Financial Basics

Financial success starts with a solid foundation. Get started today by learning about budgeting and financial basics.

Device Protection — Is Your Personal Information Safe?

Device Protection — Is Your Personal Information Safe?

A 2021 study by Deloitte found that the average American internet household owns 23 connected devices, an increase from an average of 11 devices in 2019, and that number is increasing each year. When we think of devices, we mostly consider our smartphones, home computers, and tablets.

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What is the True Cost of Convenience?

What is the True Cost of Convenience?

While home grocery and meal delivery are fast and convenient, it can be helpful to weigh the pros and cons of the added expenses involved if it is a choice and not a necessity. Outlined here are the key cost considerations of home grocery deliveries, restaurant deliveries, and home-delivered meal subscription boxes.

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Should You Try Cash Stuffing?

Should You Try Cash Stuffing?

#CashStuffing has quickly gained popularity on social media as people look for ways to adjust their spending to accommodate increasing prices at the gas pump and store shelves. Cash stuffing is basically a rebranding of the old tried and true method called the envelope system — take out cash at payday for discretionary purchases and divide it into dedicated envelopes for different spending categories, like gas, groceries, dining out, and so on. 

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Amazon Impersonators Are Stealing Millions and They’re Targeting All of Us

Amazon Impersonators Are Stealing Millions and They’re Targeting All of Us

According to the Federal Trade Commission, between July 2020 and June 2021, 96,000 reports of “Amazon impersonation” were filed. Six thousand of the targeted individuals lost money in the scam, with reported losses totaling more than $27 million. The real numbers are likely to be significantly higher, because not all instances of fraud and attempted fraud are reported.

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What to Know About Protecting Yourself During Tax Season

What to Know About Protecting Yourself During Tax Season

As the world continues to react to the virus, scammers are adapting their techniques to steal your money. With the increase in the number of transactions with the IRS this year (including child tax credit pre-payments, economic stimulus payments, and federal unemployment), the door has also become more widely open to thieves attempting to steal your tax benefits and your identity.

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Get Peace of Mind for Your Ride

Get Peace of Mind for Your Ride

Thinking about a new or “new to you” car? Having a reliable set of wheels is a crucial part of our daily lives, but it’s also a big financial decision that will likely impact your budget for the next several years. You know you’ll need to protect your ride with car insurance, and maybe even get a AAA membership, but are you aware of these programs that give you financial peace of mind?

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Take These Steps With Your Student Loans

Take These Steps With Your Student Loans

Now it’s time to take steps after the relief programs end. Borrowers should be ready to make student loan payments, even as policymakers discuss further extensions in the face of an increased number of borrowers becoming delinquent or defaulting on their loans. Listed here are steps to move forward as protections end:

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