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 →

“Can I borrow money? I promise I will pay you back!” How many times have we all heard this phrase? And every time one of our friends asks for money, we all wonder: Do friends and finances really mix? The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly We all want to be generous with our friends. So when times get hard for one of them, it is only natural to want to help out. Read on →

I promise to love and cherish you. I promise to share my life and all that I am with you – including my finances. Yet, a Citibank survey states 57-percent of divorced couples mentioned money issues as the primary reason for their divorce. The Power of Two Financial issues do not have to cause your marriage problems. In fact, let your finances bring you closer together. Open and Honest. Before you get married, have a serious discussion about your finances. Read on →

Instant gratification is something we all have struggled with in life. When we want something, we want it NOW! Unfortunately, this is not reality, which is why it is important for us to teach our children early the importance of saving money. Never Too Early Did you know that children as young as 3 are able to learn the concept of saving for something they want? Use this time to teach your children the importance of saving money before making a purchase so that when they become adults, this concept is part of their routine. Read on →

We are hitting the six-month mark. If you are like most, you did really well at starting a budget in January as part of your New Year resolutions. However, days, weeks, and months have passed, and you are probably getting a little lazy. Take a break from your day to re-organize your finances. Get It Straight It is always good to stop and reflect halfway through the year on how you can get better organized when it comes to your finances. Read on →