Finding Financial Balance 2023

A season of gifting does not have to mean taking on debt. Do you take on debt for holiday gifting? Debt comes in many forms, such as using a credit card, borrowing money from a friend, or using a buy now pay it later service. As a previous blog post...

The holiday shopping season is upon us. The upcoming Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales will be here soon. Don’t forget occasional expenses, like gifts, when creating a spending plan. When shopping for presents, comparison shopping and shopping on sale may be good practices. A concern with sale...

When trying to bring awareness to your spending habits, do cashless purchases register the same for you? The pain of paying is a term used to describe the negative emotions experienced during a monetary transaction (...

Is retirement part of your financial plan? It is never too early to think about retirement, but many people of all ages do not know where to start. Retirement is a financial goal for most people. The age you are able to retire depends on how prepared you...

Right now is the time of year that kids are getting ready to return to the classroom. For some, this is a welcome excitement; for others, this may be an unprepared expense. Going back to school may bring some financial challenges, but you can account for them in a well-planned budget. Are there...

Acknowledging seasonal and occasional expenses is an important part of your spending plan or budget. Tracking these expenses allows you to plan ahead in case you need to save up. Vacations, kids’ summer camps and daycare, and property taxes may...

Does the thought of debt make you feel stressed or anxious? You are not alone if that is the case. Debt is linked to financial worry and lower life satisfaction (Tay et al., 2016). Research suggests that a lack of financial literacy is linked to higher levels of stress and anxiety (Pierce &...

As food is necessary for everyone, it is an important expense in your regular budget. Some ways to minimize your food expenses may be to keep a list of necessary groceries and stick to the list when shopping. With the option of online grocery ordering...

Money is a topic that impacts almost everyone. Money is necessary for basic needs, such as food, shelter, clothing, etc. Once basic needs are met, purchases may be made based on personal desire, or money may be saved/invested for future use. Learning what you value and how to balance your...