Common 'Cents'

Money makes the world go round … right?

It would make sense, then, that sometimes money can become a major worry in our lives.

Teenagers worry if they have enough money to put gas in their (parent’s) cars or to take their dates out to a movie.

College kids worry about the loans they’ll have once they graduate and if they’ll be able to find a job that pays enough to let them live comfortably … while they pay back those loans.

Newlyweds worry about saving enough money for a new house and how they’ll be able to afford mortgage payments.

New parents worry about the cost of diapers and formula and wonder when they should start a college account for their baby so little Johnny or Julie doesn’t have the huge loans Mom and Dad  still are paying off.

Older adults worry about retirement and whether they’ll have to work until they’re 75 … or if the money will ever run out.

While money can be a blessing, it sometimes can feel like a curse — especially for those who don’t know how to take advantage of opportunities to make their money grow.

Our October issue is dedicated to helping you learn just a little bit more about your money and how it can work for you. Our cover story introduces the basics of saving and investing with helpful tips from Adam Tetroe, a financial advisor at BMO Harris Bank, and Steve Middaugh and Noél Thelander, financial advisors with Edward Jones.

Speaking of tips, do you sometimes wonder how much to tip your waitress? Your cab driver? Your hair stylist? We talk to area service providers – plus the president of CouponCabin.com – to figure out just how much to tip in different situations.

We also share the success story of Carole and Ron Frazzetto of Huntley who – with the help of a financial advisor – were able to retire comfortably.

And we take a look at how money can do good things, like fund breast cancer research, which is an important issue for Danielle Toski of Cary and her family.

Hopefully, these stories will help you understand more about the blessings of money and how to manage yours wisely.

Of course, October is full of fun Oktoberfest, Halloween and other fall-related activities, so make sure to look over the many events you can attend with your family on our calendar page, and learn Halloween makeup tips from the owner of Fantasy Festival, a costume and magic shop in Algonquin.

Plus, we’ve got great tips on how to organize your home office in our monthly Home Design series, and we continue our Working It Out series with a look at how to get strong, sexy legs.

No matter where you are in your financial journey, I hope you remember that money isn’t everything … but I also hope you find helpful tips in these pages to manage what you do have.

Thanks for reading!

— Stephanie N. Grimoldby
Editor
sgrimoldby@shawmedia.com