What’s Going on with Your Credit Score? Navigating the FICO and VantageScore
What’s Going on with Your Credit Score? Navigating the FICO and VantageScore Have you ever looked at your credit score before going to buy a new car or home only to see an entirely different score provided at the dealership or by the loan officer? That’s because the credit scores you see online, whether on CreditKarma.com, Experian.com, or through your credit […]
Why We Buy What We Don’t Need
Why We Buy What We Don’t Need Throughout our lives, we make many purchases, sometimes out of necessity, but more often out of want. Studies suggest that ninety-percent of our financial decisions are based on emotions, which means only ten-percent are made rationally. We spend money to feel good, whether on new clothes, custom shoes, a designer purse, or a new car. […]
Money Stress After the Holidays
Money Stress After the Holidays The weeks, even months, following the holidays can feel heavy. Between credit card statements, a clutter of receipts, and the pressure to “get back to normal,” it’s easy to let money worries pile up. The good news: you don’t need a giant overhaul to start feeling better. Small, intentional steps create momentum. Pick one […]
If It’s Worth Owning, It’s Worth Insuring
If It’s Worth Owning, It’s Worth Insuring You have value, as do your loved ones and the things you’ve worked hard for. Insurance coverage helps protect you and them financially from the unexpected, including damage, theft, loss, and even death. Having the appropriate insurance can save you a lot of money and heartache, because when it comes to financial emergencies you don’t […]
Retirement: A Puzzle to Navigate
Retirement: A Puzzle to Navigate When you are young, life tends to be a carefree experience. You aren’t worried about bills or how you’re going to eat because your parents will figure that out for you. Adulthood is different. As an adult, you’re faced with more pressing realities of life; budgets, bank statements, bills, work, and, ultimately, retirement. You’re looking forward to when you can have […]
Don’t Pay for Credit Repair: Use These Proven DIY Strategies Instead
Don’t Pay for Credit Repair: Use These Proven DIY Strategies Instead Paying for credit repair is a costly endeavor, far exceeding the cost of repairing it yourself. There are strategies anyone can use to protect and rebuild credit including setting up two-factor authentication, freezing accounts, setting up notifications, and disputing inaccuracies. Let’s dive into these approaches and help you feel more empowered and save you […]
Breaking Free: Healing Financial Trauma After Leaving High-Demand Groups and Controlling Relationships
Breaking Free: Healing Financial Trauma After Leaving High-Demand Groups and Controlling Relationships Leaving a high-demand group or a coercive, controlling relationship is a courageous step toward reclaiming your autonomy. Yet, if you’ve taken that step, you may find the journey to financial independence is fraught with unseen challenges. Financial trauma—rooted in manipulation, control, and deprivation—can linger long after you leave the group or the relationship has ended, shaping your money habits and […]
Just Start: The First Step Toward Financial Clarity
Just Start: The First Step Toward Financial Clarity We all have that one thing we keep putting off—the closet we don’t want to organize, the appointment we keep rescheduling, or the stack of paperwork we’ll “get to someday.” For many people, that “someday” pile includes their finances. Maybe you’ve been meaning to get a […]
Managing Through a Government Shutdown and What Comes Next
Managing Through a Government Shutdown…and What Comes Next Here we go again. As of this writing, the federal government has been shut for 20 days with no end in sight. It’s a frustration for every American, but for federal workers (including contractors) it is so much more than that. During the 35-day shutdown in […]
How to Make Saving Decisions Like an Economist
How to Make Saving Decisions Like an Economist How do you decide how much you should be saving versus spending? Do you have a favorite rule of thumb, such as saving 10-15% of your income, or do you aim for a certain amount each month? Maybe you just save what’s left of each paycheck. […]