Author: Deb Hipp
5 ways taking on a side hustle can help you get ahead
Are you tired of never having enough money for emergency savings, large purchases, or vacations? If so, a temporary side hustle could be the means …
Cut or trim these 4 expenses to get ahead in 2023
Do your New Year’s resolutions include getting your finances under control so you save for emergencies, large purchases, and life goals like going back to …
5 things to know before holiday shopping on that 0% credit card
If you have good or excellent credit, you may qualify for a credit card offer with an introductory 0 percent APR. Then, when you’re …
Medicare open enrollment 2023: Everything you need to know
During Medicare open enrollment, you can join, switch or drop a Medicare health plan, prescription drug plan or Medicare Advantage Plan. This fall, the Medicare open …
6 Black Friday scams & how to avoid them
You can save hundreds of dollars on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. But if you’re not careful, you could also get ripped off by scammers …
Here’s how much your login credentials are worth on the dark web
If you think there’s only a slim chance that fraudsters might steal your login credentials and use them for financial fraud, identity theft and other criminal activities, it’s …
8 ways to lower your prescription drug costs
If you’re charging prescriptions to a credit card or digging for change in your car and couch every month to scrounge up enough money to pay …
Returning to the office? It’s more expensive than when you left
After more than two years of working remotely, many employees now find themselves returning to the long-lost office where they once spent their workdays. Whether …
6 hidden travel fees you should never pay
If you’re planning to travel soon, you’re probably eager to get out of town, kick back and explore a new destination. But don’t be too quick …
Don’t be fooled by these scammers pretending to be the feds
Government impostor scams decreased in 2021 after peaking during the pandemic, but scam victims still lost twice as much money that year to fake government agents, …
Seniors, don’t get ripped off by these scams
As summer approaches, now is a great time to remind older adults, along with their relatives or caregivers, that scammers love to prey on seniors, whom they …
Here’s why fewer Americans are planning on taking summer vacations
Fewer Americans now compared to those surveyed in 2021 rate their financial situation positively, according to Gallup’s annual Economy and Personal Finance poll conducted in April 2022. …
5 steps to fraud-proof your finances
Consumers lost more than $5.8 billion in 2021 to fraud, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). That’s a 70 percent increase over fraud loss in 2020, …
Is this the world’s most evil money scam?
Business email compromise (BEC) is one of the most “financially damaging” online crimes, according to the FBI. With a BEC scam, the criminal sends what looks like …
Can’t pay your credit card bills? Do this now
If you’ve racked up too much credit card debt during the pandemic, you’re not alone. Around 42 percent of consumers added to their credit card debt since …
7 simple ways to save $100 every month
How would you like to have an extra $100 or more every month? If that seems impossible, don’t be too quick to assume that your budget …
5 ways to help Ukrainians without getting scammed
With wildfires raging through Western states, Hurricane Ida battering Louisiana and endless tragedies on the nightly news, it’s natural to want to donate to organizations that …
8 ways to save cash on gas
If you’re like most Americans, you probably grit your teeth while you watch the ticker on the gas pump until it finally stops at a …
Charity scammers are at it again, this time for Ukraine
Like millions of people around the world, you’ve probably been moved by the suffering, despair and displacement of the people of Ukraine caused by Russia’s ongoing …
Always paying your bills late? Here’s how to stop
If you put off paying certain bills each month because you dread the experience, don’t be too hard on yourself. Lots of people procrastinate when it …
Think the RV life is for you? Not so fast
Have you ever fantasized about hitting the highway in a recreational vehicle (RV)? If so, don’t let your sense of adventure override common sense when it …
7 questions to ask before hiring a tax preparer
Now that tax season for filing 2021 taxes is upon us, you may be eager to get federal and state income taxes filed and put that …
8 budgeting mistakes to avoid in 2022
Are you unable to stick to a monthly budget but unsure what’s holding you back? Or maybe you’re ready to get your finances on track in …
Stupid money mistakes young people make
When you’re in your 20s, making regrettable financial decisions may be the last thing on your mind. After all, you’ll never have a better body, higher …
9 ways to fight the rising price of groceries
If you’re like most Americans, you’ve probably noticed your grocery bills climb to crazy heights during the coronavirus pandemic. Over the past 12 months, all of …
6 painless ways to build savings in 2022
If you’ve tried to build an emergency fund or other savings in the past but never saved more than a few hundred dollars before withdrawing most of it …
4 ways to build emergency savings fast in 2022
Have you tried without success to build emergency savings? Maybe pandemic financial hardship got in your way for the last two years or you just never could commit. …
What really happens if you don’t pay medical bills on time
Are past due notices from the hospital or doctor’s office piling up on your dining room table? It may be tempting to swipe the whole …
Are your fears keeping you in debt?
If you’ve been dogged by debt for years, or maybe even decades, don’t think you must resign yourself to a lifetime of credit card, student …
How to handle the stress of caring for elderly loved-ones
Are you raising your own kids while also acting as a caregiver for an aging parent? If so, you’re what’s known as a “sandwich generation” caregiver, …
