Financial Wellness Blogs

With cold weather settling in, you may notice your energy costs rising as you try to stay warm. Seasonal temperature changes can have a big impact on both gas and electric bills, so it’s important to plan your spending with these fluctuations in mind. While staying comfortable is essential, there...

As small amounts can really add up when saving and accruing interest, the cost of borrowing money, even in small amounts at a time, can also add up with fees and interest charges. Home loans, student loans, auto loans, credit cards, and buy-now-pay-later options can all stretch your financial...

The holiday season is often referred to as the “most wonderful time of the year.” Seeing beautiful decorations and fun seasonal activities can be enticing ways to spend money. Before committing to spending money, consider everything you have planned for this holiday season. Make sure to plan for...

The Thanksgiving season is a time of year many people associate with eating food and spending time with others. Balancing your spending with enjoyment can be a challenge. Find ways to feel good about what you are spending on food and family time by making a plan. Decide how much money you have to...

As homeownership costs rise, how are you planning for housing? Housing is typically a large, fixed expense for most people. Recently, homebuyers in 2024 faced higher mortgage payments than in previous years, with a median mortgage payment of...

Do you receive calls from unknown numbers? Sometimes calls are even identified as being a potential spam risk. When receiving calls like these, what do you do? My preference is to just let the calls go to voicemail, but it can be tempting to answer when the call appears to be local. If you do...

The dream of retiring may start early in your career, but are you taking active steps to support a comfortable retirement in the future? According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), the average social security benefit amount for retired workers as of...

Do you take the time to find the best prices? Comparing prices when shopping can help save money. Making the effort to use coupons, take advantage of sales and in-season products, and comparing brands/options can benefit your budget. Understand how to compare using unit prices and decide if bulk...

The weather has been showing some signs of warming up recently, so what other changes does the new season bring? When taking control of your finances, take time to check your progress regularly. Look through how your spending and saving has been going for the first quarter of the year to see if you...

Are you anticipating a tax refund this year? If you are expecting a refund, do you have a plan on how you will spend or save this money? An immediate response to receiving money may be thoughts of something you want to buy. Before making the decision to spend, dedicate some time to considering some...