Whether you’re saving to become a homeowner, for retirement, or for some other purpose, building savings is a crucial goal for every consumer. When we educate people about the budgeting process, saving up an emergency fund is often the first goal we tell people to set. Make savings a regular habit you think about routinely…
Posts Categorized: Personal Finance
Back to school time can be financially challenging, whether the students in your life go to elementary school, college, or somewhere in between. It’s critical to budget carefully to get through the early fall and give your students the best start on their academic year. One thing that is important to note about budgeting is…
The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (“NFCC”) previously surveyed peoples’ opinions of their mother’s personal finance skills in a Financial Literacy Survey (“FLS”). An overwhelming majority, 65 percent, saw their mother as either someone who is intimidated by money, views managing money as a necessary evil, or has never managed money. What mothers may not…
Baby steps can make a big goal look much more achievable. A $5 daily savings goal is a small commitment that can have a big impact over time. Following this practice for a year adds up to $1,825 to fund your emergency savings account, put a down payment on a car, or treat yourself to…
Warm weather may inspire you to fling open your windows and tackle some serious spring cleaning. Why not channel some of that fresh-start energy into your finances? Just like clutter accumulates at home, bad spending patterns can creep up bit by bit, making them hard to spot. Commit to dropping a few of these bad…
We help people eliminate debts like credit card balances and achieve financial freedom, so it’s often assumed that we are against credit card use. That’s not true; we know credit cards are a necessary part of your personal finances, and the truth is that there are some benefits that are impossible to ignore. In fact,…
We recently wrote about 5 things to know about paying off a credit card. While we coach people to pay off their debts and live more on a cash basis, we recognize that credit cards also have some very important benefits. There are, however, some risks that can be a serious threat to your personal…
As we enter the spring of 2018, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA, remains an important legal protection for consumers who are dealing with debt collectors. Due to its importance, our free Consumer Guide to Good Credit has valuable information about the FDCPA. The FDCPA was passed in 1977 to restrict abusive activity…
For some people, tax refunds can be a nice addition to a bank account each year. However, if you have a list of urgent bills, overdue debts, or large purchases, your tax refund might be more of a financial necessity than padding for your savings account. Once you file your taxes, refunds can take weeks…
Leaving your 20s behind can feel like a call to be more responsible, a more full-fledged “adult” than you were in college and those first years on your own. Many articles suggest trips to take before you turn 30. Our advice? Don’t worry about booking vacation flings before a birthday deadline. Those countries will stick…
Many news stories about debt revolve around the millennial generation. Debt troubles aren’t restricted to one generation, though, and as Baby Boomers enter retirement age, many of them worry how they’ll finance their “golden years.” If you’re hoping to retire debt-free, make a plan to tackle these common sources of Baby Boomer debt. Control Credit…
“I don’t know much about being a millionaire,” author and legendary writer Dorothy Parker once said, “but I’ll bet I’d be darling at it.” Wouldn’t we all! While most of us won’t be buying a yacht anytime soon, you can apply some smart advice from millionaires to your life on almost any paycheck. Pay Yourself…
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