Begin here if you’re newer to personal finance and want to start on the right foot. You’ll find a broad variety of informational articles and how-to instructions on topics such as creating a budget, getting out of debt, increasing your income, or saving money on housing costs.
You remember talking as a teenager about how great it would be to move out of your parents’ house. Getting an apartment with friends or heading off to a college dorm – any place where you’d have some freedom and ability to make your own…
When it comes to tipping, there are no hard and fast rules. And everyone does it differently. As a customer, you’re left wondering – when should you tip? Who should you tip? How much? And what if you don’t have any cash? Below is a…
As the daffodils bloom and the trees are budding, wedding bells are a chiming. Sweet, sounds that can also note upcoming hits to our budgets as another wedding season gets in full swing. The truth is, the cost of attending weddings can be huge. If…
While having a clean house and sprucing up your yard might be your goals, have you considered that you can make money with spring cleaning too? As you make your house sparkle, items you no longer use or need can be heading to a new…
Whether you’re an investor or a borrower, you’ll want to pay careful attention to the interest rate you’re earning or paying. Why is the interest rate so important? Other than the fact it becomes a source of income or the cost associated with you borrowing…
Whether you want to stop living paycheck to paycheck, build up reserves in your emergency fund, or max out your 401k contributions, you need to save money to focus on your financial goals. With the average price of food rising considerably over the last year…
It’s hard to describe the excitement you feel driving a brand new car home from the dealership. You might even get the same feeling from negotiating a great deal on a new, used car. For better or worse, car ownership is an essential aspect of…
Preparing your own tax return can feel like a very bold endeavor. When it comes to filing simple short-form returns, there is less chance of making significant errors. These types of returns are pretty straight forward and require you to provide very little information. While…
There’s a good chance you already have access to revolving credit and use it frequently. Almost 70% of Americans have at least one credit card. Many people have multiple revolving credit accounts or “lines” of credit. Credit cards (including store credit cards), home equity lines…
Moving to a new house or apartment can be exciting. It can also be stressful, especially if you’re on a budget. Between the phone calls, paperwork, and heavy lifting, the time and money it takes to move adds up. But with a little planning, you…
You’re not alone, but being part of this crowd isn’t comforting. And it makes sense when you look at the statistics. Just a few years ago, about 60% of Americans reported having less than $1,000 in savings. And a full 20% admit they had nothing…
You dreamt of the day you’d join your life with the person who makes your soul happy. Your nearly flawless alignment has been almost surprising. However, as “mine” and “yours” have become “ours,” one subject remains sore: finances. You’ve done the work of calculating the…
Baby care products make up a $74 billion industry in the US, and it’s estimated the average new parent will spend tens of thousands of dollars in the first year alone. If you’re not careful, preparing for your new baby can quickly bust your budget….
Everywhere you turn, you hear having a budget is the first piece of the financial stability puzzle. But how do you create a budget when your income varies month to month? If you’re self-employed or only earn commission, you know one month you can make…
You’ve been working hard to cut expenses and quit living paycheck to paycheck. You negotiated a raise or landed a higher-paying job. Your side gig is creating a buffer in your budget. No matter the reason, it’s time to put the extra money in your…
You’ve budgeted for it for months. Now, finally, you’re in the store, buying your long-awaited (fill-in-the-blank: dishwasher, iPhone, smartwatch, used car). “Would you like an extended warranty with that?” you’re asked. Hmmm. “Do I?” you think. Typically, extended warranties are a relatively low-cost add-on to…
You might have spent years in college preparing for a career. Or maybe you started a job out of high school and worked your way up to management. Or perhaps instead, you took an entrepreneurial route dedicating incredible amounts of time, energy, and money to…
You wonder how much insurance will cover when a reminder for your next dentist appointment pops up on your calendar. You can’t sleep because of a toothache, but insurance coverage through your new job doesn’t start for weeks. You’ve put off routine cleanings the last…
You’re working hard to pay down debt, build an emergency fund, save for your children’s college years, or fund your retirement. (Maybe all of those!) You’re also determined to improve your health and reduce stress too. But when you pay your gym membership each month,…
In today’s world, taking on debt seems to be a matter of course. It’s how you’re expected, even encouraged, to pay for college, a new car, and a house. Even if you’re averse to getting into debt, the high costs of those things can make…
Each time you’ve pulled out your credit card this month, it’s bothered you more. This was supposed to be the year for starting a budget, building an emergency fund, and quitting living paycheck to paycheck. But your New Year’s resolution to take control of your…
An internet search of the term “cosigning a loan” quickly reveals it’s a terrible idea. And there are valid reasons for much of the negativity. Helping a family member or a friend by cosigning a loan is incredibly helpful for them, but significant problems arise…
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, $3.8 billion in retail prescription drugs were filled at pharmacies in the United States in 2019. If you’re generally healthy, have good insurance, and only need to fill a prescription a few times a year (or less), you may…
While you’re working hard to find great deals and optimize your holiday shopping, criminals are working hard to steal and use your credit card information. If you haven’t experienced an unauthorized charge on a credit card yet, you probably know someone who’s been a victim…
You want to give the perfect gift. But you also don’t want to buy the wrong size or give a duplicate item. We’ve all been there, and it seems most of us have discovered a fix. But are gift cards or cash a better option?…
If you’re looking for a new place to put your money or if you’re tired of paying big fees at your current bank, you might want to consider joining a credit union. You may have heard they’re a popular option, but you still have questions….