While retirement has always signalled a big change in people’s lives, there was a time when the financial decisions surrounding retirement were less complex. Spend your career working for the same company and retire with your family home loan repaid. Perhaps you had some savings in the bank earning a decent interest rate, and your […]
Money is not everything, but how you manage it can be key to whether you make it or break it. Iowa State University Extension, in partnership with Iowa Central Community College’s English Second Language program, taught “Your Money, Your Future”, a course aimed at helping Storm Lake become more financially literate. The course provided some […]
Moving to a new state can bring opportunity, adventure — and increased financial strain. From packing boxes to settling into your new home, moving costs can add up. But you can cut costs each step of the way and maybe even make a little money. 1. Before you go As you prepare to move, downsizing […]
From seasoned ravers to festival newbies alike, everyone’s pinching pennies when it comes to festival season. Here’s how to have fun in the sun on a budget! Between transportation, festival food, hotels, camping supplies, and outfits, festival living is not for the faint-hearted. Tickets alone are not cheap, and that’s only the beginning of a […]
The typical millennial has absolutely nothing saved for retirement, according to a recent study released by the National Institute on Retirement Security. More precisely, 66% of millennials have zero socked away for retirement. The median savings among the remaining 34% is $19,100, which puts the vast majority of my generation far behind where we need […]
Savvy husbands and wives spend a lot of time coordinating when to start taking Social Security to maximize their total benefits. But it’s just as crucial to plan for when that income is slashed after the first spouse dies. One silver lining in Social Security is that no matter which spouse dies first, the survivor […]
Look for spending leaks. Like a plumber searching for the source of a high water bill, examine your spending habits carefully to identify significant but unrecognized expenditures that may be leaking from your cash flow stream. This is best accomplished by preparing a rudimentary budget, and then carefully tracking each expense incurred over a one-month […]
Are your receipts scattered about your home and statements piled high on your desk? Spring is the season that we typically clean, organize, and purge our home of excess things. It also coincides with tax season as we begrudgingly sort through receipts and statements while gathering data for our annual returns. If the paperwork is […]
Saving more money is one of those broad goals everyone sets for themselves, but with so many tips and tricks out there, it can be hard to know exactly where to begin, especially when the temptation to buy a new pair of sneakers is always looming in the back of your head. Fear not, budget […]
With T-Mobile and Sprint opting to merge and promising lower prices, wireless wars are starting to heat up — but consumers don’t have to wait to start saving on their wireless bills, according to experts. On Sunday, the two titans reached a $26.5 billion merger agreement to take on rivals Verizon and AT&T, touting lower […]
It’s no secret a kitchen appliance is a major purchase. So you might be surprised to learn some of these clever money-saving tips from industry insiders. Don’t focus on seasonal sales You don’t want to wait until your refrigerator or oven breaks before replacing it, but you don’t need to time your purchases around Memorial […]
Most people make firm financial resolutions every New Year, especially after spending big during the holiday season. However, these resolutions often go unfulfilled because most individuals disregard the importance of creating an effective money-saving strategy. Apart from setting aside your extra earnings in a fixed account, you ought to develop financial discipline if your end […]
