Blog

9 Tips to Keep Your Back-to-School Budget on Track

Assess what is needed Establish a spending limit Establish a back-to-school shopping budget Create a sinking fund for school supplies Implement challenges to save money Be a smart shopper – think sales Figure out which expenses you can delay Plan ahead for next year Check for free or reduced-price back-to-school supplies

Financial Health Means Physical Health

Want a quick tip that is good for both your pocketbook and your waistline? Pack your lunch! Did you know that eating out often is associated with weight gain and higher blood pressure? Besides being expensive, restaurant foods tend to be higher in sodium and calories. When you prepare meals at home you get to […]

Budget Plans for A Quick Summer Trip!

“One good thing to come out of the last few years is the popularity of exploring more ‘local’ travel on a tank-full. It’s amazing how many incredible places are within a few hours’ drive from your home!” This article shares some tips and tricks for exploring your own neck of the woods with a single […]

Top 5 Reasons People Go Bankrupt

Although there are many contributing factors to why one may declare bankruptcy, there are a few financial stressors that top most lists year after year. This article details a few of the top reasons people ultimately will file for bankruptcy relief – some of them may surprise you!

Feeling Financial Stress Like The Majority of Americans?

“A new survey by Bankrate found money is often a significant cause of stress for most Americans: 52 percent say money has a negative impact on their mental health, up significantly from 42 percent a year ago. Among those who say money has a negative impact on their mental health, more than 4 in 5 […]

Wants: How do you pay for them?

“We all have ‘wants,’ and some things we wish to do or have are expensive,” writes Vicki Cook and Amy Blacklock. They continue, “While saving a down payment for a home or car and putting away money for a child’s education are considered ‘needs’ by some, you might also include them in the want category. […]

Famous People – they really are just like us!

Most people think that fame and fortune go hand in hand, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, here are just a few famous faces who have filed for bankruptcy: Politicians Abraham Lincoln Thomas Jefferson Ulysses S. Grant George McCovern John Connally William McKinley Celebrities Burt Reynolds Natalie Cole Mickey Rooney Elton […]

Mid-Month Motivation

Did you know that the average restaurant dish contains 60% more calories than a homemade meal? If that isn’t shocking enough, a meal eaten out also typically costs between $9 – $25 per person, which can add up to more than $200 in one week for the average family. Saving money and calories are just […]

Intentionality

Living a meaningful life looks different for each of us, however there are steps we can each take to hone our intentionality skills. Strive to become deliberate in how you spend your time and money so that you can focus on what you’ve defined as necessary in your life. To live more intentionally, make a […]

Kids and Money

When is the best time to speak to your children about money? Well, now. To start the conversation here is a short video of 10 things that you should discuss with your children about money, the earlier and more frequently the better.