finances

Ask the Financial Counselor: Navigating Money Setbacks

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 By Susana Raya

Susan is a financial expert with GreenPath Financial Wellness, the national nonprofit organization that provides financial counseling, education and products to empower people to lead financially healthy lives. Through their work with GreenPath, Susana has helped people with debt and credit management, homeownership education, and foreclosure prevention.

As the pandemic continues, many Americans are trying to figure out how to juggle expenses, get the most mileage out of unemployment, and keep current with housing and other essentials. And while financial relief programs have helped, whether they’ll be extended to provide further aid is uncertain. Continue reading →

3 Tips to Help Mom and Dad With Their Finances

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By Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach®

As people age, it’s not uncommon for them to require assistance doing routine tasks they once handled with ease—and that includes financial matters. But when your parents get older, they may not want to burden you by asking for financial help. Even if they become forgetful, your senior citizen parent may resist having you (or someone else) fully take over their financial affairs.

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How to Turbocharge Your Savings (Even on a Modest Salary)

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By Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach®      

“I can’t afford to save because I have too many bills!”

“Saving money is too hard because I don’t earn a lot of money to begin with.”

“I can never save consistently because something unexpected always comes up.”

Have you ever said or thought something like one of the expressions above?

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Financial Moves for a Great Vacation

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No matter where the road may take you, there are ways to plan smart, save money and keep your finances secure while you’re away.  Here are some tips to make your future journeys more enjoyable.

Travel Planning: DIY or Travel Agent?

Thanks to the Internet, many consumers have become well-versed in online vacation shopping to snag the best travel deals. However, sometimes you may want to consider using the services of a travel agent, which can be a real time-saver, and in general, costs about the same as a do-it-yourself booking. Getting that expertise may be worth it when you have specific travel dates and destinations in mind for a special getaway, and you can sometimes save a lot on airline and hotel costs. And don’t forget the travel benefits that may come with your credit card. For instance, SchoolsFirst FCU MasterCard® Rewards Card1 offers both the MasterCard Concierge Service, designed to help you plan and book travel, and Priceless Cities, which offer one-of-a-kind deals on hotels, restaurants and shopping. Both are free.

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