College costs For the 2017/2018 college year, the average annual cost of attendance (known as the COA) at a four-year public college for in-state students is $25,290, the average cost at a four-year public college for out-of-state students is $40,940, and the average cost at a four-year private college is $50,900. The COA figure includes […]
College Saving Options Read More »
What is a mortgage? Since most people finance their home purchases, buying a home usually involves getting a mortgage. A mortgage is an interest in property created by a written document that secures the repayment of a loan. When you take out a mortgage loan to buy a home, the home becomes the collateral for
How much money will you need for a down payment? It used to be that most lenders would require a down payment equal to at least 20 percent of a home’s purchase price. Today, however, there’s good news for homebuyers who have little money saved for a down payment. Many lenders have relaxed their requirements
Alternative Ways to Fund Your Down Payment Read More »
Go out into your yard and dig a big hole. Every month, throw $50 into it, but don’t take any money out until you’re ready to buy a house, send your child to college, or retire. It sounds a little crazy, doesn’t it? But that’s what investing without setting clear-cut goals is like. If you’re
Investing for Major Financial Goals Read More »
It’s difficult to imagine functioning in today’s world without credit. Whether buying a car or purchasing a home, credit has become an integral part of our everyday lives. Having easy access to credit goes hand in hand with having a good credit score, so it’s important to know how to maintain a positive credit score
All About Credit Scores Read More »
What is it? When you take out a loan to pay for college or graduate school, you must repay that loan at some future date. If you find yourself in the position of having to budget every month for a student loan payment after graduation, you are not alone. A majority of students now borrow
Repaying Student Loans Read More »
The miracle of plastic It’s so convenient. Pull out a plastic card and you can purchase a designer suit at that new boutique, dinner at your favorite restaurant, groceries at the supermarket–or all three. Need cash? Use the card at a nearby automated teller machine (ATM) and walk off with a fistful of dollars. Want
What is debt management? As a modern consumer, you need credit. When you were growing up, you may have heard your parents or grandparents say, “If you can’t pay for it with cash, then you can’t afford to buy it.” That may have been sound advice 40 or even 20 years ago, but such attitudes
What are the benefits of borrowing money? Successful borrowing can help you create a positive credit history Succesfully borrowing and paying off your loans as agreed can help you establish a good credit rating and make obtaining additional credit possible. Even if you do not typcially use credit often, it is good to have the
Borrowing Options: Benefits and Dangers of Borrowing Read More »
Do you ever wonder where your money goes each month? Does it seem like you’re never able to get ahead? If so, you may want to establish a budget to help you keep track of how you spend your money and help you reach your financial goals. Examine your financial goals Before you establish a
Establishing a Budget Read More »
Want to take control of your financial future? Our FREE workshops cover everything from retirement planning to Social Security strategies.
