It’s pretty easy to rattle off your monthly expenses: Rent or mortgage payments, utility bills, Internet, student loan payments, car payments, food, gas. On top of paying those bills, I also recommend setting aside money in your emergency fund so that a surprise doesn’t cause you to fall behind on those bills. But if you look through your last year of credit card statements, you’ll see a whole … [Read more...] about How A Revolving Savings Account Can Help You Budget Better
personal finance
Pandemic Savings Habits To Adopt For The Long Term
The COVID-19 pandemic is still raging across the U.S., and it has affected every aspect of our lives. Millions of people have lost their jobs. The federal government passed an enormous stimulus package and may pass another one soon. Most of us haven’t eaten in a restaurant, watched a sporting event, hugged a friend, or boarded a plane in months. Some industries, like movie theaters and cruises, … [Read more...] about Pandemic Savings Habits To Adopt For The Long Term
Travel Hack Your Way Through Wedding Season
Ah, wedding season. You’ve probably had a year or two when you have more Save the Dates than refrigerator magnets (and if you haven't yet, you probably will). As much as you'll enjoy witnessing your good friends get married, you can’t not think about how much attending all those weddings will cost you. The plane tickets, the hotel room, the clothes, the manicures, the gifts — and that’s just … [Read more...] about Travel Hack Your Way Through Wedding Season
Reflecting On Your Finances At The New Year
According to a Fidelity study from 2014, 31% of Americans planned to make financial resolutions for 2015. Of that group, more than half wanted to save more. The median goal was to save $200 per month. But before you look ahead to the goals you want to accomplish in the new year, take a moment to consider how your money situation changed in the last year. Evaluate … [Read more...] about Reflecting On Your Finances At The New Year
Can Money Buy Happiness for Gen Y?
A lot of emphasis is placed on saving money when we talk about personal finance. Saving more and spending less equal financial success, right? Fundamentally, yes, but that doesn't mean all spending is bad. Spending money becomes an issue when we do it mindlessly on things that don't bring us happiness, or when we spend money fruitlessly in an effort to solve problems that are … [Read more...] about Can Money Buy Happiness for Gen Y?
Understanding Your Credit Score and How to Improve It
Your credit score is kind of like the GPA of your finances. Banks, lenders, and other entities check your credit score to help them determine whether or not to approve you for loans and credit cards and decide how much you’ll pay in interest charges. Your credit score also plays a role in getting approved for leases and helping your landlord decide how much to charge you in fees or a security … [Read more...] about Understanding Your Credit Score and How to Improve It