GUEST BLOGGER: ADRIE ROBERTS

The holiday hustle and bustle will soon be upon us. It can be a stressful time, but it’s important to keep it in perspective and remember why we go to all the effort. Author Donald E. Westlake said, “As we struggle with shopping lists and invitations, compounded by December’s bad weather, it is good to be reminded that there are people in our lives who are worth this aggravation, and people to whom we are worth the same.”
With that in mind, here are 10 tips for budgeting for gifts and events for those we care about.

GUEST BLOGGER: ELIZABETH DAVIS

Why do I need an emergency fund? The reason is simple really, we don’t know what is going to happen. Money guru Dave Ramsey recommends starting with a $1,000 cash emergency fund. This is SEPARATE from long-term savings and should be immediately available in case of emergency. After debt is eliminated, then save enough to cover the basic expenses without income for 3 months.  This number will vary for different family's situations. What I would like to discuss is the first step. Saving $1000 dollars. Sound overwhelming? My recommendation is to make a plan that can work for YOUR situation. 

GUEST BLOGGER: EMMA PARKHURST

​Have you ever scrolled through social media and find yourself admiring pictures and posts of others traveling around the world and wonder to yourself, “how on earth can they afford that?!” I’ll be the first one to admit that this thought used to cross my mind quite frequently. That was until I interrogated a good friend that booked a trip to Oslo, Norway and did so without breaking the bank. Her secrets are now my secrets that I’d like to share with you to become YOUR secrets! Below are some tips I learned from her, as well as others from financial experts:

GUEST BLOGGER: ELIZABETH DAVIS

Paying for college can be an overwhelming task. According to the Federal Reserve (2019) the average student loan debt per students finishing an undergraduate degree is $32,731. 
I was in graduate school when my daughter was born. Ironically the semester that she was born I was in a social policy class that discussed the expense of having children. I was overwhelmed and disheartened to learn that on average it costs $233,610 to raise a child to the age of 18 and that was NOT including college expenses! I was pregnant, sick, and overwhelmed by what seemed like the impossible task of planning for my child’s future while I was still in the throes of finishing my own education.