Be a Local Hero!

We’ve all seen the commercials about buying local. We know it is beneficial to our independent business owners, but in this day and age, where we can click a few buttons on our computer or phone and have anything we want delivered to our doorsteps, sometimes convenience wins out. Please, take a moment to unplug… Read more »

Back to School Budgeting

Involving students, in back to school budgeting, teaches valuable life lessons. Back to school shopping can be a teachable moment, when it comes to your children’s (or grandchildren’s) financial education. When I teach financial education, in our area schools, I talk to the students about putting needs before wants, not spending what you don’t have… Read more »

Am I Being Scammed?

If you are like most of us, it happens all the time! Calls from telemarketers, scammers, and who knows who else, are constant. If you still have a land line and answering machine, you can screen your calls and decide whether to pick up, after you hear who is calling. On your cell phone, it… Read more »

Staycation Savings

Enjoy your Staycation! We live in Vacationland, so why not make your next vacation a staycation? People flock from all over the country, and beyond, to enjoy the wonders of our state, year ‘round. If you have not experienced all your great state has to offer, consider spending your vacation time and vacation dollars here… Read more »

Saving for a Rainy Day

Saving for a Rainy Day Ideally, we all have something stashed away, for emergencies. A minimum of three to six months of budgeted living expenses, is suggested. Not always easy to do, given the number of people living paycheck to paycheck. Finding a way to save, may save you from financial hardship in the future,… Read more »

To Owe or Not to Owe – Which is the Best Way to Go?

  Some feel your credit score defines you. Others say, even if it negatively impacts your score, it is better to live debt free. Where do you weigh in? Personally, I’d love to have a tip top score and no debt, but according to some financially savvy sources, far wiser than myself, the two do… Read more »

I Conquered My Fear of Budgeting, You Can Too!

When I was in my early to mid-twenties, I fell into every debt trap you can imagine.  I’d moved to Maine with nothing more than my clothes and my beater car, with no job lined up.  I was crashing on my sister’s couch and had defaulted on my student loans, because I had no way… Read more »