Budgeting BasicsKnow where you are and decide where you want to go Erin Heger is a freelance journalist in the Kansas City area. Her reporting and essays have been featured in The Atlantic, LearnVest, and Northwestern Mutual’s Life & Money series. 7 MIN READ What Is… Feb 01 24February 01, 2024Article at Synchrony Bank
How to Keep Your Parents From Controlling Your Wedding — Even When They’re PayingFinancial gifts often come with strings attached. Here's how to plan a wedding the whole family will love. Jul 11 24July 11, 2024Article at Northwestern Mutual
Refinancing my mortgage saves me $150 a month, which helps me sleep better during a time of economic uncertaintyMy husband and I hadn't planned to refinance our 30-year mortgage anytime soon — originally 4.4% — but when interest rates hit record lows in response to the coronavirus crisis, we decided to look into it.We also wanted to give ourselves more wiggle… Jun 17 20June 17, 2020Article at businessinsider.com
I used my stimulus check to make my last student loan payment, and I know I'm in a uniquely privileged positionMy husband and I had a goal of paying off my student loan debt by fall 2020. We had about $5,500 to go at the end of 2019.When the coronavirus hit, we received a stimulus check of $3,400 and used about $2,000 to pay off the last of my student… May 19 20May 19, 2020Article at businessinsider.com
Learning to Budget Helped Her Find Her FootingBefore Helenna Chun hit a rough patch financially, she had never talked openly about money—mostly because her parents didn’t discuss financial matters with her when she was growing up. So, in November 2018, when Chun found herself unemployed with… Feb 12 20February 12, 2020Article at Synchrony Bank
I coped with my dad's terminal cancer diagnosis by traveling and 'living in the now.' But I almost ruined my financial future in the process.After my dad was diagnosed with cancer, he began spending more money on experiences than ever before. I started spending more time with friends and going on trips, too, as a way to cope with my dad's illness. After dipping into my family's savings to… Oct 24 19October 24, 2019Article at businessinsider.com
Personal Finance 101: High Yield Savings Accounts What Is a High Yield Savings Account? • High yield savings accounts offer dramatically higher interest rates than traditional savings accounts. • High yield savings accounts are FDIC insured, just like traditional savings accounts. • Consumers choose… Oct 01 19October 01, 2019Article at Synchrony Bank
A friend told me her financial adviser saved her marriage, and now I can't stop thinking about what working with one would do for meMy husband and I have different financial priorities, and that often makes discussing money difficult. When a friend mentioned that working with a financial adviser was the best thing she's done for her marriage, I was intrigued. Talking to my friend… Sep 26 19September 26, 2019Article at businessinsider.com
Why We’re Prioritizing Our Retirement Over Our Children’s 529 College SavingsMy husband and I have a lot of competing priorities for our money: building and maintaining an emergency fund, saving for retirement and stashing away some cash for family vacations and holidays. Adding kids to the mix adds another savings priority… Feb 11 19February 11, 2019Article at Northwestern Mutual
How We Stayed on Budget When Buying Our First HomeMy husband and I collided as he tried to open the fridge while I tried to open the dishwasher. “This is the best home you’ll see for your price point in this location,” our real estate agent told us as my husband and I exchanged panicked looks. This… Sep 26 18September 26, 2018Article at Northwestern Mutual
How My Husband and I Finally Stopped Fighting About MoneyI could feel myself start to cringe at the question I knew was coming: “So, how much did you spend today?” My husband asked while eyeing the new photo frames and wall decor I’d just unpacked. I took a deep breath and told him I’d gone about $100 over… Jul 10 18July 10, 2018Article at Northwestern Mutual
