Yearly Archives: 2022

by Mike BrassfieldSenior WriterSo, you thought 2021 was bad? Just wait!OK, we’re kidding. Obviously, 2022 should turn out way better than 2021 did, right?There’s no way it could be worse, right?Right?Welllllllll… we hate to sound like pessimists, but if there’s one thing life has taught us, it’s that things can always get worse.Maybe yet another COVID mutation shows up. Maybe the economy crashes again. Maybe our weird politics get even

by Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorYou’ve paid your bills on time. You’ve avoided massive debt, or maybe you’ve paid it down. Now you have a healthy credit score to show for it.But tough times can happen, no matter how responsible you are. So if you’ve hit a financial rough patch, you’re probably wondering what that means for that score you worked so hard to build.The good news is that what’s tough

by Tyler Omoth The COVID-19 pandemic has likely had an impact on everything from your relationships to your eating habits. Your finances? Big time.Getting behind on a bill or two can have a lasting effect on your credit score. In response, the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — are offering free weekly credit reports through the end of April 2022.As a rule, everyone can get a

Real Answers for Life’s Money Challengesby Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorMy boyfriend of almost two years has recently asked me to start paying the electric and water bills at his place. I live about an hour’s drive from him, so I really only spend the weekends with him. I’ve washed my clothes there three times max in the almost two years, and I washed his clothes with mine those times. I clean

by Dana Sitar, CEPF®Contributor By now, you probably know the gist of driving with ride-sharing services: You use an app to connect with people who need rides. You drive them somewhere in your own car, and they pay automatically through the app. The two biggest players in the space — Uber and Lyft — continue an intense rivalry, despite offering pretty much the same service and neither riders nor drivers usually knowing

by Timothy Moore, Kathleen GarvinDigital banking services have been around, and popular, for a while now. And since the pandemic, the number of users is expected to grow significantly, surpassing 200 million this year.While traditional brick-and-mortar banks expand their reach online, digital-only or e-banks have already been the way to go for millions of Americans. They offer online access to many of the account features and services consumers need and

by Nicole DowSenior WriterA lack of motivation can destroy the most well-intentioned plans to save money.You can have all the financial literacy and even the surplus funds to make a dent in your savings goals, but if you lack the motivation, you can easily fall victim to the paycheck to paycheck lifestyle.Saving money is often a marathon, not a sprint. Here are some helpful tips that’ll boost your motivation to

by Grace SchweizerSocial Media and SMSYou’ve probably tossed more than a few avocados into the trash after missing that (very slim) window between being perfectly ripe and turning brown, mushy and gross. And avocados are expensive, so that’s good money you’re throwing away.Here’s a little secret, though: As long as there’s vibrant green meat somewhere inside (just scrape away the brown spots), that brown avocado can still be seriously yummy.Never

by Nicole DowSenior Writer Our time is valuable. That’s why we’re willing to pay for fast and reliable delivery. For over a decade, Amazon Prime has dominated the online shopping space, but retail giant Walmart introduced a competing service — Walmart Plus — in 2020. With both offering similar online shopping experiences and free shipping options, it can be difficult to decide which membership service to join. In this article,

by Mike BrassfieldSenior WriterSaving money is never a bad thing, right? You take a percentage of your check every payday and tuck it away in a savings account. You’re doing what you’re supposed to, right?Wellllllllll, kind of. Unfortunately, saving alone will never get you to retirement. You’re on the right track, but the money you’re stashing away isn’t growing like it could be. Not even close.Let’s take a look at