According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, energy use for air conditioning has doubled since 1980, and U.S. households currently plug in more appliances and electronics at home than ever before. Natural gas and electricity are the most-consumed energy sources in homes as the home...

Many people use the term credit score and credit report interchangeably. Although mistaking them may seem harmless, credit scores and credit reports are very different. As stated in the name, your credit score is exactly that, a score. This score is a numerical value that is calculated and used by...

It’s easy to spend all the money in your budget (even if you don’t have one), but what happens when you have an expense you can’t anticipate? Whether you have a flat tire or need to make a surprise purchase, having an emergency fund can be a financial lifesaver. Of course, some emergencies don’t...

Creating a savings goal is commonly confused with creating a dream. For example, when asked to create a savings goal for a vacation trip or a car, their response is “I want to go to [location]” and “I want to have a [car model]”. This only represents what individuals want (a dream) without creating...

Credit Cards are a wonderful financial tool if you’re aware of their pitfalls. The unfortunate problem is that people can get themselves in trouble by excessively using their credit cards beyond their means and being unable to pay their bills. First, what is a credit card? A credit card is a...

When you get your first job, your employer likely will ask you for the direct deposit number or the routing number of your bank account. Indeed, opening a checking account is one of the first steps to getting paid. Before you go to the bank you can use some of my helpful tips to answer some of the...

To some, living sustainably can mean living a more expensive lifestyle. Small increases in costs from eating organic foods, buying clothes made from sustainable and biodegradable fabrics, and paying extra for dairy alternatives can add up. Luckily, stores are making it easier to make more...

To many college students, budgeting seems like an extremely daunting task... Who needs to budget anyway with those deferred student loans, am I right? However, keeping a budget and tracking your spending not only keeps you conscious of where all your money is going, but it also allows you to be a...

Shopping at thrift stores can be one of the most fun and rewarding ways to go shopping while on a budget.  If you are in need of a new wardrobe, but also want to save money, thrift shopping is just what you need.  Some popular places in the Champaign-Urbana area to go thrift shopping are the...

As a recent graduate from college, you may be excited to embark on your career and gain new experiences. However, as you reach this new chapter in your life you will have to start thinking about paying off your student loans, if you have any, and make life decisions such as deciding how much to...

College students know that when living on your own, there are a lot of necessities that come along with it. Some add up to be quite a lot of money that students do not have. Grocery shopping every week is something that many students struggle with when fitting things into their budget. ...

Do you often find yourself eating at a restaurant or buying fast food because you do not have the time or effort to cook a meal yourself? Do you see yourself running out of the food that you had just made to only last for a couple of days? Well, there is a method of preparing food that is both...

Having a car on campus is convenient, but it also comes with a lot of costs. Parking meters seem cheap, but when you look at how much you’ve spent over the past month, your jaw drops. Gas prices are decent but getting gas once a week builds up as well. And there’s also what seems like the...

Do you have experience buying stuff you seldom use, purchasing clothes not suitable for you, and consuming more than you need? Impulsive shopping makes people waste money for temporary joy and sometimes takes people into a personal financial crisis. Reasons for impulsive shopping vary....

There comes a time when everyone needs to go shopping for new clothes.  While this can be a fun process, it can usually get really expensive.  Before you go shopping there are some useful tips you should use to make sure you are spending your money wisely. When preparing to go shopping, it is...

Store brands have evolved over the years in both popularity and appeal. Today, grocery stores known for solely selling store brands, such as Aldi, have boosted in popularity as many consumers have started to purchase store brands weekly.  In fact, several big box stores, like Walmart and Target,...