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Getting a Tax Refund? How to Spend it Wisely
Tax refunds total nearly six weeks of take-home pay for the average American family who receives them, according to a new study from JP Morgan that details exactly how important these government checks are to many U.S. households. The March report finds that Americans who get refunds typically have lower average incomes and less in […]
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Isn’t it Romantic? Talking about Love and Money
It’s that time of year again. The Valentine decor and candy are all on a shelf or rack at 90% off; many looking chewed up and ready for the dumpster. The fronts of stores now have bathing suits and cruise wear as people seek to escape the snow and sleet for warmer climates. Valentine red […]
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Is Eating Out Impacting Your Financial Success?
If you want to cut your expenses, one obvious place to start is evaluating whether eating out is impacting your financial success. Whether it’s ordering a pizza on a Friday night or picking up a burger for lunch on a Wednesday, the average American household spends $3,154 on eating out, or on food away from […]
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CESI Announces Community Development Financial Institution Certification for Carolina Community Impact
Consumer Education Services, Inc. (CESI) is pleased to announce that affiliated non-profit, Carolina Community Impact has been certified as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Carolina Community Impact joins a small number of certified CDFI organizations nationwide with a focus on community and economic development. As a certified […]
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Are Your Spending Habits Based on Fear?
Saving money is helpful when it has a purpose and a plan. Looking forward with anticipation of a good future can be helpful in promoting positive spending habits. But fear-based spending habits aren’t helpful. Hoarding money with no plans to spend because of a fear of letting it go won’t move you towards a successful […]
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Managing Personal Finances Doesn’t Have to Be Time Consuming
Americans have the best of intentions when it comes to managing personal finances, but few are actually taking the time to focus on how they’re spending their money. According to a survey conducted for the Northwestern Mutual’s 2019 Planning and Progress Study, nearly 50% of survey respondents said having a financial plan for the future […]
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Avoid These Common Tax Scams During Tax Season
It’s tax season, which can lead to tax scam season. Taxpayers have until April 15 to file their state and federal income tax returns this year. And, as they search their files and piles around their homes for critical tax documents, another group also is losing no time to make the most of the season […]
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Looking For a New Home? These Affordable Housing Trends Could Impact You
It’s been more than a decade since the 2008 financial crisis, but the affordable housing market is still playing catch up. According to Harvard University’s The State of the Nation’s Housing 2019, home construction remains sluggish. About 1.2 million homes were built in the year that the study covers, roughly 260,000 fewer than the market […]