Financial Fundamentals Blog

Tidying up your Credit and Financial Information can lead to a Smooth Summer

Spring is here! Nothing feels more satisfying after a long winter than a little spring cleaning. But your home isn’t the only thing that needs freshened up. Be sure to add your credit and financial information to your tidying list. Here are few tips from Experian, a consumer credit reporting company, to make sure you’re making a clean sweep of your financial information.
 

If you’re like most people, your financial education came from experiences – both good and bad. How your parents talked, acted and felt about money most likely rubbed off on you. If you want to help your children avoid the same problems you’ve experienced, and grow up with good money habits, check out these tips that will assist you in teaching them valuable money skills.
 
 

In 2018, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reported that tax-related identity theft is on the decline. Even though its numbers are dropping, you should still be aware of it. With tax time rapidly approaching, let’s look at its signs and what you can do to protect yourself.

The holiday season is one of the most popular times of the year to get engaged. In fact, 40 percent of proposals happen between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. If you’re one of those lucky couples, you’re probably asking yourself, “how do we pay for all of this?” Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered with a few tips on how to create a wedding budget that won’t break the bank.
 

The New Year is a great time to review and revamp your finances for a successful financial future.  Here are a few ways that you can get started on achieving your financial goals. 
 

According to the National Retail Federation, 60 percent of holiday shoppers planned to begin their shopping in November. In case you’re not part of that statistic, here are a few helpful tips to wrapping up your shopping without going way over budget.
 

They might sound cute and clever, but phishing, vishing and smishing are anything but that. Let’s take a look at these common attempts to steal your personal information and how you can protect yourself.
 

Winter weather has a way of sneaking up with its snow, ice and chilling winds. However unwelcome it might be, it does serve as a helpful reminder to check in on your home energy usage. Considering that the average American family spends more than $2,000 each year on utilities – with a good portion of that cost wasted energy – an energy audit can help you confirm that you’re getting the most bang for your buck.
 
Here are a few easy ways that you can make a difference in your energy costs.
 

The National Retail Foundation (NRF) estimates that America’s retail sales are set to hit between $717 billion and $720 billion this Holiday season. It’s prime shopping season not just for those who want to make the season joyous for their friends and family, but also for those fraudsters looking to take advantage of the giving spirit. Here’s what to keep your eye on as the Holidays approach.
 

We’re so close to Thanksgiving, which means that the Holiday season is upon us. For a lot of us, the most wonderful time of the year can feel overwhelming as the shopping, parties, baking, decorating, and general spending can take on a life of their own. With some help from KOFE (Knowledge of Financial Education), here are a few tips to put yourself back in charge during the Holidays to make sure that you start the New Year on the right financial foot.

Thanksgiving is a time to rest, to spend time with friends and family and to, well, give thanks. To make that a little easier this year, we’ve put together a few tips to help you save money while shopping for Thanksgiving dinner.

Using digital banking options and automating your financial life can save you time, money, and the general stress of worrying about whether your banking is handled from day to day. Here are a few tips to how you can save yourself some headaches by putting your finances on autopilot.