Category: Financial tips and tricks

  • 6 Smart Ways to Spend Your Tax Refund Infographic

    Most of us don’t enjoy tax time, especially if you think you might owe money. For some people however, the dread is overshadowed by the lure of a potential tax refund. For the 2018 tax filing season, the IRS anticipated that 70 percent of taxpayers would get a refund, and that the average refund is […]

  • Are You Overspending On Payday?

    Do you fall into the common pattern of counting down the days until you get paid and then overspending on payday? You’re not alone, and you may even be falling straight into the trap of strategic advertising. In fact, spending patterns around when consumers get paid are predictable, and  many retail products and brands have reported […]

  • 5 Ways to Spring Clean Your Finances

    Flowers are beginning to bloom. The sun is starting to peek out behind the gray winter clouds. And our thoughts are turning to spring, a time for new beginnings—and maybe dusting those cobwebs that have lingered in the corner of your bedroom for far too long. But as you contemplate a spring cleaning of your […]

  • Are You Spending More By Paying With Your Smartphone?

    It’s easier than ever to pay for the items you need and want. By paying with your smartphone using apps like Paypal, Venmo, Apple Pay and Google Wallet, you no longer have to whip out cash or our credit card for a cup of coffee or even an entire cart of groceries. Instead, you can […]

  • 6 Smart Ways to Spend Your Tax Refund

    It’s the time of the year to file your personal income taxes and wait to find out if you owe Uncle Sam or if you’ll be enjoying tax refund money.

  • Four Reasons to Talk About Money With Your Partner Right Now

    Roses, chocolate and dinner out might be the traditional way to celebrate romance, but one of the best ways to keep the love alive doesn’t have anything to do with how we celebrate holidays like Valentine’s Day. Why You Should Talk About Money With Your Partner Better than any treat or simple gesture, good financial […]

  • 5 Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day on a Budget

    Are you looking for ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day on a budget? Roses, chocolate and dinner out can add up pretty quickly – especially around Valentine’s Day when those romantic gestures always seem to cost a little bit more than usual. Indeed, the average American spends about $140 on Valentine’s Day, according to the National […]

  • Overwhelming Child Care Costs? Consider a Dependent Care FSA

    From diapers to college, raising a child is expensive. And for parents of younger kids, overwhelming child care costs can truly eat up their budget. According to Care.com’s annual Cost of Care Survey, 32 percent of families say they spend 20 percent or more of their annual household income on child care. The average weekly […]

  • Financial Goals: What’s Smart, What’s Not

    Setting financial goals is a skill. Believe it or not, it can be done incorrectly. To most, this is surprising news, since we tend to think about goals as things we want, and it takes no skill to simply want something. Goal-setting is part of establishing a budget, so you want to know you’re doing […]

  • How to Budget When Paychecks Fluctuate

    It’s possible to know how to budget even when you don’t know what you’ll get paid this week or next. Here’s what to do when your income varies…