The new year has begun and that means it’s resolution time. Gyms fill up, cigarette sales go down, and promises to keep in touch slip from your lips. While fitting into your favorite pants or finally cleaning out the cheese drawer are great resolutions, choosing to take charge of your finances is a decision that will impact you and those you love for years to come.
13 Financial Tips for New College Grads
I’ve mentioned how living at home is a great way to save, but many of my friends don’t take advantage of this opportunity. I’ve had friends living at home (making double my income) who have fallen into mountains of credit card debt…and this is without ANY bills! Since I’ve saved around $3,000 in the past three months I thought I’d share my tips for
Small Steps to Help You Keep Your Big Financial Resolutions
If you’ve resolved to master your finances in 2021, there are ways to make that process easier. Setting small, specific goals throughout the year is the most effective way to keep big financial resolutions, according to the American Psychological Association. Here are smaller steps you can take to reach three popular money goals. Meeting these goals could impact the rest of your life, so it’s
How to Live Frugally While Paying Off Your Student Loans
When you receive your first student loan bill, it’s a serious wake-up call to adulthood. You’ll likely need to rein in spending and adopt more frugal habits in order to pay off your student loan debt. Here’s how: Try the 50/30/20 budget Start your budget off with the 50/30/20 rule for your after-tax income — 50% for necessities, 30% on wants, and 20% on
Should You Take a Personal Loan? Here is what you need to know first.
It can happen so easily. All it takes are some unexpected expenses and/or poor planning – too many meals out, a dental emergency, a new job that requires an upgraded wardrobe – and you find yourself with far more credit card debt than you ever imagined. Or perhaps you’re looking ahead to a life event that is going to cost more than you can save
Set Yourself Free: 4 Ways to Solve Your Debt Problem
Debt puts a strain on your finances and can cut a big chunk out of your monthly budget. Being under the pressures of debt can, at best, put your financial goals behind schedule and, at worst, cripple your ability to provide for yourself. The problem of debt is fairly ubiquitous in this country, with the total combined credit card debt rising to around $900 billion. However,
How the Upromise MasterCard Helps Build Your College Savings
I don’t know about you, but paying for my kids’ college education is the kind of thing that keeps me awake at night. With tuition rates at record high levels, saving enough for even state schools can sometimes feel like mission impossible. So when Upromise reached out to me with information about the Upromise MasterCard, I was excited to learn more. If you’ve made a New
Understanding the Importance of Net Worth
Net worth is a topic rarely talked about by savvy shoppers. The truth is that net worth isn’t just a term used by rich people; it is an important topic that is often overlooked by the middle class. Understanding your net worth allows you to gain a better understanding of where you stand financially. Use this quick guide to learn more about the importance of
Refinancing Student Loans is Easier than Ever
Are you drowning in student loan debt? In 2015, student loan debt in the United States reached a staggering $1.3 trillion. Nearly 71 percent of students who graduated in 2015 carried student loans, at an average of over $35,000 per borrower. For students graduating with professional degrees that number can be substantially higher. You May Be Able to Pay Less.
How to Prevent Overspending by Using a Prepaid Credit Card
One of the most commonly recommended strategies to prevent overspending is to leave your credit cards at home and only carry cash. Once the cash is spent, it’s impossible to make more purchases. The problem with this is that cash is easily lost or stolen, and there’s little hope of ever getting it back. How A Prepaid Card Can Help
Spending Detox: What to Do When You’ve Spent Too Much
You, like most Americans, probably enjoyed the holidays a bit too extravagantly to the detriment of your bank account. However, you, like most Americans, are not out of the woods yet. The New Year is rife with opportunities for expensive expenditures, like exciting vacations, significant birthdays, family and friend gatherings, and more. Without a spending detox, your rampant splurging will develop into a costly habit
Save on BIG BILLS with Cinch Financial
I just learned about a new site called Cinch Financial that helps people save money on their biggest monthly bills. Think cell phone bill, credit card debt, mortgage. This company focuses on the hard stuff because they believe that while you know how to cut down on everyday expenses (like giving up your daily coffee habit!) the big stuff can get confusing. What I love most
Did You Know You Could Actually Shop for Credit Cards?
Typically consumers and business owners receive flyers in the mail saying that they’ve been qualified for a particular card. While the deal may sound tempting, did you know that you can shop for the ideal credit card? Different types of cards could be better suited to you, depending on what your current credit needs.
Millennials Who Are Thriving Financially Have One Thing in Common
The article “Millennials Who Are Thriving Financially Have One Thing in Common” has been making the rounds on my Facebook page this week. If you’re like me, you fell for that click bait headline and are wondering the answer. What is it? Rich parents. Who are the Lucky 3 Percent?
6 money mistakes in your 30s
As a single person in my 30s, I make all of the mistakes: with dating, my career, whether to order guacamole or queso (always queso, duh), and of course, money decisions. Figuring out what to do with my money and how to set myself up for success in the future can feel daunting. Most days I feel like I have a head start, because I