We have to protect ourselves by doing our own homework. Michelle Singletary More Quotes by Michelle Singletary More Quotes From Michelle Singletary You'll feel better when you get all that debt off your back. Michelle Singletary debtfeel-betterfeels My writing is definitely influenced by and speaks to African-Americans because that is who I am. I'm black. I'm a black woman. I'm a black mother, wife, churchgoer, etc. I am the legacy of slavery. Michelle Singletary who-i-ammotherwriting I write for people who are good money managers and want to know how to be even better stewards over their money. Michelle Singletary wantwritingpeople I write for anybody struggling to manage their money. Michelle Singletary managestrugglewriting My grandmother's grandparents were slaves. My grandmother Big Mama would tell me about the stories she heard as a child growing up in the shadows of a North Carolina plantation. It's only been in my lifetime that blacks have had the right to vote, live in certain areas or hold certain jobs. It is with this black history that I write about the financial challenges African-Americans still have. Michelle Singletary growing-upjobschildren I understand why many are still poor or struggling to make just a middle-income lifestyle. I'm a fiscal conservative, but I also have compassion for people who make financial mistakes. Michelle Singletary compassionstrugglemistake My Big Mama is my No. 1 financial role model. Much of my advice stems from what she taught me. She never made more than $13,000 a year, yet she paid off her home before she retired. She saved money from every paycheck. She taught me to be skeptical. It makes me cry to think that I'm a nationally syndicated personal finance columnist for one of the world's best newspapers and my core advice comes from my black grandmother who was a nurse's aide with just a high school education. Michelle Singletary grandmotherhomeschool [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. Michelle Singletary creditgrandmothergiving 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. Michelle Singletary husbandletting-gopeople 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. Michelle Singletary baptistschurchgiving Not all Trump supporters are bigots. They believe he had something to offer. I may disagree. You may disagree but we need to be civil to each other. Use the facts to make your point. I had read that the clothes made by some of the brands use sweatshops. Facts folks not feelings. We all have to live with each other and our choices. Michelle Singletary choicesfeelingsbelieve You can't time the market. Michelle Singletary You need to know everything. You both need to be comfortable with sharing everything. If you can't you are NOT ready to get married. Michelle Singletary marriedreadyneeds 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! Michelle Singletary homeworkcar 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. Michelle Singletary comforthelpingtrying My experience may be different than theirs, readers can identify with trying to save for retirement or their own kid's college fund. In truth, the name of the column, "The Color of Money," has less to do with my race than the fact that the color of money is green and it's green we all need to live a good life. Michelle Singletary good-liferetirementkids There are some dark days when I do receive some racist mail or emails. But overall the response to me has been very positive. Readers relate to me not just as an African-American, but as an American trying to make sense of her personal finance, just like them. Michelle Singletary african-americandarktrying 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. Michelle Singletary planslongthinking We all fall - even me. Michelle Singletary fall Remember life insurance is intended as income replacement to help dependents and or/spouse pay for things that your income would have covered. When you get to the point that you're dependents (Your kids mostly) aren't dependent on your income, you could reduce the amount of life insurance you are carrying. Michelle Singletary incomepaykids
