March is a big part of a financial time of the year. For those sports fans, especially of college basketball, the all-important "bracket" is the subject of many studies, guessing and possible financial "investing". It can be an exciting or agonizing time as favorite teams are defeated, and a "...
One of the largest factors of purchasing a house comes down to your credit. What does it look like and will you be able to purchase a house with your history and score? People tend to focus on the score, and while it is important – the history is what creates the score. Together...
Saving money can be magical. Start small, contribute regularly, and through compounding returns amazing things happen! Compounding returns is a fancy way of saying that money in savings and investment accounts earns MORE money for you – it works for you. In a savings account, you earn interest. In...
Finding money in a tight budget to put towards savings is challenging. However, tax time may provide an opportunity to kick-off that saving goal! The first step is to check if you are eligible for any tax credits. The Earned Income Credit is designed for people who worked part-time or full-...
We often play games to entertain us or to help teach life lessons in a pretend or safe environment. How about making savings a game? For many people, asking or requiring them to save as part of their overall spending plans, may feel like a punishment. I have to save this money so I...
To celebrate the upcoming America Saves Week, America Saves is launching the #imsavingfor contest. It's easy to enter. Just share a picture of you and what you are saving for and then enter to win $500 at...
To reach financial goals, like college or down payment on a home or a special trip, we need to save money. But it can be hard to start saving. One way strategy that works is to start small and to save regularly! And when I say, start small – I mean small. How much do you think you'...
I'm so excited: it's America Saves Week! One of my favorite weeks of the year. We'll have blog posts each day of the week to celebrate. We're kicking things off with a great article from the national America Saves office -- a partner of Cooperative Extension....
Dear Karen,Thank you so much for the thoughtful information! I've read through it, and now it's marinating in my brain. I like the idea of "buckets," and I appreciate you breaking things into smaller chunks. (You must have heard stories of me and my "financial fatigue.")...
To rent or buy, that is the question! After being a renter for the last eight years of my life, I like the benefits of being a renter. I'm not tied down to my home and can move anywhere in the country. If something is broken, my property owner fixes it and I don't have to shovel snow or water the...
