Blog - Page 12 of 30 - Women’s Money

02Jan 2019 by Women's Money

Four “Be’s” to be Financially Sound

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After drowning in, then repaying, $77,000 in debt, I guess you could say I’ve learned a thing or two about personal finance.I learned a lot of the ‘textbook info’, like the very real and brutal impact of cash advances.I studied, then mastered the art of budgeting.I learned the horrible consequences of credit card debt.And, I learned how to reduce my expenses and earn more money.But, perhaps more surprising to me was learning, as Angela Duckworth identifies, just how gritty I could be. The most simplistic definition of grit (in my own words) involves the number of times you’ll fall on your face, get up, and try something again. And, let me tell you... I fell on my face.After falling deeply into this massive financial rock bottom, riddled with an incredible…

02Jan 2019 by Women's Money

Improving Your Money and Your Partner Relationship

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Money is often cited as one of the biggest problems in both romantic relationships and families too. According to a survey conducted by Wells Fargo, 44% of people ranked personal finances as the most difficult topic to talk about. The challenge is that when we don’t talk about money, we’re not able to resolve our differences and anyone who’s ever been in a relationship knows how detrimental that can be. It’s no surprise that mutual trust is eroded when relationships and money are misaligned especially because money and trust work hand-in-hand.A study published in 2013 in the Family Relations journal examined more than 4,500 couples and found that fights about money were a top predictor of divorce regardless of income, net worth, and debt levels. Some of the issues that…

01Jan 2019 by Women's Money

Three Steps to a Better Relationship with Money

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Women yearn to have a juicy, satisfying relationship with money.We want intimacy, yet often shy away from talking about finances. What surprises me, after facilitating thousands of women over the last decade to transform their financial suffering, is what a complex and often painful relationship everyone has with money. Improving your posture and attitude toward money can amplify your happiness, family, business, community, and, of course, your bank accounts.Ladies, are you thankful for the pleasure that money provides?Start with gratitude for the people and things you already have. Appreciating people and things builds patterns of connection and trust, and it strengthens belief that our friendly universe always provides. This exercise creates new neural pathways of sufficiency, that feeling of appreciation for what already is.Most women want to get more comfortable…

25Apr 2018 by Women's Money

Master Your Money and Finances: Plan

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There are four key pillars used to improve your financial health: Spend, Save, Borrow and Plan. Today we’re focusing on *Plan* to help you master your finances.Perfect PlanningThe future holds a lot of possibilities and unknowns. Smart financial planning, including insurance and savings, can help you and your family weather unexpected financial hardships, such as a huge medical bill, loss in the family, or auto accident ending in a lawsuit.Ensuring Your FutureThere are very few things people buy that they hope to never use. Insurance is one of those items. But when a disaster happens, the right insurance helps you and your family bounce back instead of falling deep into debt. Be sure you carry adequate liability coverage on your home and auto policies. You also want long-term disability coverage…

28Jun 2017 by Women's Money

Money Talks. You Should, Too.

Budgeting, Goals / Taking Action, Miscellaneous, Money in Your 20s/30s/40s/50s/Retirement, Relationships & Money

I think we can all agree that talking about our finances is uncomfortable, especially if your finances are not in the best health. Fortunately, you do not need to broach this subject with everyone you meet. However you do need to be able to communicate with your significant other about money, especially in serious relationships. The 2016 Stress in America Report produced by the APA found that 64% of women and 57% of men reported money and family responsibility as one of their most significant stressors. Because money is such a huge source of stress for many people, couples need to talk about it. Ensuring that you and your partner are on the same page with how you spend money and what your individual situations are helps prevent future arguments and…

22Jun 2017 by Women's Money

The Wonderful World of Robo-Advisors

Entrepreneurship / Making Money, Goals / Taking Action, Money in Your 20s/30s/40s/50s/Retirement

Investing money is an effective way to grow your wealth, but knowing how to invest and what to invest in can be difficult when starting out. Until recently, the only options for investing were doing it on your own (a rather intimidating prospect for a newbie) or hiring an investment advisor, which comes with its own research burden to find the right advisor. Fortunately, there is now a third option available - using a robo-advisor. Do not let the odd name throw you off, they are actually very helpful tools. A robo-advisor automates the asset allocation of your investments using a computer algorithm. In other words, it is a type of software that acts in place of a traditional investment advisor to help you make investments. Human financial advisors may…

02Jun 2017 by Women's Money

The Facts Behind your Credit Score

Credit, Miscellaneous, Money in Your 20s/30s/40s/50s/Retirement

By Julie Macc, Certified Credit and Identity Theft SpecialistWhat is Fico?FICO is an acronym for the Fair Isaac Corporation the creators of the FICO score.The FICO scoring system is used in the United States for extending or offering credit, employment credit checks, landlords, and in States that legally allow it, insurance rates.How is a score made? The FICO score is computer generated using mathematical models. The score takes into account various factors in five different areas to determine credit risk: payment history, current level of indebtness, types of credit used, lenght of credit history, and new credit.People that have a FICO score will range between 300-850.Not everyone has a Credit Score. In order to have a credit score, your credit file has to meet certain minimum standards. Failure to meet…

26May 2017 by Women's Money

Credit that Cares for You

Credit, Miscellaneous, Money in Your 20s/30s/40s/50s/Retirement

Real talk: Paying for medical care is stressful and expensive. Even if you are fortunate enough to have insurance through your employer, coming up with co-pays on top of the premiums can make your budget, or your savings, cry. When you pay for an individual insurance plan, the situation often becomes more stressful. This is a thorny issue. The cost of healthcare is prohibitive, yet sometimes you genuinely need to see a doctor. So what can you do to ease the financial burden? Unfortunately I have no solutions for the cost of insurance or healthcare. However, the CareCredit card can help make getting the medical care you need a viable possibility.CareCredit is a credit account specifically designed to assist with medical bills that insurance does not cover. Like a regular…

19May 2017 by Women's Money

The Life of an Emotional Shopper

Budgeting, Goals / Taking Action, Money in Your 20s/30s/40s/50s/Retirement

Let’s be honest. Spending money is emotional. Finding a “bargain” is very emotionally satisfying, and buying things for loved ones feels good - even when it makes more financial sense not to spend. While it is important to train your rational brain to manage your money, you also need to acknowledge the emotional motivations that drive your spending habits. Understanding why you spend helps guide you to the most effective method for you to change that spending habit. Personally, I have always enjoyed shopping. I love poking around in different stores, finding deals, gifts for friends and family, and little splurge items like candles and nail polish for myself. It was never that I needed those things. Often, I would go the store to buy one or two specific items,…

11May 2017 by Women's Money

Simple Ways to Establish Good Credit

Credit, Miscellaneous, Money in Your 20s/30s/40s/50s/Retirement

So, you are interested in building your credit history, but not sure where to start. Here are a few simple ways to begin building your credit. Always make sure that any credit you decide to use fits within your budget, especially if you choose to take out a loan.1. Start with a Credit Card The first option to build your credit is to apply for a credit card. There are some things to keep in mind if you choose this route. Credit cards can quickly become dangerous to your financial health if you spend more than you can afford to repay every month and become trapped by the interest rates attached to your card.To avoid this, limit your credit card spending to purchases you already make. A common strategy is…