Financial Fundamentals Blog

How to Budget for a Wedding: A Simple Guide

  • Beth Ann Tabak
The holiday season is one of the most popular times of the year to get engaged. In fact, 40 percent of proposals happen between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. If you’re one of those lucky couples, you’re probably asking yourself, “how do we pay for all of this?” Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered with a few tips on how to create a wedding budget that won’t break the bank.

6 Tips for Relieving Financial Stress

  • Francesca Sacco
78% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. Watching your bank account dwindle while the bills pile up can take a hefty toll on all aspects of your life. Before you let financial stress consume you, check out these tips for relief.

Four Financial Tips for Surviving a Layoff

  • Beth Ann Tabak
How to keep it together during job loss

Four Financial Tips for New College Grads

  • Beth Ann Tabak
Handle your new financial reality like a pro

How to Pay for College: A 3-Step Guide

  • Beth Ann Tabak
It’s no secret that higher education comes with a hefty price tag. The College Board reported that the average annual cost of a public four-year college for in-state students is $9,410 while out-of-state students face $23,980. Those attending a private four-year college are looking at an average annual cost of $32,410. Just reading these numbers can be overwhelming, let alone figuring out how to pay for them.
 
The good news is that for many students college is not an out-of-pocket expense because of the many available avenues of financial aid. Here’s a few ways to figure out how to pay for college without going broke.  
 

Creating a College Student Budget: Your Essential Guide

  • 7 17 Staff
You’re half-way through your first semester of college. By now, you’ve successfully navigated which foods are the best – and the worst – in the cafeteria; you’ve negotiated sharing space with your new roommate; and you’ve found the best shortcut to get to your 8 a.m. class ON TIME. You’re off to a great start and a successful future!

What to Know Before Buying Your First Car

  • 7 17 Staff
Buying your first car. It can be an exciting time and one of stress too. On one hand, you're considering what features you want, what color you prefer, and of course, which locations you’re driving to once you have it.

7 Ways to Prepare for Retirement

  • 7 17 Staff
It’s never too early to start preparing for retirement. In fact, the earlier you start saving and investing, the more money you’ll have saved when you retire!

Debt Consolidation: Learn How To Do It The Right Way With Our Calculator

  • 7 17 Staff
Having debt isn’t always a bad thing. Mortgages and car loans are valuable tools to help you afford larger purchases. However, there’s a certain point where the debt can get out of hand and jeopardize your financial wellness. But there are steps you can take to address your debts and rebuild your finances. Debt consolidation is...

First-Time Homeowners: This Is How to Prepare to Buy a House

  • 7 17 Staff
Are you considering purchasing your own home? Owning your own home is an exciting prospect. You’ve probably started thinking about how many rooms you want, the size of your kitchen, and if a garage is an important must-have or not. Before getting started on planning what features you want your home to have and what you want it...

Common College Expenses to Budget for

  • Francesca Sacco
If you or a loved one is getting ready to head off to college in the near future, it’s the perfect time to start thinking about related expenses. While tuition is to be expected, there are quite a few other common expenses related to attending college that often go overlooked. Making an effort to plan ahead will put you in a...

4 Common Retirement Investments and the Differences Between Them

  • Francesca Sacco
You’ve heard many times about the importance of saving for retirement. But when it comes to actually taking steps toward retirement planning, you’ll need to find a place to put your money and let it grow over time. In other words, retirement saving should actually be investing — not just putting away money, but taking those...