Outfitting Your College Student’s Dorm Room on a Budget
Furnishing an empty space when you’re starting from scratch can get expensive pretty quickly. When you add this to other typical college expenses, the numbers can be truly alarming. An annual survey by the National Retail Federation revealed that college students spend an average of $836 on dorm furnishing costs, electronics, and clothing.
LEARN MORE
Grilling on a Budget
Summer is here, which means that both the weather and our grills are currently heating up! Grilling is one of America’s favorite pastimes. When you’re working with a limited budget, it might feel like you have to eliminate some of your favorite summer activities, but that’s not the case. Grilling on a budget is easy if you follow a few simple rules. And the next time you grill for your family, you’ll be able to do so without breaking the bank.
LEARN MORE
Tips for Buying A Used Car
When you buy a new car, it depreciates as soon as you drive it off of the lot. A car loses 20% of its value as soon as you buy it and up to 30% within the first year. This is significantly faster than depreciation in used vehicles. And, for this reason, many financial experts recommend only buying used. When you consider these factors, buying a used car starts to look pretty appealing. The process may seem intimidating if you’ve never done it before, but when you consider the savings, it’s worth it. And working out a few details before you buy your used car can save you even more later.
LEARN MORE
How to Know the Right Home Type for You
In the United States, moving season seems to peak in the beginning of April, and wind down by the end of September. Each year, over 40 million people move in our country each year, and the majority of those moves are happening right now.
LEARN MORE
What to Consider Before Cashing Out Your 401(k) Due to COVID-19
Certain changes under this year’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act are allowing struggling individuals to withdraw from their 401(k) before 59½, without incurring the same penalties that they would’ve faced a year ago. For many people who are struggling through this economic crisis, these changes may look like the answer to all of their problems. But there are a few things to consider before cashing out that 401(k), even with the reduced penalties.
LEARN MORE
How to Keep Your Wedding Budget Under Control
According to a 2019 study, the average cost of a wedding was $33,900. In a post-coronavirus world, this number will probably start to look a bit different. And let’s be real, many of us would like to plan a wedding that’s not so close to the average American annual income ($48,672) either way.
LEARN MORE
Tips to Throw an Affordable Socially Distanced 4th of July Party
In 2017, CNBC estimated that Americans would spend over $7 billion on cookouts and other 4th of July celebrations. With most firework shows and beach bashes canceled for the summer of 2020, this year might look a bit different. It can be a challenge to throw a last-minute party on a budget, especially one you're putting together with the coronavirus pandemic in mind. But it's not impossible.
LEARN MORE
Save Money and Eat Well This Summer with These Healthy Tips
Most of us are operating under the assumption that it’s too expensive to eat healthy. And if you’re only browsing the premium aisles at Whole Foods, this might be true. But otherwise, it doesn’t have to be this way. It is possible to save on groceries and have healthy meals on a budget. You just have to be ready to do the extra work. Choosing convenience over all other considerations is what tends to get us in trouble. When you make cautious and mindful decisions, your wallet and your health will thank you!
LEARN MORE
10 Money Saving Tips for Your Summer Vacation
We’ve all been eagerly anticipating its arrival, and the official start of summer is just a few days away. From June 20 through September 22, summer usually means more time with family and friends, longer days, more time spent basking in the sunshine, and for most American families, a summer vacation. In recent years, surveys have revealed that over 60% of Americans plan on taking a summer vacation. And this year, though travel is anticipated to be down due to ongoing concerns related to coronavirus, many Americans will indeed be taking a summer vacation away from home.
LEARN MORE
5 Great Ways to Save Money on a Staycation
Whether you’re saving for a major life event, catching up on debts, or you have a limited number of vacation days each year, it’s easy to spend a lot of time longing for a vacation. But the great thing about vacations is that they can be just about whatever you want them to be! With a little bit of creativity and pre-planning, you can enjoy some time off outside of the restrictions that larger vacations impose. When you need one, staycations are a great way to rest, recharge, and give yourself the break you deserve. And the best part: they’re often much more affordable, too. So, you can put that money you saved aside for something better.
LEARN MORE
