Don’t let money issues come between you and your family members. See how to manage family finances and topics such as borrowing and lending money.
Most of us don’t think twice about buying a coffee or picking up the lunch tab for a friend who’s low on cash. But what about when a friend asks you for a more significant loan? Before you answer yes or no, ask yourself these questions. They can help you decide if you should lend money to a friend. Why Do They Need It? While you wouldn...
Giving teens a well-rounded financial education includes helping them understand credit cards. From the pros and cons of credit card usage, to how they differ from debit cards, giving your teen an understanding of the potential risks and rewards of using credit cards can help them avoid costly mistakes in the future. Let’s take a look at these im...
If you have a credit card in good standing, chances are you have received communication from the credit card company offering you the opportunity to add an authorized user to your account. It’s a quick, easy process. But there can be real financial consequences if you’re not careful about who you allow to charge on your account. Here’s what y...
Preparing for marriage is always an exciting, joyful time. There are also financial considerations to take into account, and this is particularly true of couples who are remarrying after divorce or death of a spouse. Addressing these concerns before saying “I Do” can help minimize questions and concerns for both the couple and their extended fa...
When it comes to teaching kids positive financial habits, it’s important for parents to practice what they preach. If you talk about the benefits of frugality but your kids see you spending frivolously, which example do you think they’re going to emulate? Because actions speak louder than words, you don’t want to let your kids catch you makin...
If you believe the old axiom “opposites attract,” you won’t be surprised if you find yourself in a relationship with someone who’s different from you. But when money habits are one of those differences, your partner’s quirks can quickly go from charming to alarming. It is definitely challenging for spenders and savers to navigate being in...
With the school year in full swing and the holidays quickly approaching, it’s the perfect time to do a family financial audit. Don’t let the sound of it intimidate you. It simply means taking the time to evaluate expenses that affect the whole family and seeing where you can make adjustments to save money. Now that doesn’t sound so bad, right...
Kids and allowances. It’s one of those hot-button parenting topics on which everyone is guaranteed to have an opinion, and they’re all going to be different. We’re not here to weigh in on whether or not you should give your kids an allowance. That’s a decision for every family to make based on their unique financial circumstances. But if yo...
Teaching kids of all ages important financial lessons about money and savings doesn’t have to be an unpleasant chore. In fact, it can actually be fun! The trick is to make conversations about saving money as frequent and natural as anything else you talk about as a family. Of course, what you talk about and how much detail you delve into will var...
If talking with others about financial issues makes you nervous, you’re not alone. Most people would rather do just about anything than have the “money talk.” But avoiding talking about important issues won’t make them go away, and can actually end up damaging your financial future. Here’s who you should have a money talk with soon, and w...
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