Plan Well, Retire Well

Yikes! Making decisions about money can be very overwhelming. So often, a financial choice pops up and it seems impossible to even know where to start to learn about the topic. How much to spend on housing? Short-cuts to save money? How to get my tax refund? Invest my money or leave it to...

Financial to-dos take a while to carry out, and they are often mentally challenging too. I like to pick one “to-do” at a time to work on. With kids back-to-school and the tree leaves starting to rustle with dryness, now is a great time to set your financial to-do project.Which of the following is a...

You can teach something, but the doing is different. I’ve done workshops on choosing housing options as we age. I’ve even helped create a website about it! But I viewed the process through a different lens when recently helping my parents choose a continuing care retirement community.A continuing...

Summer is around the corner! For those of us in the colder regions of the U.S., the warmer months present us with options we longed for during the winter, but how do we take advantage of the warm weather? What are some ways we can save over the summer? Check out local opportunities: If you are...

As the April 15 tax deadline has just passed, most people have filed their income tax returns. What are you planning to do with your tax refund or how are you planning to pay any tax amount due? Knowing what to expect when filing your taxes can help you plan what decisions to make next. If you...

Do you have youth and teens in your life? This summer may be an excellent time for them to learn the skills and knowledge they need to be good financial managers as adults. Knowing we want to help develop positive skills and knowledge is one thing; being able to do it is another! Each child comes...

Credit history plays a significant role when looking for housing. While I live in a college town with many housing options, finding a home anywhere can be difficult if you have a poor credit history. A credit check involves more than just a three-digit number. In a bustling city like...

Another month has gone by, and I’m wondering, how does my household spend so much money? It’s definitely time for a Spending Audit! I’m on the hunt for expenses for things that I don’t want, aren’t important to me, or are too expensive. Join me as I dig deep with this investigative work. First...

Every year people gather up all their tax documents, organize them and then think about their options: do their income tax filing themselves, pay someone else do it, or find another option! Let’s explore these options. Should I pay someone else or file my taxes by myself? Many people can do their...