Author: Jamie Cattanach

Featured

25 Cheapest Places to Live in Washington, From Retirement Havens to Nature Getaways

Written by:

Washington is a state of dichotomies: high tech companies and agriculture, densely packed coastal cities just two hours from Olympic National Park’s wide-open landscapes, international seafood …

Featured

Average Funeral Costs in the US (& How to Pay for One)

Written by:

Life is expensive. And unfortunately, with a wide array of funeral-related costs, so is death. So much so, in fact, that some people turn to funeral …

Featured

25 Cheapest Places to Live in California

Written by:

Frankly, when it comes to affordable places to live, California as a whole does not readily spring to mind. In fact, according to MERIC data from …

Featured

Running Out of Money? Focus on Getting These 10 Things Done First

Written by:

There’s no feeling in the world quite like running out of money before your next paycheck hits — and it’s not a good sensation. It can …

Featured

10 Travel Destinations Inspired by Your Favorite TV Shows

Written by:

More than ever, travelers are taking inspiration from their favorite streaming and TV shows when choosing their next travel destination — a trend known as set-jetting. …

Featured

Help! I Got Scammed! What Do I Do Now?

Written by:

You might associate scams with far-fetched ruses about foreign “princes” or emails, full of misspellings, that claim to be from your bank. And you might think …

Featured

I Make $90,000 a Year. How Much House Can I Afford?

Written by:

I Make $90,000 a Year, How Much House Can I Afford? Earning $90,000 a year puts you in a good position to afford a home priced …

Featured

25 Cheapest Places to Live in Wyoming

Written by:

With big skies, low population density, and no individual state income tax, it’s no surprise Wyoming beckons. Still, some Wyoming cities (like Casper) are more affordable …

Featured

Can I Refinance My FHA Loan This Year?

Written by:

For first-time buyers — or anyone facing financial hurdles — getting an FHA loan can help make homeownership a reality. With insurance from the Federal Housing …

Featured

Do you need credit card counseling? How to tell

Written by:

Credit counseling services can be a smart way to access professional financial advice at a low cost — or, in some cases, even for free. Usually …

Featured

Which do you actually need: Nonprofit credit counselors or debt relief companies?

Written by:

When you’re struggling with debt, a little bit of help can go a long way — and a lot of help can go even further. But …

Featured

Calculator: How high will your FHA loan closing costs be?

Written by:

It’s not news that FHA (Federal Housing Administration) loans can be a great way for first-time homebuyers to break into the market. They’re government-backed and tend …

Featured

Watch out! Payday loans are still around … and they cost more than ever

Written by:

Payday loans are called that because they’re meant to be paid back the next time you get a paycheck. They’re generally for small amounts, and usually …

Featured

How much will moving to Virginia set me back?

Written by:

Average Cost of Living in Virginia: $48,249 per year Good news for those drawn to the land of America’s forefathers: All told, Virginia’s cost of living …

Featured

Banking on Biden’s student loan relief? How to find other ways to pay off those loans

Written by:

With the pandemic-related pause on federal student loan repayment ending on September 1, 2023 (and first payments due October 1), you may be wondering if there …

Featured

Can I afford to live in Pennsylvania?

Written by:

Average Cost of Living in Pennsylvania: $49,040 per year On a cost of living level, Pennsylvania is about midway down. According to the 2022 MERIC cost of …

Featured

From patios to poofs: These are the best times of year to buy furniture

Written by:

The best time of year to buy furniture depends on which kind of furniture you’re talking about. Here are some rules of thumb to keep in …

Featured

Can I actually afford to live in Oregon?

Written by:

Average Cost of Living in Oregon: $47,779 per year Oregon may be one of the most beautiful states in the union, but unfortunately, it’s not one …

Featured

You’ll never guess how much it costs to live in Georgia

Written by:

Average Cost of Living in Georgia: $43,482 per year If you’re considering relocating to Georgia, here’s some good news for your monthly budget: Georgia enjoys the fifth-lowest …

Featured

How much does it cost to live in Illinois?

Written by:

From the bright lights and big cities to the endless waving seas of agricultural fields, Illinois truly has something for everybody — which is probably why …

Featured

Can you really afford to live in Florida?

Written by:

Average Cost of Living in Florida: $50,689 per year If you dream of days spent on sandy Florida beaches, your wallet is in luck. Florida residents …

Featured

Just how much will living in D.C. set you back?

Written by:

Ah, the nation’s capital. Known for its unparalleled cultural attractions — many of which are free — along with its professional-yet-swank mid-Atlantic attitude, D.C. is a …

Featured

Free entertainment & more ways to live a fun, frugal lifestyle

Written by:

Here are five tips on how to be more frugal and save money — without giving up all the fun (and caffeine) in your life. 1. Reform Fixed …

Featured

Nearly 1/3 of Americans plan to move this year. Here’s why

Written by:

Dreamily browsing real estate marketplaces — or already packing boxes? You’re not alone: Almost a third of Americans are contemplating a move in 2023, according to …

Featured

Does a no-closing-cost refinance makes sense for me?

Written by:

A no-closing-cost refinance sounds divine, but it’s important to understand that you will either roll the closing costs into the new mortgage or exchange them for …

FeaturedMoney

25 ways to find affordable housing

Written by:

Finding a nice place to live when you don’t have a lot of money to drop on rent each month can be challenging, especially in certain …

FeaturedMoney

Residual income: What it is & how to earn it

Written by:

No matter how much money you’re earning, chances are good you sometimes wish you had a bit more. Even if you’re not thinking of making a …

FeaturedHome BuyingMoneyMortgages

Can you really pay off a mortgage in just 5 years?

Written by:

  Paying off your mortgage ahead of time might sound like an incredibly savvy thing to do, and in some cases, it is. But it’s not …

FeaturedMoneyMortgages

Thinking about getting a reverse mortgage? Read this first

Written by:

If you’re at or nearing retirement age and looking for a way to generate cash flow, a reverse mortgage can seem like a great idea, especially …

FeaturedMoney

Have family in the military? Don’t miss this student aid option

Written by:

Military members, veterans, and their families have some special options when it comes to funding higher education, and given the cost of attending college, they’re well …