by Lisa Whitley | Sep 14, 2021 | Budgeting, How-to Budget, Lifestyle, Spending Habits |
Otto von Bismarck was the first leader of a unified Germany in 1871, but you may know him as the originator of the phrase “The art of the possible,” which, quite obviously, has everything to do with reducing your spending on food… Let’s step back a bit. When...
by Gayle Evezich | Sep 8, 2021 | Retirement & Investing |
I am a single woman over fifty which makes me part of one of the fastest growing demographics in our country. I call this group SWOF (Single Women Over Fifty). The growth of this demographic is attributable to three ongoing cultural shifts that began a few...
by Lisa Whitley | Sep 1, 2021 | Debt, How-to Pay off Debt, Retirement & Investing, Savings |
Congratulations! You’ve got your emergency savings locked down and now you are moving on to the next step in your journey: paying off high interest debt. While you rightly prioritized building up an emergency fund over retirement savings, now what? Credit Card Payoff...
by Damian Dunn | Aug 11, 2021 | Kids, Taxes |
The advanced Child Tax Credit payments have started appearing in our bank accounts and mailboxes and many people are wondering exactly what they should do with them. Frankly, it can be a tricky question to tangle with. However, there are a few options that stand out. ...
by Damian Dunn | Aug 5, 2021 | Housing |
Date: August 3, 2021 Topic: The CDC announced a 60 day limited moratorium on evictions in areas with high Covid infections. Background: The Covid-19 eviction moratorium expired in June and was extended to the end of July. What’s new: This is a...
by Gayle Evezich | Aug 4, 2021 | Budgeting, How-to Budget, Preventing Future Debt, Psychology of Money, Spending Habits, Spending Habits |
It’s that time of year with festive commercials on repeat, stores full of holiday decorations, music and alluring aromas, and conversations turning to gifts. It’s hard not to be in the holiday spirit and buy, buy, buy. The pressure to get just the right gift can be...
by Gayle Evezich | Jun 25, 2021 | Retirement & Investing |
The Child Tax Credit Update portal is now available to those who choose to opt out of receiving advance child tax credit monthly payments. Background: The American Rescue Plan (which was signed into law in March of 2021) increased the child tax credit from $2000...
by Lisa Whitley | Jun 21, 2021 | Housing, Mortgages, Preventing Future Debt |
“Everyone should buy a house.” You’ve heard it, I’ve heard it. And it is wrong. Worst of all, it perpetuates that idea that renters are somehow “less than” homeowners in our society. To be clear, there is nothing wrong with buying a house in the...
by Lisa Whitley | Jun 21, 2021 | Buying a House, Buying a House, Housing, How-to Pay off Debt, Mortgages |
If you recently purchased your home with less than a 20% down payment, it is fairly certain that part of your monthly payment includes private mortgage insurance (PMI). Private lenders (i.e. not FHA or VA) add PMI to your monthly payment to protect themselves against...
by Gayle Evezich | Jun 21, 2021 | Buying a House, Housing, Mortgages |
Hey all, I just turned 54 and will likely pay off my home in just over 2 years if I continue to make the regular payments. I could pay off the balance ($34k) today, but that would take most of my savings. What are your thoughts on the best course of action? I have...
