Michelle Singletary Quotes

If we aren't careful, our children will come down with 'affluenza,' a disease that causes them to confuse wants and needs. We need to teach our children what my grandmother taught me: Think twice about spending money you don't have on things you don't need to impress people you don't like anyway.

A foreclosure does not define you financially.

You are rich if you have enough to meet your most basic needs. You are rich if you have access to clean water, food, shelter, love, a roof over your head.You have to count your blessings to see that you are richer than you think.

I like the idea of having a paperless society.But to be paperless means you have to be so careful with your identity.

I'm driving my old car until I'm on a first name basis with the low tow truck drivers!

Money may not be able to buy you love, but conflicts about it can certainly bankrupt your relationship.

My first piece of career advice is find your gifting. Find the thing that you are skilled at and figure out if you can make a living doing it.

You made a decision given your life circumstances and you have to be ok with that. Regrets that can't be change is just torturing yourself.

You shouldn't invest the money if you are looking to use it within five years. Too much risk.

Priorities lead to prosperity.

I use a "Debt Dash" approach to paying off debt. I recommend people focus on paying off the debt with the lowest balance first. So if the primary has less debt you would focus on that.

I understand and respect people who say they want to boycott the Trump brand. I also respect your right to buy his products. But what you miss is that no one in public office, Hilary or Trump should use that platform to profit themselves. In Trump's case there are serious concerns about the conflict of interest in his brand and business ownership. Do we really want a president who had products he can push while working for the American people?

I also admire my pastor, John K. Jenkins Sr. (First Baptist Church of Glenarden). My pastor taught me the importance of tithing and giving back, that it has to be at the top of my budget. And he is one of the most generous folks I know.

My kids have to maintain good grades. They have to be involved in activities. They have to report to me how thing are going. I watch for any activity that would steer them wrong - drinking, drugs, etc. So their skin in the game is knowing the money won't be there if they don't do their part.

You know me and I have a pension. It provides some comfort but only some. It's still not enough to live off completely but it sure will help. But I'll say this. I try to forget about it and save like a maniac because I want the assurance of having other pots of money.

I usually find that my gut doesn't steer me wrong when it comes to my money!

We have to protect ourselves by doing our own homework.

I'm not a fan of debt consolidation. In my experience, many people "clear" credit cards and other debt to get the one payment and never change what they need to change to prevent getting into debt again.

To get started, track your expenses for a couple of months. Then you should be able to start filling in your estimated debits and deposits for the next few months. Once you get it rolling for a while, you will be able to see your budget for the upcoming months reflected in the estimated totals. You can even notice year-to-year trends, like bonuses, tax bills, etc. that come up routinely and it will help you budget accordingly.

I write for people who are good money managers and want to know how to be even better stewards over their money.

I've found that when you can quickly knock out debt you get motivated because you see progress. Then you attack the other debt so fast that even if it's at a higher interest rate, you don't end up paying much more because you've gotten rid of it.

Policy changes like what you desire come from our politicians. So let them know what you think.

I've decided to keep working until my last kid is thu college.

If you'll have enough saved and nobody has to take on debt and you want to retire, shoot go for it.

When you give people who are being financially responsible money, you are enabling them to continue a bad habit. So you are actually helping by saying, "Love you but no."

Set up rules for when you will "give" not lend money. Never lend. My people know that I'll help with college. I'll help if they lose they job thu no fault of their own.

You'll feel better when you get all that debt off your back.

[My grandmother] managed her money better than some financial professionals I know. I give credit always to her because she is the reason I have my column and national recognition.

So many people joke that life with me - a professed lifelong penny pincher - must be tough. But [my husband] is a great money manager. And he helps me let go of my fear of spending while still being frugal.

Having kids doesn't mean they would have taken care o you.

We know intellectually that money can't buy happiness yet we spend and go into debt as if it does.

The rich are depressed because they realize their money can't buy them out of their issues.

I love teaching people how to handle their money and I've built a brand on that skill.

Don't let people scare you from a career that may not net you a six figure salary. If you want to be a teacher, teach. But knowing that your salary may only reach a certain level, do all that you can to become the best money manager you can be.

Kids can and are a blessing. But plenty of people without kids live and die just as happy.

You still need to save but being debt-free in retirement is and should be a goal.

Once you finish paying for college you could reduce your life insurance.

We all fall - even me.

I think you can save and spend to live for however long you live. You just have to be flexible if things don't go as plan.

Save what you can toward the emergency and life happens fund. But don't worry yourself sick at the slow growth. The point is it's growing even it's just one dollar at at time.

I just don't like people taking debt into retirement.

If you haven't saved, your child may have to work. But do what you can to NEVER take out student or parent loans.

If we don't want the companies to cheat on us, we shouldn't be cheating on them.

You are NOT a financial failure if you rent. You are getting something for your money. A roof over your head.

I'm keenly aware of how important it is to set a good example. You may not think that your kids are paying attention to you, especially with something like money, but they probably are.

The number of those 19 to 25 with private insurance increased from 51 to 55.8 percent, and the percentage of uninsured fell from 33.9 percent in 2010 to 28.8 percent during the first half of 2011.

Having a separate fund for the things in life that happen, helps keep the emergency fund in tact in case you lose your job or income.

I will just say, no matter where you buy the car, do your homework. When I purchase a car I come in with a folder an inch thick. In fact, one time the auto sales person asked if he could copy my research!

My rule is when in doubt hire a professional. You could do it just this year and then you have direction to resume doing it yourself after the consultation. What you don't want is to do it wrong and be hit by a huge tax bill. Remember the old saying, "Don't be pennywise and pound foolish."

My grandmother was extremely smart when it came to money, but she also worried a lot about not having enough. So it's with her in mind that I aim to explain complicated financial things so the folks like her won't be afraid to make certain money moves.