Real financial wellness tips given by real people

With gas prices and inflation on the rise, a lot of families are turning to staycations as a creative way to take a break without breaking the bank. A staycation is just what it sounds like: taking a vacation while you stay home or nearby. Staycation ideas include day trips and checking out fun local …

As temperatures soar, so can utility bills, making summer an expensive time for a lot of households. But don’t sweat it—there are some good strategies to reduce energy consumption and keep costs down during the warmer months. Here are five ways to save on utilities in summer: 1. Use fans and natural ventilation Before turning …

Do you have a credit card you’re not using? Think you’re being responsible by keeping it in a drawer so you won’t charge anything on it? It might seem like a sensible thing to do, but an unused credit card can actually carry a few risks. Here are some bad things that can happen, and …

For a lot of us, Amazon is the first place we think to look for things we need. Whether it’s a new vacuum cleaner, shampoo, or Ziploc bags, we’ll check to see how quickly we can get it, and what the price is. Usually, we can get it within a day or two (sometimes even …

Do you hate math? We get it. But at the same time, it’s really important to understand the basics of finance, so you can manage your money effectively. Here are our favorite—and painless even for those of us who aren’t math geniuses—5 finance resources to help boost your knowledge about things like budgeting, saving, and …

It happens more and more often these days—you’re shopping online and you see an option at checkout for ‘Pay over time’, ‘Pay in 4’, or ‘Pay flexibly’ buy now pay later (BNPL) programs. Sometimes it’s for a higher-priced item, like a refrigerator or a computer. Other times it’s for something inexpensive, like a $30-$40 pair …

When we make budgets, we plan for all the expenses we know we’ll have to pay for. But what about the things that aren’t routine, those surprise costs that can hit us hard? Here are 5 common unexpected expenses to be prepared for. 1. Car repairs Whether you have a vintage car or a more …

Summer camp is a wonderful experience for kids—it’s an opportunity for kids to learn new skills, make friends, and learn to be a little more independent by sleeping away from home for a week or two. It can also be a good chance for parents to get a little break from the day-to-day family routine, …

Insurance can be a great safety net to protect you from paying large amounts of money if your home or car is damaged or broken into. In some cases—like when another driver hits you and it’s clearly their fault—the other party’s insurance covers all costs, and your insurance rates typically aren’t affected. Or if you …

Student loan payments can seem like they’ll be hanging over your head forever, and it’s easy to just accept them as a long-term part of your life. But there are some things you can do to pay them off faster and be out from under them sooner than you think. Imagine how nice it would …

You say it’s your birthday… well, it probably isn’t today. But when it is, there are some great birthday freebies you should be sure not to miss. Most of these, unfortunately, are only offered on your birthday. And they’re not exactly health food. So pace yourself, but enjoy! They say there’s no free lunch… but …

You’ve probably heard of Temu, the new app-based marketplace. You may have rolled your eyes at its tagline telling you to ‘shop like a billionaire’. You also may have seen its Super Bowl commercials, and been surprised to see them airing alongside established and well-known brands. And sometimes you might read or hear things that …