Healthy Finances
For the average American, buying a home is one of the biggest investments they will ever make. Even with a sizeable down payment, most people finance at least a portion of the cost, usually in the form of a home loan (mortgage). If you’ve ever applied for a mortgage, you’re…
Spring is in the air, a time synonymous with buying a car, boat, ATV or other vehicle. If you’re in the market for a vehicle loan, here are a few things you’ll want to consider to increase your chances of getting approved and receiving the best rates possible. Creditworthiness –…
If you’re a credit union member in the Fox Cities area, you likely know about many of the great money-saving benefits credit unions offer, like lower rates on loans, lower and fewer fees, and lots of easy-to-use account access tools. If you have an account with a credit union, you…
If you were going to build a house, you would need a house plan. This plan would tell you the size of the house and how big each room would be. It would tell you where the windows go and how high to make the ceilings. You would see where…
One concern voiced by many people is that money seems to evaporate from their checkbook. Where does it all go? If you’re plagued with this dilemma, you might want to consider grandma’s old envelope system. Putting reasonable, predetermined amounts of cash into envelopes labeled for groceries, gas, entertainment, personal care…
A health savings account (HSA) is a portable savings account that allows you to set aside money for health care tax-free. You must have a high-deductible health insurance plan to open an HSA. Different from other benefit products, HSAs can roll over from year to year (there is no “use…
This is going to sound very simplistic but true. The easiest way to build a big nest egg is by spending as little of your money as possible. In other words, live below your means. It’s so simple and yet so few people actually do it. I’m not suggesting living…
Planning for anticipated expenses, like paying for your child’s college education or saving for retirement, is something that most people already do. But what about the unexpected financial emergencies? Tornadoes, earthquakes, house fires and other disasters rarely give advance warning and can happen any time. Fortunately, there are steps you…
Since none of us are guaranteed to see tomorrow, pre-death planning is an important consideration for anyone who wants to make it easier for their survivors should they die prematurely. Just by taking a little time to document the financial details that pertain to your family can save hours of…
Planning for anticipated expenses, like paying for your child's college education or saving for retirement, is something that most people already do. But what about the unexpected financial emergencies? Tornadoes, earthquakes, house fires and other disasters rarely give advance warning and can happen at any time. Fortunately, there are steps…
It's a good idea to take an annual inventory of your total financial situation. Getting a snapshot of your current financial position will give you a baseline for comparison in years to come. You will be able to chart your financial progress over time. When you tie your Financial Position…
We've all heard the line, "Money doesn't buy happiness." However, wasting the money that we've worked hard to earn certainly isn't a recipe for bliss, either. If you're like many Americans, the money from your paycheck often disappears quickly and you wonder where it went. Even if you're not living…
Most individuals have debt of one kind or another. It may be a home mortgage, a credit card, a student loan, an auto loan or some other form of loan. Using debt as part of an overall financial strategy can be a good thing. Debt becomes a bad thing when…
Everyone is experiencing sticker shock as pump prices continue to rise. Walk the aisles of the local grocery stores and you will see that food prices are following suit. Every time we tune into the news on television, we hear about the nation's housing situation and credit woes. One important…
