time we work hardest to establish our careers coincides with when we get married and have and raise children. Juggling both... more →
Black paper with a piece rolled back to reveal the words

The Perils of Short-Term Investments

Jun 20th, 2023 · 0 Comment
  Three years ago, we received $8,000. We earmarked that money for an international trip to see family. However, due to the pandemic, we... more →
The side of a hotel with a large sign that reads

4 Tips and Considerations for Acquiring a Profitable Hotel Property

Jun 6th, 2023 · 0 Comment
Investing in real estate is an excellent way to grow your portfolio. Most investors may look at a house or duplex for rental purposes, but hotels... more →

Do you need to tip a house painter?

May 25th, 2023 · 1 Comment
When it is time to repaint, is it good etiquette to tip a house painter? Some people are more prone to tip, while others feel the base price... more →

How Long Can You Go Over Your Oil Change?

May 25th, 2023 · 2 Comments
Do you need an oil change and you’re worried about having to delay it? Many things can go wrong with your automobile–brakes wear... more →
Airplane taking off

How We’re Learning to Travel for Free with Credit Card Points

May 23rd, 2023 · 0 Comment
This year, my husband will travel to Japan once by himself. Then, a few months later, our family of five will go to Japan. We knew this summer... more →
Asian couple shaking hands with a female real estate agent.

3 Immediate Steps to Do If Your Real Estate Agent Lies

May 9th, 2023 · 0 Comment
Selling or buying a house is one of the most significant financial transactions you will make. You want a real estate agent working for you... more →
Picture of money, the corner of a tax refund check, and a tax form.

How to Spend a Tax Refund

Apr 18th, 2023 · 0 Comment
This year, my husband and I were worried that we might owe taxes. Instead, to our surprise, we received a several thousand dollars refund. We... more →
Person holding a smartphone with

Stay Alert and Avoid Job Scams: How to Spot the Red Flags and Protect Yourself

Apr 4th, 2023 · 0 Comment
Applying for a job is more complicated now than it used to be. Previously, you would find a job in newspaper advertisements, send your resume,... more →
Man in an Airport Looking out at a plane landing

Why We’re Considering Travel Insurance

Mar 21st, 2023 · 0 Comment
My husband and I have traveled to several continents, and never used travel insurance. However, we haven’t traveled internationally in approximately... more →
Picture of scales with gold coins on one side and a small wooden house on the other side.

3 Things to Know Before Buying a House with Delinquent Taxes

Mar 7th, 2023 · 0 Comment
Real estate is often considered an investment, especially in one’s retirement. You buy a house, pay on it for 30 years, and when you’re... more →
1 2 3 … 30 Next »

About the Author

Melissa is a writer and virtual assistant. She earned her Master’s from Southern Illinois University, and her Bachelor’s in English from the University of Michigan. When she’s not working, you can find her homeschooling her kids, reading a good book, or cooking. She resides in Arizona where she dislikes the summer heat but loves the natural beauty.


Critical Financials’ Basic Personal Finance Rules

Here are some simple guidelines that will help you build wealth:  

1) Do the math. Get a budget and calculate your net worth

2) Get an emergency fund. Save at least 6 months worth of expenses

3) Limit costs. Spend no more than 30% of your income on housing

4) Max your retirement. Maximize contributions to your tax-deferred retirement accounts

5) Pay yourself first. Set aside money for yourself before you take care of your other bills

6) Set goals. Goal let you get ahead faster

7) Avoid high interest debt. Avoid credit cards, title loans and other usurious loans

8) Diversify. Diversity your assets.

Support Our Advertisers

Need to change careers? Consider an Accounting Certificate Program at WTI

© 2012 to 2023 Critical Financial. All rights reserved.

Criticalfinancial.com is a District Media site.