Buying a new home, as we all know, is a crazy, hectic process. Not only do you spend endless hours searching online through listings, but you eventually have to start physically looking at houses you’ve picked out. You go from this house to that house to a thousand more (not literally but it feels like it) only to be let down as reality isn’t anything like what the pictures have showcased. Maybe the house isn’t as nice as you thought it’d be. Maybe the layout is downright awful. The yard is too small. The neighborhood isn’t want you wanted. The list goes on. Having just purchased a home myself, let’s look at ways to take the stress out of buying your first home (or any home for that matter). Continue reading →

4 Ways My Childhood Experiences Shape My Current Spending Patterns

June 27, 2017September 25, 20193 Comments

By Kate Kole

I grew up in a middle-class Midwestern family. My dad was a college professor, and my mom self-employed. While we never went without, we also didn’t live extravagantly. Many of our activities were of the free or budget friendly variety, hiking at state parks, playing basketball in the driveway, at home movie nights, and card games around the kitchen table. We carved pumpkins in the fall, decorated frosted snowman cookies in the winter, planted flowers in the spring, and fished on the lake in the summer.

My childhood shaped me in a variety of ways. It provided me with an appreciation for quality time with the people I love. I grew to enjoy homemade meals, library books, and using my imagination for entertainment. I came to prefer spending time outdoors and still opt for weekend afternoons spent on our deck or playing bags in the yard over ones spent inside or shopping at the mall. My childhood also shaped the way I now view money. Today, I embrace so many of the same financial decisions my parents made while raising my siblings and me. Continue reading →

4 Things To Consider When Buying Your First Place

February 16, 2017February 16, 2017Leave a comment

By Julie Winsel

It’s part of the traditional American dream: the house with the white picket fence, preferably somewhere that’s green, according to Aubrey from Little Shop of Horrors. Having your own house means you own all the walls and get to hang things and paint to your heart’s content. It means you can landscape, plant trees, and put anything you want in the garage. Continue reading →

4 Simple Strategies For Long-Term Saving

October 4, 2016October 7, 2016Leave a comment

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By Kyle Bell

Holding money can definitely have its pitfalls, and it isn’t in a hustler’s mentality to save in abundance. But creating a security blanket for your family members, loved ones, and ultimately, yourself is a form of investment. It’s the most pivotal form of investment because it pertains to improving your environment and surroundings. Longevity and happiness is what we’re all aiming for, and saving ensures freedom and security. Money doesn’t make you happy, the discipline and philosophy behind managing finances is an art form that gives us pleasure, which in turn, translates to happiness. Continue reading →

What Budgeting Means In 2016

July 27, 2016July 25, 2016Leave a comment

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By Christine McClean

This year has been cataclysmic. America is experiencing one of its most eventful elections in history. Britain has made the shocking decision to leave the European Union (EU). Terrorist attacks seem to be becoming commonplace. Pokémon Go has taken the world by storm and changed the face of the gaming landscape. The list is endless. Quite a few of the changes that have occurred, or will soon occur, have profound impact on the way we live and do business. Continue reading →

5 Ways You Can Save Money At The Grocery Store

May 14, 2016May 13, 2016Leave a comment

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By Fadila Henry

Budgeting, while not everyone’s favorite word, is crucial in helping us manage our finances efficiently, so we’re able to get a lot more out of our money without selling ourselves short in the long run. Unlike make-up and handbags, we need food to live, so even when we’re suspicious of the large amounts we spend on groceries, we tend to overlook it because it’s food, it’s for our survival! Luckily, this is an area where a few small changes can make a difference to our cash flow and can instill some healthy shopping habits in our lives. So here’s a few tips to get you started.   Continue reading →