Category Archives: Budgeting

Budgeting, Credit & Debt, Saving, Student Loans · July 2, 2026

Borrowing to Pay For Your Kid’s College Just Got Riskier

New rules that went into effect on July 1 drastically change how parents can borrow to help pay for a child’s college education. The federal loan program for parents, PLUS loans, has been drastically reduced. Parents can “only” borrow $20,000…

Read Now ›

Budgeting, Car Loans, Credit & Debt, Debt, Saving · May 28, 2026

Cars Are Now a Huge Financial Risk

Cars have become a financial danger zone. The average price of a new car is around $50,000, and about half of that for a used car. And car loan rates are a lot higher than they were a few years…

Read Now ›

Budgeting, Credit & Debt, Saving · May 14, 2026

House Rules for Helping New Graduates

If you have a newly minted college graduate in the family, I want to say: Congratulations! That is a tremendous accomplishment. For them, and for you. Yes, I know it is a tough job market for young adults right now.…

Read Now ›

Budgeting, Debt, Emergency Funds, Health Insurance, Roth Accounts, Saving · May 7, 2026

Don’t You Dare Miss This Great Tax Refund Opportunity

With the April 15th tax deadline just passed, I know many of you are now eagerly awaiting a federal tax refund. And it could be a big chunk of money. The average federal refund this year is about $3,500, which…

Read Now ›

Budgeting, Credit & Debt, Credit Cards, Emergency Funds, Roth Accounts, Saving · February 26, 2026

Make Your Tax Refund Work for You

I want you to know that financial experts are expecting your household to be a big boost for the economy this year. My hope is that you will be smart and not behave as expected without careful consideration. Here’s what…

Read Now ›

Budgeting, Emergency Funds, Health Insurance, Insurance, Saving · February 19, 2026

Don’t Just Worry About Your Job Security

According to a recent Gallup survey, 6 in 10 of us expect unemployment to rise in 2026. That means that 6 in 10 of us are likely anxious about our jobs. Deep breath, my friends. Worry is human. The challenge…

Read Now ›

Budgeting, Emergency Funds, Financial Planning · January 29, 2026

My Big Pet Peeve

Most American households have a furry friend or two (or more) in the family. Around two-thirds of households report having a pet. I have no problem with that; I appreciate what joy and connection pets can provide. What I do…

Read Now ›

Budgeting, Credit & Debt, Saving · November 26, 2025

Gifting Financial Security to Your Adult Children

This Thanksgiving, as we gather with loved ones to celebrate gratitude and connection, it’s also a wonderful time to reflect on the ways we can support the people we care about most.

Read Now ›

Budgeting, Saving · June 4, 2025

Don’t Skip Summer Fun This Year

A recent Bankrate.com survey found that nearly 1 in 4 participants said they hadn’t yet decided if they would take a summer vacation. That’s a lot more undecideds than in 2024, which makes sense given rising concerns that we may…

Read Now ›