We just finished the first quarter of 2022. Did you start a budget? If not, don’t make it too complicated. The most important part of preparing a budget is getting started. You can track your spending with Quicken, Mint, Excel or paper and pen. Here are some helpful guidelines. I call it the 50/20/30 rule. […]
finance
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Five Ways to Reach Your Financial Goals in 2022
Make 2022 the year you achieve a level of financial wellness that you have always striven for. Whether your goals involve spending less, saving more or any number of things, it’s never too late to start working toward them. It may seem daunting, but balancing your finances doesn’t have to be the scary feat it […]
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What You Should Know if You’re Buying Your First Home
The housing market has exploded since 2020. The pandemic fueled a house-buying frenzy with remote work and leaving large urban areas to live in different parts of the country is becoming more mainstream. According to the National Association of Realtors, 31 percent of all home purchases since 2020 have been made by first-time homebuyers. “Buying […]
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Making Sense of Confusing Tax Situations Created by Pandemic
In 2020, Americans experienced firsts across virtually every aspect of life. Now, with an extended tax deadline of May 17 approaching, the implications for such an unusual year have some people wondering how all those changes might affect their tax refund. From job loss to new tax breaks for unemployment benefits, plus three economic stimulus […]
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How to Protect Yourself from Fraud When Shopping Online
Where do you see yourself in a year? If you’re like most Americans, you might expect to be dealing with the financial fallout of identity theft. Three in five Americans (60 percent) believe it’s likely that identity theft will cause them a financial loss in the next year, according to new research conducted by The […]
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Five Steps to Avoiding Money Disagreements for Couples
Love is in the air as Valentine’s Day approaches. But one of the most-common reasons relationships don’t make it is because two people don’t see eye-to-eye on money. How can you save your relationship and work through these differences? Here are some tips for couples who can’t seem to agree on financial matters. 1. Talk […]
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How to Build (or Rebuild) Your Emergency Savings
The new year provides an opportunity to reevaluate different aspects of your life, and that includes your budget and savings habits. Planning for emergencies by building or rebuilding a savings account to withstand the unforeseen can increase confidence in your overall financial health and reduce worry that a significant life event will negatively impact your […]
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3 Tips for Landing a PPP Loan That Works for Your Small Business
COVID-19 has sparked unprecedented impact across industries and has changed the way almost every business operates. And while many of these businesses have probably sought funding in the past — whether business loans for expansion, venture capital to launch or otherwise — the concept of a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that so many businesses raced […]
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Study Shows Most Americans Optimistic About a Brighter Financial Future in 2021
As you’re planning out your 2021, one more essential item to put on your list is a financial checkup. According to Fidelity Investments’ 2021 New Year Financial Resolutions Study, more than two-thirds of Americans experienced financial setbacks in 2020, often from the loss of a job or household income or another emergency expense. Even those […]