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17 Budget-Friendly Autumn Activities Your Family Will Love

This entry is part 4 of 4 in the series Budget-Friendly Activities Your Family Will Love

17 Budget-Friendly Autumn Activities Your Family Will Love

Note:  This post contains affiliate links.  Read my policy here.

And now we’ve come full circle!

This year has brought us bountiful lists of winter, spring, and summer activities that are fun for the family and great for your budget!

Now that school is back in session and the leaves are just on the cusp of changing color, I’m ready to share some of my family’s favorite budget-friendly autumn activities.

Looking to enjoy some outdoor autumn adventures? Want to cozy up with some fun ideas inside on those windy, chilly day? Try out these activities for family fun that cost next to nothing!  [Read more…]

6 Ways to Save Money on Your Car Insurance in Just Minutes

6 Ways to Save Money on Your Car Insurance in Just Minutes

You may not know this about me, but I actually spent a decade working in the insurance industry as a mathematician. And during the last four years of that run, my main job was to analyze data and create predictive models to build auto insurance rates.

That’s right, my team and I figured out how much our insurance company should charge people for car insurance.

So I know firsthand that there are a lot of factors that go into the calculation of your insurance premium.

And there are plenty that you can’t change — at least not easily. Got a ticket or an accident on your record? It’ll take years for that mistake to stop impacting your rate.

But there are some things you can do almost instantaneously that can have a huge impact on your car insurance rates right now.

In fact, here are six of my favorite insurance hacks for lowering your rate right away:  [Read more…]

5 Big Life Insurance Mistakes You Didn’t Know You Were Making

5 Big Life Insurance Mistakes You Didn't Know You Were Making

So you think you need life insurance. Or you have it already . . . but you’re worried your family isn’t sufficiently protected.

For many people, life insurance is a complex, intimidating entity with high stakes. Today, we’re looking at five of the biggest mistakes people make with their life insurance policies. And we’re demystifying the process, so you can take care of your loved ones with confidence. [Read more…]

Cool Your Home Without Emptying Your Wallet

Cool Your Home Without Emptying Your Wallet

Note:  This post contains affiliate links.  Read my policy here.

Hellooo, summer!

The school year is coming to an end. The temperature outside is climbing. And the heat inside? Well, that’s heading up to uncomfortable levels too.

Staying cool in your home this summer can, unfortunately, cost you dearly.

If you want your home to be pleasantly livable when the outdoors feels like an oven, you may think that you need to pay for the privilege. But keeping cool doesn’t have to drain your wallet.  In fact, here are some easy ways to stay comfy and money smart.
[Read more…]

5 Habits of People with Excellent Credit

5 Habits of People with Excellent Credit

You know a strong credit score is invaluable to your financial life. Want to secure the best mortgage rate? Nab that charming apartment? Pay less for your insurance premiums? Your FICO score, the most popular score used by lenders, makes it happen.

Ranging from 300 to a perfect 850, your FICO score determines what credit is available to you and at what rate. According to NerdWallet, once you hit 760, you’ll usually be offered the very best rates.

But some people can’t resist the challenge of achieving a FICO score in the 800s. If you want to know how to gain -– and maintain –- a top-notch score, you can learn from these five habits of card-carrying members of the 800 club.  [Read more…]

11 Perfect Wedding Gifts to Buy on a Budget

11 Perfect Wedding Gifts to Buy on a Budget

Note:  This post contains affiliate links.  Read my policy here.

It’s that time of year again. Wedding season is in full swing!

And, if you’re committed to living on a budget, your worry may be that you have to choose between overly expensive and awful gifts for the happy couples.

But you can be generous, thoughtful, and money-savvy all at once.

In fact, here are 11 perfect wedding gifts that are sure to delight newlyweds without breaking the bank!  [Read more…]

6 Smart Things to Do with Your Tax Refund

6 Smart Things to Do with Your Tax Refund

The holidays are long gone, but it feels like Christmas morning when your tax refund lands in your bank account!

Before you burn through that cash, though, take a beat. With the right strategy, you can use your refund to make some powerful financial moves in your life.

Here are the steps you should take — in order — to maximize the benefit of that windfall . . .

[Read more…]

How to Build Your Credit History From Scratch

How to Build Your Credit History from Scratch

Being an all-cash person isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it probably means you’ve got little or no credit history to speak of — which can come back to bite you when you finally do need to apply for a loan or line of credit.

But starting on the right foot when it comes to building credit isn’t as hard as you might think. In fact, you can by tackling a few basic steps.  [Read more…]

Here’s Why I’m Not Paying for College

Here's Why I'm Not Paying for College

Let’s get one thing straight: I am 100% pro-college.

If a college education helps you get to where you want to be professionally and if you can afford it, then you go ahead and earn that college degree! I spent six years in college and graduate school and benefitted hugely from both experiences. So I’d love to see my son succeed in higher education.

But the price tag for that education … well, that’s going to be on him. Here are four reasons I’m not paying for my kid’s college costs:  [Read more…]