by JoEllen Schilke This time of year brings a slew of our favorite holidays. While we get nostalgic about the decorations and New Years’ parties, what we really love is the food. Cookies, brisket, droolworthy mashed potatoes, spicy hot chocolate — they’re all important parts of the holiday season.Do you show love by making a ton of food for friends and family at this time of year? Does your neighborhood
Tracking expenses can help inform smart money management, ensuring you have clear oversight and control over your finances. While the thought of examining the money you spend may be daunting at first, this is one of the first steps in setting a monthly budget that works for you (i.e., one that covers your basic needs and wants without leaving you feeling like you’re living a life of denial).When setting up
A health savings account (HSA) can be a practical part of your comprehensive money management strategy. HSAs provide a secure place to keep pre-tax money and let it grow tax-free. You can later use the cash in your HSA account for qualified health care expenses.In addition to helping you save on medical costs, investing in an HSA can also benefit your finances in other ways. This article will provide an
by Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorIf you have kids under 18, odds are that you’ve been getting an extra $250 to $300 per child each month, courtesy of the advance child tax credits that began in July. But that much-welcomed extra cash is about to end.The payments scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 15, will be the final round for the monthly child credits. In March 2021, President Joe Biden signed the $1.9
by Nicole DowSenior Writer The perfect holiday gift doesn’t have to be something you buy from the store, cover in wrapping paper and place under the tree. Giving friends and family members an experience gift is just as wonderful — and it’ll create memories that last far beyond the holiday season. Gifting experiences like concert tickets, a trip to a theme park or an overseas vacation, however, can get pricy.
by JoEllen Schilke You can give the gift of saving money and saving the planet at the same time. These sustainable gifts will help reduce waste and keep single-use plastics out of the dumps and oceans. Even better, they can be used over and over, eliminating the need to buy disposable items. There are dozens of websites where you can buy an eco-friendly gift. While we’ve included retail links, don’t
A new year is an opportunity for a fresh start. From losing weight to starting a new hobby, there are a few resolutions that people frequently come back to again and again when determining what they want to change about their lives. Improved financial stability is another goal that we all seem to strive for consistently — but often fall short on.Only 19% of Americans have enough cash saved to
by Dana Sitar, CEPF®ContributorSoFi is the brainchild of a few Stanford University business students who initially wanted to tackle the student loan debt issue in this country by making it easier for borrowers to refinance student loans.Eventually, they expanded the company’s focus to include several financial products and services, including online banking through SoFi Money. Today, SoFi offers a lot of banking services with some great benefits. This SoFi Money
by Rachel Christian, CEPF®Senior WriterThirty years is a long time. If you’re chipping away at a mortgage each month, it can feel even longer.But what if you could eliminate that financial ball and chain by paying off your mortgage early?The truth is, if you can scrape together the equivalent of one extra payment to put toward your mortgage each year, you’ll take, on average, four to six years off your
by Catherine HilesContributor Quick Navigation What to Buy at Dollar Stores to Save Money for the Holidays Holiday Decorations Gifts for Kids Gifts for Adults Gift Wrap and Bags Holiday Greeting Cards Cleaning Supplies Disposable Bakeware Would you shop at a dollar store to save money during the holidays? It might sound tacky but you are missing out on some great deals if you pass up dollar store deals. This
