Q: I’m doing some home renovations this spring, and I’m not sure how to finance it all. Do I take out a loan? Should I just charge all the expenses to my credit card? There are so many options! Which one makes the most sense for my finances? A: Whether you’re gutting your entire kitchen or only […]

We don’t get much practice thinking about the cost of homes throughout our day-to-day lives. You probably know how much you could reasonably spend on a night out or a spontaneous vacation. Some quick back-of-the-napkin calculations can provide you with a reasonable budget for most daily expenses. But when it comes to home prices, they […]

If you’re planning a trip overseas, airfare may be your largest vacation expense. Even when flying relatively close to home, the cost of your airline ticket can take a big bite out of your vacation budget. Fortunately, there are loads of ways to save on airfare and leave you with more to spend at your […]

Despite the increasing digitization of money management, there is still a place in the economy for paper checks—and along with them, check-washing scams. According to the National Check Fraud Center, check washing has an $815 million annual price tag for U.S. consumers. Unfortunately, instances of check washing often go unnoticed until it’s too late to […]

Giving yourself an end-of-year financial review is a wonderful way to check on the progress you’ve made toward your goals, highlight areas needing improvement, and update your accounts, funds, and investments. Here’s all you need to know about this important end-of-year ritual. Step 1: Review all your debts and create a payoff plan Take a […]

It’s never too early—or too late—to start planning for your retirement. However, like all long-term savings goals, retirement should ideally be planned for as much in advance as possible. That’s because the more time you allow for your savings to grow, the bigger the nest egg you’ll be rewarded with when it’s time to cash […]