Financial Education and Outreach

Saving Money through Meal Planning

For many people, food can be the hardest line item in their budget to manage.  One of the most common money saving tips for food is meal planning.  However, the thought of meal planning may be overwhelming, especially if you typically live…
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Credit Card Debt and the Myths to Consider

Have you ever noticed how frequently you receive credit card offers? They may come in the mail, through email, or when you make a purchase with online retailers.  Often, these solicitations will say that you are pre-approved and that your purchase…
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New Year’s Resolutions to Build Wealth

It's that time of year again - time to set your new year’s resolutions.  Common goals usually revolve around weight loss, but do not forget about the other areas of your life that might benefit from a fresh start.  That way, if you fall…
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Rental Eviction Prevention During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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We are facing extraordinary challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Unemployment rates are high and a partial or complete loss of income for many Americans is leading people into financial crisis.  For those who have had a sudden loss in…
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Financial Success amidst COVID and the Holiday Season

This year has been challenging for everyone, and we are all still adjusting to living in the midst of a global pandemic. On top of that, we are now entering one of the most financially stressful times of the year: the holiday season. Many families…
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Holiday Shopping with Anything but Cash can quickly turn into DEBT

As you start to create your holiday gift lists, you will likely encounter retailers – including online retailers - that are offering layaway services as well as “buy now, pay later” plans (through online providers such as Quadpay, Sezzle,…
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The Financial Life of Pets

One of the most heartwarming scenes in movies is when a child receives a puppy he/she has been wishing for.  The first few moments when a dog meets its new owner, or when they are reunited after a long time apart, can make even the strongest…
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Costs of Homeownership

House hunting is a very exciting process and as you start to zero in on that perfect home, you need to dig deeper into your budget.  How much of a down payment will you need? How much will your monthly mortgage payment be? What interest rates…
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Understand the Federal Tax Deferral before it’s too Late

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If you are a federal employee or member of the military, the 6.2% social security tax withholding on your regular paycheck is currently on a mandatory deferral until January 2021 if your taxable wages are below a certain threshold; $4,000 per…
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Is Now a Good Time to Refinance Student Loans?

Interest rates are low, so it is the perfect time to refinance, right? Not necessarily! Whether a “refi” makes financial sense will depend on several factors related to your personal portfolio of loans.  Here are a few tips to consider…
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Positivity in a Pandemic

The news, social media and likely your phone calls with friends lately have been filled with doom and gloom.  COVID-19 has changed our lives. For many people, the changes have not been welcome or enjoyable and are far from over.  There will…
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Affordable Summer Fun while Social Distancing

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Every summer brings the challenge of trying to cram as much fun into two months as possible without depleting your bank account.  Summer of 2020 brings the added challenge of having fun while following the CDC recommendations for social distancing.…
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Spring Cleaning Your Bank Account to Improve Your Financial Health

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Now that you are spending more time at home, your financial situation has likely changed.  Your income may have decreased due to the pandemic and you cannot spend money on shopping and entertainment like you once did. As a result, your bank…
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Budgeting in a Crisis

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We are a few months into the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects are being felt hard by Americans, especially financially.  While states are starting to lift restrictions, the economy will not automatically bounce back.  We need to prepare to…
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How to Defend Against Future Abuse

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Abuse of older Americans comes in many forms and it can be overwhelming to think of all the tactics a fraudster may use to obtain your personal and financial information.  It’s important to keep track of current strategies of abuse but it…
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