Fidelity Goal Booster is a great tool to help you reach your savings goals. Even if you don't have access to Goal Booster through your employer, you can still use the platform to save for your future. Read our article and find out how.
Christmas Gift Spending Expected to Rise in 2023
Boost Your Financial Security: How to Save $1,000 Quickly
How You're Passing Up Money Every Day (And How to Stop)
Ditch the Budget and Create a Spending Plan
Happy Thanksgiving!
How to Get Current on Your Bills in 6 Steps
Manage Your Money: My Financial Journey (excerpt)
Some will say that making money mistakes when you are young is acceptable because you are learning. I say if we learn the principles of wealth management and teach the generations that are to come, they can avoid the pitfalls that caused us to stumble.
I’ve done it all right and done it all wrong. Although I have an undergraduate degree in Finance (from the amazing Florida State University), I did not have one personal finance class throughout my academic career. I graduated with 20+ credit cards. Do you remember the organizers with the slots for cards, I was the person who filled them all up with different credit cards and I was crazy enough to carry them with me. Can we say prime target for identity theft?
Conflicting Goals: Entertainment Vs Preserving Cash
According to last week’s Wall Street Journal, Netflix gained an additional 16 million new subscribers.
Just this year alone, the stock is up 34%. I call that a win!
The average emergency, prior to the pandemic, could be resolved with $400. That annual Netflix subscription is 39% of what we would need to stash away for an emergency and gain some peace of mind. According to a recent survey by The Wall Street Journal and the Harris Poll, Americans spent an average of $37 per month on streaming services in March 2020. That’s an annual expense of $444. Can we say ching ching again.
Facing the Fact that You May Not Be Able To Pay Your Mortgage or Rent (Coronavirus Part 5)
Many people world wide are facing reduced hours or have been laid off from their jobs completely. Shelter and food are a basic necessities. What do you do if you can’t pay your mortgage or rent?
It is best to address things as soon as you are aware that there may be an issue. This gives you more time and potentially more options. Find out what resources are available to you before your rent or mortgage payments are actually behind.
Put Yourself in a Position to Soar Once This Crisis is Over (Coronavirus Part 3)
Some Sales are Hard to Pass Up
Within a matter of weeks, the item that was marked down to $40 jumped to $135. The original price of the blazer was $180. They are great quality and last for years, but that price point is more than I am willing to pay for a garment of clothing. When I notice they are having a sale, I proceeded quickly to identify what I wanted and ended up buying 5 blazers that day. If you’re asking yourself how does this relate to the stock market, I’m getting there.
The Stock Market is Crashing
On October 10, 2018, at 3:45PM EST, I looked at my account and all I saw was red. All I could ask myself was “what the heck is going on today”. I didn’t know if what was happening was related to the political climate in the U.S. or if something had taken place internationally. I flipped on CNN and Bloomberg and saw, “BREAKING NEWS - STOCK MARKET DOWN 800 POINTS”.
Everyone is panicking and selling out of their positions.
The Cost of Less Than Perfect Credit
Be Grateful For The Problems That Are Solved By Money
Anger: Are You Poisoning Yourself
I’ve read that “holding on to anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die”. What happens when you are the other person? I’m speaking of a situation where you are angry with yourself. What happens when you are angry with you? In my experience, this can lead to a debilitating scenario where you give up on yourself or aim lower than your best. It can lead to poor decision making based on guilt, shame, or unworthiness. It can cause you to sabotage your progress. These are just a few of the negative effects of anger and not forgiving yourself or others.
7 Steps to Thanksgiving Success
$4.99 per person is what the American Farm Bureau reports will be spent for Thanksgiving dinner. That means a family of 10 would spend just under $50 for the entire meal. Is that close to what you plan to spend? Sometimes, we overspend on the meal and overindulge during the meal. We stuff ourselves to the point were we become lethargic and cannot move. This overindulgence harms us physically and financially. Use the action plan below to help you maintain your financial wellness.
Here's an action plan to help you enjoy the holiday while achieving your financial goals.
Medical Bills & Advocates
Medical bills are the #1 reason people file for bankruptcy in the U.S. It is estimated that 56 million Americans are struggling to pay their medical bills. I had just let my Cobra coverage go because it was costing me $600 a month out of pocket and I twisted my ankle. I thought the pain of the injury was ridiculous until I started receiving the medical bills and then the phone calls. If you are considering filing for bankruptcy because of medical bills, explore and exhaust all of your options. Know that you are not alone. Be strategic and empower yourself.
Marriage & Money
I read a story in a magazine column recently where a woman was asking for advice. She caught her husband of 11 years cheating and was having trouble deciding whether or not to stay in the marriage. From the little bit that the woman shared, I could sense the turmoil and conflict she was experiencing. It’s easy to say “I’d leave him” when you have nothing vested in the marriage. I can’t say with certainty what I would do, but I looked at the story from a personal finance perspective and thought I’d share my personal thoughts and suggestions on some things that I would think about during this crisis.
