Whether you're 16 and just entering the workforce or 66 and can start collecting Social Security, retirement should always be on your mind. Unfortunately, many people don't seriously consider it until later in life. Here are four quick questions you should ask yourself now because retirement is coming later. When should I retire? Just because you could start Social Security at 62, doesn't mean you should retire then. Most people do so between the ages of 61 and 69, but if you apply for benefits before you're 67 -- if you were born after 1960 -- you'll receive a reduced…

When people think of visiting popular overseas destinations like London, Paris or Japan, they're often concerned with extravagant hotels, overpriced food and costly flights. However, a big trip doesn't have to bring big expenditures. In fact, with a little planning and some self-discipline, traveling abroad on a budget can be relatively simple. Economical Travel One of the easiest ways to save is by going during the off-season. In Europe, for example, this is between October and April. Flights are usually cheaper, as are hotels, restaurants and fuel. Don't just take the first flight that fits your departure and return dates…

Buying your first home can be intimidating. After all, making the leap from renting to ownership should not be taken lightly. However, with proper preparation and planning, you'll find it's not as scary as it seems. Here are six tips for first-time homebuyers. 1. Make Sure You're Ready Before purchasing a house, you'll need to be willing to plant some roots. It takes time to build equity and experts suggest staying in a home for at least five to seven years to make it worth the investment. Plus, selling isn't as easy as not renewing the lease on your apartment.…

Take a moment to think about every device you have plugged in at home. Now consider how many of those actually need to be. The truth is, most electronics don't always have to be attached to outlets. In fact, many of these perpetually plugged-in gadgets still use power when they're turned off, costing you money you didn't even know you were spending. What Is the Standby Power Price Tag? The average household routinely leaves around 40 appliances plugged in 24 hours a day. The U.S. Department of Energy has estimated that standby power -- also known as leaking electricity, phantom…