by Rachel Christian, CEPF®Senior WriterWhen you’re struggling with debt, it’s hard to know where to turn.High fees, finance charges and missed payments add up quickly.Before you know it, you’re drowning.If you’re afraid you can’t make your debt payments each month — or you feel like you’ll never get out of credit card debt — working with a nonprofit credit counseling agency can help. Most reputable credit counseling services are provided
by Timothy MooreContributorEvacuating is the safest way to guarantee your safety when a hurricane threatens, but it can also be expensive.And more than half of Americans can’t cover an emergency expense over $1,000, leaving millions of people stranded in the path of a hurricane when a mandatory evacuation order goes out. Estimates vary for the cost of hurricane evacuation, but most Americans in coastal states will spend anywhere between $1,200
by Mike BrassfieldSenior WriterLet’s face it, life insurance is the opposite of a good time. It’s boring, it’s dreary and it’s no fun thinking about your inevitable death.Still, you should really do something to protect your family in case something unexpected happens to you. It’s important to make sure they’ll be taken care of. What if there was a way to make life insurance less of a downer and more
by Kent McDillContributorServe in the U.S. military, get a college degree afterward. That’s long been the promise of the government and recent changes to make this benefit last a lifetime will continue under the Forever GI Bill.The bill now provides more money for qualifying veterans that study STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) subjects.The Forever GI Bill expanded the reach of the 1944 GI Bill (which was also expanded in 2001
by Rachel Christian, CEPF®, Carson KohlerAmericans donate billions of dollars each year to nonprofits — and hundreds of thousands recently to pro-life and pro-choice organizations. That money is essential to helping those nonprofits carry out their missions.But how do you know that money will be used the way you want?If you’re donating money to a charity, take a minute to make sure you know where your money is going first.
Real Answers for Life’s Money Challengesby Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorMy partner and I have been together for 10 years. During that time, we have both had many mental and emotional struggles. It came out that he experienced sexual trauma as a child, and during that time he also had a close childhood friend die from a drug overdose. I had struggles of my own and got sober during that time. Now,
by Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorA recession can wreak havoc on your finances. So it’s understandable if you’re worried by recent headlines. Economists are increasingly pessimistic, with those polled for Bankrate’s Second-Quarter Economic Indicator putting the odds of a recession at 52% in the next 12 to 18 months.If you’re worried about a recession, there are steps you can take to safeguard your money. But you’re probably facing some tough choices
by Mike BrassfieldSenior WriterDo you ever feel the whole financial system is conspiring against you?They don’t make it easy, do they? They make managing your money feel like tiptoeing across a tightrope. Take your eye off the ball for a second and you’ll fall into a pit of endless fees — overdrafts, ATM fees, dipping below daily minimums, ugh.What if there was a financial app that was totally on your
by Nicole Dow, Michael Archambault Let’s say it — shopping online is a blast. With only a few clicks or taps, your favorite items can show up at your door the next day. But, as fun as online shopping may be, it can certainly pull on your wallet. That is, of course, if you aren’t using a Chrome extension to help you save. From alerting you to price drops to
by Jenna Limbach, Adam Hardy If you’re looking to make some extra money, side gigs like babysitting and Uber are great options, but they aren’t the only ones. Whether the pandemic quarantine ignited a love of baking or the excitement of shopping in stores again hasn’t worn off, you can find ways to turn your interests into paying opportunities. Online platforms such as Facebook Marketplace, Etsy and Instagram as well
