Fall has arrived, and the holiday season will be here before you know it. If thoughts of last year’s hectic holidays already have you in a panic, you may want to get an early start planning your holiday budget. With some early planning, you can stay organized, avoid overspending, and get a chance to actually [...]
Planning for your financial future can be daunting, and it may be even more overwhelming if you have a child with special needs. Family financial planning becomes more urgent when you have your child’s care and long-term financial goals to consider. That’s why creating, maintaining, and funding a special needs trust for a child is [...]
If you're hosting a Halloween party you may be worried about finding creative decorations and preparing the right food but the cost probably has you scared. With Halloween spending expected to hit almost $7 billion this year, Americans are doing some serious shopping. But you don’t have to break the bank when getting ready for [...]
How do you feel about your finances—are you scared to death? Are you on track to meet your financial goals for this year? Has your financial life derailed instead? If your finances are more frightening than watching a scary movie alone at midnight on Halloween, treat yourself to these five money management tricks. It may [...]
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. As survivors of domestic abuse situations begin to take control of their lives, regaining financial stability, saving money and setting financial goals are tasks of the utmost importance. Financial abuse is a common tactic used by abusers to gain power and control in a relationship. It can be as [...]
If you have a furry or feathered family member, you’ve probably faced this conundrum: How much are you willing to budget for medications and medical care for Fluffy? It’s not always a simple question to answer. For example, our family paid less than $10 for a hamster, and we swore that we would never spend [...]
Teaching your teens money management skills, such as how to stick to a budget and save money, is essential training for when they’re older. When your teens get older, giving them a weekly allowance may no longer make sense, as they want and need more control over what they buy. Often, their purchases are big-ticket [...]
As parents, we want what’s best for our children. But the best thing for our kids isn’t always what they want—or, at least, it isn’t always getting them what they want right when they want it. Before you give in to your child’s whim, buying the latest toys or clothes, stop and think about some [...]
The cost of college keeps rising, and many students are turning to student loans to help them afford their schooling. Unfortunately, this means many graduate with crushing debt. In fact, with outstanding student loans surpassing $1 trillion, many are questioning whether a college education is worth the high costs. Fortunately, with some planning, it’s possible [...]
There are many financial obligations that can clutter up your financial life. From the junk mail pushing the latest credit card offer to the checks you write to pay bills, the financial chaos can start to weigh you down. A piece of personal finance advice: To get back on track, you may want to begin [...]
