Looking back at account balances from the beginning of my debt free journey in 2007, I had $17,000 in credit card debt, a $7,000 car loan, and $42,000 in student loan debt. A grand total of $66,000 of debt. My two best credit cards had interest rates around 10% then I had another at 16% … Read more
With prices of food, gas, and everything else top of mind these days, I wanted to take a moment to share some of the ways I save money. For most people, it’s the bigger decision things (the size/location of your home or the age/type of your vehicle) that can make the most significant impact on … Read more
What does it mean to build a strong financial foundation? Like many others first starting out in life, I had little knowledge of personal finance concepts when I was in my 20s. While out in the real world for the first time on my own, I fumbled my way through being a responsible adult through … Read more
In recognition of America Saves Week, I wanted to focus on saving money for this month’s blog. The question in particular I’d like to discuss is: Why is it so hard to save money? Let’s unpack some thoughts on that question and how you might be able to break the cycle. If you’re like me … Read more
Tony Robbins said “Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible” but how do you set financial goals in a way so you can actually achieve them? Today I’d like to share some ideas for how to set financial goals in a way to have the greatest chance of success. … Read more
As I count down the last few days of the year, there’s something I do that’s become a bit of a tradition. In fact, at the end of each quarter, I’ve grown to enjoy logging into all of my accounts to write down all of my account balances. Keeping track of asset account balances as … Read more
It happens to all of us — more often than we care to admit. But it happens. Nowadays, it’s so easy to spend money with a click of a button or swipe of a card. We are all bombarded constantly by marketing messages and the purchase suggestions are often times spot on. You’re not alone … Read more
I have recently been putting my thoughts about credit down on paper while writing financial education curriculum for a local non-profit so I thought I’d share my top 4 practical ways to improve your credit score. Before getting in to my tips, I want to share why I think building credit is important. If you … Read more
What Is Compound Interest? Compound Interest is interest on interest. What does that even mean!? When investing, compound interest is when money earns a return on investment and those returns are kept inside the investment so they can continue to grow too. It’s like placing a bet and if you win letting your winnings ride! … Read more
SMART Goals Did you know that the majority of people have given up on their new years resolutions by the end of January? When it comes to your personal finances, don’t let the same happen by setting clear realistic goals. Your goals should be: *Specific* What exactly are you going to accomplish? For example, rather … Read more