Visit the local library. Most local libraries provide regular storytelling programs that provide an air-conditioned break that keeps even the youngest and oldest reader’s learning skills sharp. It’s also an inexpensive way to check out books or books on tape with your child. Bedtime stories can take on fresh meaning as children explore “new” books [...]

Before you know it, it will be time for students to start getting ready to go back to school. Back-to-school time can be bittersweet for parents and kids alike. For kids it means an end to the care-free days of summer. And for parents it means an expensive annual tradition. But back-to school shopping doesn’t have [...]

Source: Kim McGrigg, Community Manager, Money Management International I just finished reading the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau report on credit scores.  This report was published on July 19, 2011 to meet a requirement of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.  The Dodd-Frank Act also made amendments to the Fair Credit Reporting Act related to credit scoring that became [...]

Even though computers and the Internet have changed our world, consumers need to be reminded that not everyone they come in contact with online is trustworthy. The growth of social networking sites is undeniable. Facebook has reached more than 750 million active users worldwide. Forty percent of Facebook users are people under the age of [...]

The NFCC’s 2011 Financial Literacy Survey found that 42% of adults garnered most of their personal finance knowledge from their parents. Only about 1 in 10 adults learned about this subject at school or from a financial professional.  It is now more important than ever to make sure your children understand the basic concepts of [...]

Although the federal government and many household budgets have one thing in common, both are in the red, there is one critical difference: consumers cannot raise their debt ceiling in order to continue borrowing. Further, they cannot operate in the negative year after year, or financial doom is a certainty. “Many consumers have been renting [...]

In all the planning and preparation that goes into a wedding, there is one important item that the couple should add to their “to-do’s” before the “I do’s,” and that’s an assessment of their financial compatibility. The fact of the matter is that people bring financial baggage into a relationship, and often don’t deal with [...]

Summer can be one of the most expensive times of the year to travel – especially if you are on a tight budget. With high gas prices and many destinations only offering peak season pricing, many families are struggling with the task of planning a fun vacation without putting a serious financial strain on their [...]

Tomorrow is the last day to qualify for up to $50,000 in mortgage assistance! If you are at least 90 days late on your mortgage payment you could qualify for the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s  Emergency Homeowners’ Loan Program (EHLP). You could receive a zero interest, forgivable bridge loan. Eligible homeowners [...]

Shakespeare was apparently on to something when he wrote that lending money to friends often resulted in the loss of both the friend and the money. Money is an emotionally charged issue that has torn apart many a relationship. “Blood may be thicker than water, but money can be the great divider, even in a [...]