Category: Blog

Jingle Bills: How to Avoid a Holiday Debt Hangover

The holidays are here, bringing that familiar urge to spend a little extra on the people we love. It’s a good feeling…until the bills arrive. If you’ve ever found yourself dreading your January credit card statements, you’re not alone. With thoughtful planning, you can keep your holiday joy intact without taking on holiday debt.  Start […]

How to Give Wisely This Season

If you’re going to give, it makes sense to do it intelligently and for the right reasons. Here are four steps to making sure your hard-earned money goes to a cause that reflects your values and will have the most impact. Step 1: Research the organization asking you for money. Have you heard of the […]

Avoid Busiest-Shopping-Day Blues   

The holidays are a wonderful time of year, but unfortunately, they’re also a time of increased fraud and theft. If you’re revved up to hit the malls the day after Thanksgiving, don’t walk out the door until you take a few minutes to plan a safe shopping trip—for you and your wallet.

Gouged by Groceries

It’s nearly $5 a gallon and most families can’t live without it. It’s not gas. It’s milk, and it’s not the only thing at the supermarket with an upwardly mobile price tag. The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) reports that dairy prices are 31% higher than the average price in 2021, and aggregate food […]

Tune in to Spending Triggers

Just when you think you have a handle on your spending, you can find yourself blindsided by a spending binge. And I’m not talking about the unexpected broken tooth or kaput water heater. Some situations trigger surprise spending. Once you think about these events in advance, you’re far less likely to be caught off guard. […]

What to Keep and What to Throw Away

Before sending all your documents through a paper shredder or filing them in your pile of bills and other records, know what you should keep and what you should throw away. It’s unbelievable to hear that, each day, the typical family receives five to 10 important items related to school, finances, social events, or work, […]

Coping Financially During Tough Times

Job loss and other financial hits from an economic downturn inevitably take a toll on your household. Even if you have your budget and spending under control, you may face difficult decisions about how to protect your household’s financial future. Anticipating a Layoff If you suspect that your employer is planning a layoff or other […]

Car Buyers’ Worst Mistakes

How much money do you think educated car buyers can save over uneducated buyers when buying the same car? Would $5,000 get your attention? While you may not save as much as $5,000, you’ll save a bunch if you avoid these classic car-buying errors. Big mistakes mean big bucks out the window. We like to […]

Payday Loans Aren’t Worth the Cost

When money is tight and you don’t know if you’ll be able to make your rent or keep the lights on, you start looking for ways to find quick cash. You can sell some personal items or ask family members for a loan, but whatever you do, don’t go to a payday lender. It’s a […]

‘Try on’ Your Car Payment

You already know that car loans cost less when you can pay a portion of a vehicle’s purchase price in cash. Makes sense—you borrow less when you have a down payment. But coming up with that down payment can be a challenge. And then, once you have a car loan, that monthly payment can be […]