It has not been that long since the holidays were here. Therefore, you are probably still suffering from some of those bad money habits you picked up during the Christmas season, such as spending more than you were saving due to gatherings, gifts, etc. The time has come to start staying goodbye to those unhealthy financial habits and hello to getting your money back on track for 2016. Take Back Control! Read on →

Congrats on your decision to purchase your first home! While buying a new home comes with a lot of emotions—excitement, nervousness, happiness, worry—the best feeling comes from being as financially prepared as possible before signing the dotted line. One of the first things you can do is save up for your down payment. Saving for the Down Payment Your down payment is the amount you will need at the closing of your new home. Read on →

Want sunshine on a cloudy day? You can have it with a savings account! Savings Account = Financial Freedom Have you been putting off starting a savings account because you need every penny of your paycheck? Well, wait no longer. You cannot afford not to have a savings account. And while you may not be able to put as much back as you want to initially, here are some reasons why saving even $10, $20, or $50 at a time can be beneficial to your financial future. Read on →

Was 2015 not has financially sound as you had hoped it would be? Have no worries! 2016 is right around the corner, which means a new year to give your financial health a boost! Make Some Financial Resolutions Things happen. An unexpected surgery. A loss of a job. Your car breaks down. Lots of things can happen that get your finances off track. Fortunately, there are always ways to turn things around, including your money. Read on →

Maybe 2015 was a hard year for you financially. Or, maybe you were finally able to put some back in a savings account! Whether you found financial success or hardship in 2015, you can always take a step to make things better by re-evaluating your finances for the new year and making new goals! What Will Your Money Resolutions Be for 2016? Here are some ideas for resolutions this upcoming year. Read on →

It is the most wonderful time of the year … to get in debt if you are not careful. Yes, we want to give our families a holiday to remember. But, we do not have to break the budget to do so! Make a Budget Have a plan in place when it comes to your finances during the holidays. Write down how much you plan on spending and on what you will spend it. Read on →

It seems as soon as we start our first day of work, one word immediately enters our mind: retirement! However, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute, only 22 percent of workers are confident they will have enough money in retirement. Are you one of them? Be Prepared Time is money, especially when it concerns your retirement fund. However, no matter what time it is, it is always time to start a retirement fund. Read on →

When we enter adulthood, we know we need to keep our eyes on the road when driving, our eyes on our kids while they grow up, and our eyes on the prize in our career. But one thing we might be forgetting that we need to keep our eyes on the most: our finances. Treat Your Finances Like a Teenager In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it can be easy to let our budget fall to the wayside. Read on →

For the last twenty-something years, your college student—for the most part—has been under your care. This means they have been under your “financial” roof. And while they may have had a job to help with expenses, such as car, gas, cell phone, extracurricular activities, etc., they have really no idea what the cost of living in America actually is. Help give them an idea before they head out into the real world, so they are not in too much of a shock (You have to pay for garbage pick-up? Read on →

The United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service states that many high school students prefer to bring a bag lunch from home. And while it is easier to just give them money to use for the lunch at school, there is something special about packing a child’s lunch – even if it takes a little more effort. So embrace the memories (and save some money) by packing your students’ lunches. Read on →