Your credit score is vital to your financial health. This number measures your money management skills, credit capacity and fiscal responsibility. An excellent credit score can open the door to large loans and with better interest rates, as well as employment opportunities and more. Let’s explore the best ways to build and maintain an excellent
You’ve got mail! And the good news keeps coming, because you’ve been pre-approved for a large loan—maybe even a mortgage! Yes, you! It’s a dream come true—until it turns into a living nightmare. Here’s what you need to know about preapproval scams and how to stay safe. How the scams play out In a preapproval
Living a life of financial wellness means being happy with a lifestyle that’s within your means, but doesn’t leave you feeling like you’re lacking. At the same time, financial wellness means discipline governs money choices and not by emotion. So how do you balance the two? Here’s how to indulge responsibly. Live with a BudgetTo
Digital kidnapping happens when a scammer takes control of a victim’s social media profiles and holds it for ransom. It can also involve “kidnapping” photos that are posted on social media pages. Here’s what you need to know about digital kidnapping. How the Scams Play OutIn a digital kidnapping scam, a hacker takes control
With summer winding down and autumn creeping in, are you ready for some fantasy football? Fantasy football is so much more than an addictive hobby! Fantasy football can teach you financial lessons for life. Do Your ResearchKnowing which NFL players to “draft” to your team on your league’s draft day is crucial. If you
Get ready for big savings on big-ticket items this September! Retailers want to bring the crowds back after the big back-to-school storm has passed, and to clear the shelves before the holiday season blows in. All that, plus the Labor Day sales, means big savings in September—but not on everything. Here’s what to buy and
Everyone dreams of winning the lottery, but scammers can turn that dream into an absolute nightmare. Here’s all you need to know about fake lottery scams. How the Scams Play Out In a fake lottery scam, a scammer reaches out to a potential target by phone, email, or social media message to inform them they’ve
When paying for everyday and occasional purchases, some purchases should be paid for with cash, some with a credit card, and others with a debit card. Let’s inspect each method and when you should use them. When should you use cash?Some retailers offer discounts for paying in cash, making it the wise go-to. Also, if
Independence Day sales are over and Labor Day is a month away, but you can still find great deals in August. Here’s what to buy and what to skip this month. Buy: Back-to-School Supplies Look for weekly deals on school and office supplies at big-box stores, pharmacies and e-tailers this month. Think beyond school—you can
“Pay yourself first” is a catchphrase that refers to prioritizing your personal savings above other expenses. To achieve it, savings should be a fixed line on your budget that happens every month without fail. Here’s how to pay yourself first. Review Your Spending Take a clear look at your spending. If you already have a budget,
Survey scams are almost as old as the internet. Spend just an hour online and there’s a good chance you’ll be running into an ad for a “super quick” survey promising big money or prizes for just a few minutes of your time. What actually happens, though, is that the scammer walks away with
There’s so much good you can do with the money you’ve been blessed to have. There’s also a lot of good you can do with your time, talents, and possessions. Let’s explore some ways you can make the world better by paying it forward. Donate funds to your favorite causeThe classic and simplest way to
Creating and deciding to stick to a budget is easy; actually carrying through on your plan is the hard part. For many people, a big part of the gap between what they want to do and what they actually do is caused by their failure to spend mindfully. When every buy is just a swipe
The days are still long and filled with sunshine. And though retailers would have you think otherwise, school is still a long way off. If you’re looking to save on some purchases this month, you can find lots of bargains around Independence Day weekend and beyond. Here’s what to buy and what to skip in
Travel is finally back in full swing, something we can all be thankful for this year. While staycations and remote-working vacations have been all the rage since 2020, pre-pandemic vacationing is making a comeback in 2022. According to Booking.com, 60 percent of travelers from a 24,000-person survey claimed they are looking to meet new people
With a bit of creativity and pre-planning, you can trim your recreation budget without feeling pinched. We’ve listed a variety of ways to save on entertainment costs. Attend amateur sporting events Instead of spending big on professional sporting events, get your fix at local high school or college games. You’ll get the same excitement and
Everyone wants to do their best at work, but you can sometimes stare at the same to-do list day after day after day. Here’s how to keep your productivity levels up at work. Start your day with the MITs Get your most crucial tasks done by separating the MITs (most important tasks) from the other
It’s an amazing employment opportunity–or is it? Scammers often hijack the job market to ensnare job seekers. Here’s what to know about these scams. How the scams play out There are several variations in job scams. Here are the most common: Bogus job listing. There’s a Help Wanted ad for a dream job. The eager job-seeker
Communicating openly about how you manage your money is a big part of having an honest and trusting relationship. Here, we’ve compiled six tips to help guide you in this super-important conversation. 1: Plan in advanceBroach the topic with your partner a few days before you want to have the “Big Money Talk” and ask
You’ve tracked your spending, designed a budget for your monthly expenses, and you’re on a path to financial wellness. In this next step, you’ll create a plan for paying down debt. Consumer debt can be one of the biggest challenges to financial wellness. With some intentional action and commitment, reaching true financial wellness is possible.
