One of the greatest contributors to financial stress is debt. If you're having a tough time financially, it can feel isolating, but the truth is 80 percent of Americans have consumer debt. The only way to relieve financial stress is to make a plan and work your way through it. But to make that plan, you'll need to understand the type of debt you have, your best-case scenario to pay down your debt, and how to leverage your knowledge so that you can maintain or increase your credit score.
It seems like every few weeks we hear of another data breach occurrence. In fact, in the first half of 2019 data breaches resulting in exposed records is up by 54% over 2018, according to USA Today. More than 3,800 data breaches were reported in the first six months of this year, and just eight of those exposed more than 3.2 billion records, nearly 80% of all records exposed so far in 2019.
Fraud comes in many forms. A card data breach is one form that can have a large impact on consumers, banks and credit card companies. Card data breaches occur when credit or debit card information is stolen by cyber thieves who have accessed card payment information without authorization. The purpose of stealing credit and debit card information is to use the card numbers to make unauthorized purchases.
If you’re ever the victim or target of credit or debit card theft or fraud, catching it fast and reporting it to your bank or card issuer is key to resolving the situation.
No matter how enthusiastic you are, trying to formally teach finance to kids is a tall order that is likely to make their eyes glaze over. Hold their attention by keeping money lessons relevant, age-appropriate and a bit playful.
First finances
Preschoolers can grasp that money is exchanged for stuff. Teach them the names of coins, and as their counting ability develops, explain their values. Playing “store” lets them gain skills as they “buy,” “sell” and even “price” household items.
Although saving money can seem daunting, it doesn’t need to be overly complicated or time-consuming. A few simple changes might be all that’s needed to put money back in your wallet. Here are five money-saving tips that are easy to implement and can help now and in the future.
Budget: It’s the word we love to hate. Most of us understand the importance of keeping a budget, but for a variety of reasons still haven’t found the time or energy to actually implement one. The purpose of a budget isn’t to create a complex and lengthy document, it’s to help control spending and maximize savings to ensure financial security. Keep in mind, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all budget; each individual and family is unique, and their budgets should be equally unique.
Get started on your budget by following these four guidelines.
Getting fit and saving money are two of the most frequently cited goals, no matter what time of year. But it doesn’t take making a resolution to get you motivated or help keep your spending in check. If you want to slim your waist while padding your savings account, we have four tips to get you started.
