Personal Finance

Ah, the sweet joy of tax season—said no one ever, right? Except perhaps when that tax refund deposit hits. Suddenly, all that number crunching and receipt gathering feels worth it. This year, Americans are seeing an average federal tax refund of $3,028.[1] Now the real fun begins: deciding what to do with this unexpected windfall….

Chris Mamula and his wife grew their household income from about $50,000 to nearly $180,000 between 2000 and 2012. Despite this increase, they didn’t move to a larger home, upgrade their vehicles, or go on regular shopping sprees. Instead, they put their extra cash toward their mortgage payment, which they paid off in 7 years,…

Achieving financial goals takes a little more than just luck. It requires discipline, dedication, and repeated sacrifice. It means setting short- and long-term financial goals and then following through on them. Unfortunately, these are things with which the majority of Americans seem to struggle. Research, however, suggests that simply writing out a list of financial…

Depending on where you live, having a car is a necessity. It’s difficult to get to work, school, or raise children without a safe and dependable vehicle. And in many areas, public transportation isn’t available, affordable, or reliable, making a car the only plausible way to get around. Many people, like single moms, low-income workers,…

Women endure a slew of disadvantages when it comes to financial security. Studies show that women on average pay more for mortgages, even though they’ve historically been better at paying them back.[1] Women endure a slew of disadvantages when it comes to financial security. Studies show that women on average pay more for mortgages, even…

As another holiday shopping season rolls around, many Americans are making changes to how they approach this year’s shopping. High inflation has had its grip on the economy for the past few years, leaving many people financially overwhelmed. Even with so many planning holiday budget cuts this year, between gifts, office parties, travel, and other…

If you’re facing a job loss, disability, underemployment, or other factors that make it difficult to support your family, you’re not alone. According to U.S. Census data, 38.1 million people were living in poverty in 2018.[1] That doesn’t include the families living above the poverty line who struggle to pay their bills and put food…

Most consumers agree that shopping on Amazon is quick and convenient. It caters to your desire to save time, avoid crowded stores, and you can scroll through thousands of items with a few clicks or swipes. In many ways, Amazon has revolutionized the retail industry in this era of convenience. Amazon was always my go-to…

Few people enjoy household chores. Washing dishes, cleaning bathrooms, and taking out the garbage are no one’s favorite pastimes. But most would agree that these types of chores serve an important function in families: teaching children responsibility. Many parents also use chores to introduce money concepts to their children. Complete all your chores for the…

If you are one to periodically check your credit score for free, you know it can pay dividends in more ways than one. If you’ve never checked your credit score before, or it’s been a while since you last have, it might be time to look into it. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that one…