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Infographic: Pay Yourself First

on September 10, 2024 | Save and Invest

Paying yourself first is the golden rule of personal finance. What does “paying yourself first” mean? It means making your savings a priority – before you spend your hard-earned money on anything else, you make sure that you allocate money to your savings.

When you pause to think about it, it makes a lot of sense. Do you care more about the financial wellness of your local coffee shop – or your own? Paying yourself first means putting your own needs, and your own future, before anything else. That can be a lot easier said than done, especially if money is tight, but it’s important to remember that you don’t have to do it all at once. Start small with just $100 each payday, or even a dollar a day, and watch your savings grow!

10 Back-to-School Hacks to Beat Inflation

on September 5, 2024 | Spend

Back-to-school season is here – the second-biggest shopping season of the year! However, this year is shaping up to be more expensive than ever due to continued inflation and high prices. As always, we’re here to help with some tips and tricks. You can get everything you need, trim your back-to-school spending, and keep your budget intact.

Infographic: 7 Kinds of Cybersecurity

on August 29, 2024 | Protect

Cybersecurity is the protection of online devices, networks, data and electronic systems from attacks by hackers, scammers, and cybercriminals. In today’s world, it seems like everything relies on computers and the Internet, so “cybersecurity” is a common term. However, there are many different kinds of cybersecurity which protect specific types of electronic data or systems that it’s important to understand. Download the full infographic to learn about 7 different types of cybersecurity.

All You Need to Know About One-Time Password Scams

on August 21, 2024 | Protect

One-time passwords (OTPs) are a crucial security feature in our digital age as an extra layer of protection for online transactions and account logins. An OTP is a string of characters that is automatically generated to authenticate a user for a single login session. In some cases, an OTP is a replacement for traditional login information, and in others, it’s a manner for multifactor authentication. In any case, scammers are often trying to hijack these codes so they can steal sensitive info, money, or both.

Infographic: 5 Uses for a Home Equity Loan

on August 13, 2024 | Borrow

Your home is one of your most valuable assets, so if you find yourself in need of some extra cash, you may want to consider tapping into that asset with a home equity loan. A home equity loan allows homeowners to borrow against the equity in their homes. The loan amount is based on the difference between the home’s current market value and the remaining balance due on the homeowner’s mortgage. You can use a home equity loan for a number of different major expenses, including:

Is There an End to Credit Card Debt?

on August 5, 2024 | Borrow

If you’re in credit card debt, it can sometimes feel like there’s no hope of ever getting out of it – but don’t lose hope! You can break the cycle, dig yourself out of credit card debt, and eventually live debt free as long as you use the right tools and are willing to put in the work. In this article, we’ll break down how you can start making progress in paying off your debt and start seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

Infographic: Saving Money While Vacationing Abroad

on July 24, 2024 | Spend

It’s the summertime and that means vacations! Exploring foreign shores and dining on exotic fare are the stuff that dream vacations are made of, but it can also get expensive quickly. This infographic walks you through ways that you can have a great experience without bursting your budget. Learn how to get the most for your money while vacationing overseas.

When Should I Give in to the Urge to Splurge?

on July 18, 2024 | Spend

We talk a lot about being smart with your money – prioritizing savings, minimizing debt, and keeping to your budget – so you might wonder, is it ever OK to give in to the urge to splurge?

Life is boring when you follow all the rules, all the time. Yes, even the money rules. Sometimes can, and should, give in to the urge to splurge. It’s just important that you do so sensibly. Here’s when and how to indulge responsibly.

Infographic: Interest Rate vs. APR

on July 9, 2024 | Borrow

Many people use the terms “interest rate” and “APR” interchangeably, but the two have different meanings and the distinction is important. This infographic defines these two crucial financial terms, shows the difference between them, and gives insight on how to apply this information to real world situations.

Which Home Improvement Projects Can I Do Myself?

on July 1, 2024 | Save and Invest

If you’d like to make some improvements to your home but cannot afford something as extensive as a full-blown renovation, then you might want to consider trying some DIY home improvements. In this article, we’ll discuss a number of different projects that you can tackle yourself. Some are simple, some are a little more involved, some can make a major difference to your home, and some are minor updates, so whatever you’re looking to do or however handy you are, there’s a project here for you!

With a bit of creativity, the right tools, some instructions, and the willingness to roll up your sleeves and get to work, you can spruce up your living space without spending big. Here are nine home improvement ideas you can do on your own.

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