Budgeting
Setting up a monthly budget for you and your household is one of the first steps of smart financial management. However, it’s also something many of us struggle with. We know it’s important but seeing exactly how our money is being spent each month can be an uncomfortable experience. Better to just spend less than […]
7 minute read
Budgeting
You’ve heard plenty about the avalanche and snowball methods for paying off debt. They definitely have their merits. But don’t get buried in calculations or smacked in the face with a bunch of little debts that gang up on your savings. Instead, use the lasso method. It will wrangle your debt and put yourself on […]
5 minute read
Budgeting
When it comes to monetary customs, tipping has to be one of the most confounding of all. The practice of giving a gratuity or tip originated in Tudor England (1485-1603). There, overnight guests in private homes were expected to provide a sum of money to the host’s servants. Since then, tipping has become a widely-adopted […]
7 minute read
Budgeting
Most adults have a variety of debts. It’s just a fact of life for many of us. Consumer debt in the United States stood at just under $14 trillion at the end of 2019, according to the Federal Reserve. And among American consumers today, debt is concentrated in four main areas – mortgages, student loans, […]
7 minute read
Budgeting
Living paycheck to paycheck is not an unusual situation. Many Americans live in that reality every single day of their lives. Modern life is expensive. For most families, it’s easy for a string of bad luck to force their finances into the red. If you’re one of the many Americans who worry about paying their […]
8 minute read
Budgeting
Finally moving out of your parent’s place and into your own space can be an exciting and monumental time in most young adults’ lives. However, before you start planning your décor or buying new furniture, it’s wise to figure out how much you can afford. Forming a budget to rent an apartment can be a […]
7 minute read
Budgeting
Self-care is defined by the World Health Organization as “the ability of individuals, families and communities to promote health with or without the support of a healthcare provider.” More broadly, self-care is described as an individual nurturing their spiritual, emotional, and physical health. It’s an important part of keeping your mental health in a healthy […]
7 minute read
Budgeting
Becoming a parent will totally change your life in so many ways. If there wasn’t enough enough for brand new parents to worry about, the financial decisions alone can be daunting. Making the transition from a couple to a family can have lasting repercussions on your budgets. Taking the time to put your financial ducks […]
9 minute read
Budgeting
People love going out to eat. Unfortunately, the pandemic has shut down restaurants everywhere, for the most part. That’s keeping everyone out of these establishments for now. While we wait, most of are finding that we really miss the whole experience. Not only does someone else take care of the cooking and the cleanup, but […]
5 minute read
Budgeting
At the onset of the current pandemic, everybody was scared. There was plenty of worry that the economy would collapse under the weight of the government lockdowns. It felt like every media outlet was talking about people losing their jobs left and right. It was the first time in a while that many folks began […]
5 minute read
Budgeting
It’s payday! You look at your pay stub or bank balance to find the best surprise ever — you’ve been overpaid! It’s like the “Bank Error in your Favor” card in Monopoly. However, before you start making plans for how to spend your unexpected windfall, you should consider one sobering fact. Under U.S. federal law, […]
6 minute read
Budgeting
Budgeting is both an art and a science. A good budget can help keep people on track financially, enable them to save consistently for retirement, and ensure that they aren’t short of funds ahead of payday. However, while having a budget is a great idea in theory, the reality is that most people don’t manage […]
6 minute read
Budgeting
Many couples in long term, committed relationships are great at discussing the “big” stuff early on. These include views on marriage, children, religion, and politics (to name a few) – you know, the deal breakers. Unfortunately, one topic many couples tend to give short shrift to is money. With 78% of Americans living paycheck to […]
5 minute read
Budgeting
Food falls into a category known as “mandatory spending” in the personal finance world. We have to eat—it’s a fact of life. From a money management standpoint, buying groceries is a much wiser than eating out, as it costs far less to feed yourself than it does to pay someone else to feed you. Yet, […]
5 minute read
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