Financial Fundamentals Blog

How To Fund Your Home Improvement Projects

  • 7 17 Staff
You moved into a house that was perfect, but as your family has grown and your tastes have changed, so has your idea of the perfect home. You want to accomplish those projects you’ve had in mind for a while, but how can you achieve your home improvement goals?

8 Financial Mistakes That Will Ruin Your Credit Score

  • Francesca Sacco
Your credit score is a precious asset to your financial outlook. A great credit score will open doors to low interest rates and pain-free credit approvals that strengthen your financial stability and your purchasing power. A bad credit score is a roadblock to all of those conveniences and can end up costing you money or even...

Quick Tips To Improve Your Credit Score

  • 7 17 Staff
Your credit score determines a lot. It’s one of the most important factors of your financial health. The better your score is, the easier it will be to open new lines of credit at favorable rates.

How Credit Scores Are Determined and Why They Matter

  • Francesca Sacco
You might not think about credit scores much in your day-to-day life — and if you’re just getting started managing your own money, you might have no idea what your credit score even is. But while this number might reside beyond your line of sight, it can have huge implications for your short-term finances, and it could affect...

6 Things to Consider Before Financing Your New Car

  • Francesca Sacco
When it’s time to buy a new vehicle, auto loans are a popular, low-cost financing option that increases your spending power without gouging your bank account with high interest rates. Despite the convenience and affordability of auto financing, consumers should still approach financing carefully and make sure that their auto...

Saving for Your First Home: 5 Tips to Remember

  • Francesca Sacco
Your first home is one of the biggest and most significant purchases you will ever make in your life. That first down payment is also one of the largest amounts of money you will ever have to save to afford a major purchase. Saving for your first home by setting aside the money for this down payment can require years of...

Six Tips to Remember as You Start Saving for Retirement

  • Francesca Sacco
It’s never too early to start saving for retirement. It’s also never too late—even if you have your sights set on retiring in the near future. No matter where you’re at in your career or how long you have until you retire, a commitment to saving now will pay dividends later in life. As you start saving for retirement, make sure...

Digital Wallet Options

  • Francesca Sacco
*This is the final installment in a three-part blog series focusing on digital wallets.

Ways to help support local businesses during COVID-19

  • Francesca Sacco
Everyone is feeling a pinch from the coronavirus pandemic. Many of our local businesses, which are incredibly vital and unique to our individual communities, have fallen on difficult times. As we strive for some normalcy in our daily lives, we can make an effort to find small ways to help support local businesses.

Should I Consolidate my Debt?

  • Francesca Sacco
Are you struggling with debt and considering debt consolidation? Before you take out a consolidation loan, make sure it’s the right choice for you.

How to Travel Safely during the Coronavirus Pandemic

  • Francesca Sacco
Are you debating whether to cancel your summer vacation this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic? While there’s no way to completely eliminate the risks of contracting COVID-19 while traveling, there are precautions that you can take.

What to know before accepting COVID-related credit card relief

  • Francesca Sacco
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, many credit card issuers are offering temporary credit card relief. But know that accepting assistance from credit issuers comes with some caveats. Here’s what you need to know if you take your credit card company up on a relief offer.