For majority of people, the most important part of the holidays is celebrating the season with loved ones. This usually means traveling out of town to be with friends and family. If you are planning to leave home for the holidays, it’s crucial to take some steps to ensure your home’s security. An essential thing…
Posts By: Melinda Opperman
Family and personal finances are a big part of every holiday season. People are buying gifts, preparing holiday meals, and planning all of the changes in their lives that the coming new year might bring. In addition to giving thanks for all we have, we want everyone to engage in some financially sound thinking this…
New college students working on building a good credit history may find it’s no easy matter. You must be at least 18 years of age to get a credit card account in your name alone, and those ages 18 to 21 must prove established independent income. Since the Credit CARD Act of 2009, most college…
Homeowners need to be ready in case anything happens to threaten their household. Sometimes, natural disasters can strike that are well beyond anyone’s control, but there are still steps everyone can take to be ready for any worst-case scenario: Have adequate insurance Homeowners insurance is a must have for anyone with a house, and likewise,…
This Veterans Day, we hope all current and former military service members will take advantage of the professional services available to help them establish and improve their credit, become homeowners, and balance their household budgets. For our armed forces, it’s not always easy to achieve financial security. Military personnel face special challenges that others don’t….
Halloween is one of those holidays where people love to decorate and customize their homes for the season. The National Retail Federation (NRF) writes that consumers in the US will spend $2.7 billion on decorations this year, even more than the $2.6 billion they will spend on candy. Add in 3.2 billion for costumes and…
To rent or buy? If the question of renting vs. buying a home has crossed your mind we encourage you to consider the benefits of homeownership. However, the advantages of owning vs. renting are different for everyone. If you’re not already a homeowner, then it’s always time to be thinking about when to buy your…
We’re in the final quarter of the year, and a lot of holiday expenses are impending. Many people will find they aren’t fiscally prepared for the holiday season, and some last-minute savings will be needed to make it through to the new year financially intact. It’s also important for a lot of people to have…
Renovating your home wisely can increase its value and make it more appealing to buyers. Even if those renovations don’t get you a 100% return on your investment, they can make the home sell more quickly, save you money on extra mortgage, insurance and tax payments you’ll have to make while the home sits on…
Since 2010, financial institutions are required to get your permission for overdraft protection, a service that you would opt in to receive. If you’ve opted in, you will be charged overdraft fees if you exceed your account balance. Many banks and credit unions offer overdraft programs, and these can vary by institution. It might seem…
Owning a home comes with ongoing responsibilities. Maintenance and upkeep will become a part of every homeowner’s regular routine for as long as they own a house. But it’s important not to look at these maintenance responsibilities as onerous chores—while there is work involved in homeownership, doing necessary upkeep will make your home more valuable…
Raising your credit score can make a big difference when it comes to getting a loan, and how much that loan will cost you. If you are getting ready to apply for some kind of credit, or you’ve already applied and have been offered less-than-great terms, it might be worth your while to take some…