Financial Education News

Creating a personal finance calendar can be an excellent tool to help you stay in control of your money and improve your financial well-being. Having a plan can assist you in staying on top of your finances by tracking monthly and yearly monetary tasks. This can include paying bills, reviewing your credit report and saving for retirement. Additionally, a personal finance calendar can help you avoid late payments and other - sometimes costly - financial mistakes. By staying organized and keeping track of your financial deadlines, you can avoid late fees and other penalties that may harm your credit score. ...

It's never a good feeling when you realize you've missed a financial deadline or lost an important document. However, with a little bit of effort and organization, you can avoid these situations. Consider these tips to help you get your finances organized and keep them that way: Create a Budget: First and foremost, it's essential to create a budget. This will help you keep track of your income and expenses, and ensure that you have enough money for everything you need. Start by listing all your income sources and your regular expenses, such as rent, utilities and groceries. Then, factor in ...

Anyone who currently holds federal student loans should be preparing for payments to restart in October — especially those who graduated between December 2019 and May 2023. There will be no additional extensions. It’s important to be prepared so you aren’t surprised in October when your bill arrives. Generally, federal student loans provide borrowers a six-month grace period after graduation, leaving school, or dropping below halftime enrollment status before repayment begins. The grace period gives you time to get ready for the repayment process by taking the following steps. Graduates who should have entered repayment during the COVID-19 payment pause ...

Many people assume that to get out of debt, build wealth, or stop living paycheck to paycheck, you simply need to change your financial habits. While that’s true, to be successful you also need to change your mindset around money. Our money mindset is largely influenced by our past experiences — whether good or bad. If they were bad, the good news is, with some intentional work you can change those existing money attitudes and habits to help you reach your financial goals. Consider these steps to shift your mindset toward financial success: Determine your values: First, it’s important that you ...

In the age of digital cashless payments, it’s become more and more important to have a debit card. Starting early with a debit card can also help you teach your child how to make their own financial decisions, learn how to budget for current and future expenses, how to prioritize savings, and even learn how to fix money mistakes while still having the parental supervision to keep them from real money issues. If you’re considering getting your child a debit card, here are some things to keep in mind when comparing the options: Age Restrictions: While there are numerous kid-focused options ...

That’s a great question. The name "Public Service Loan Forgiveness" can sound a little misleading since it is more dependent on who you work for (a government entity or 501c3 nonprofit) than having a career serving the public in a field like medicine. However, medical professionals who don’t work for one of these entities may not be completely out of luck. There are many other forgiveness programs that may allow them to get some of their debt forgiven. Consider if any of these might benefit your situation: Dental Loan Repayment Revolving Fund: A revolving fund has been established by the State ...

Whether you’re talking about blizzards, tornadoes or hurricanes, severe weather happens everywhere. Residents who have lived in Oklahoma for a while know how quickly a normal rain storm can turn into something severe. The difference is, they have learned, you can’t control nature but you can be prepared. Consider taking these steps to prepare for severe weather season today: Make a plan. The worst thing you can do in the middle of a disaster is panic. So, prepare for it while there isn’t one. Create a safety plan and practice it with your whole family so everyone knows what to do. To ...

For many people, tax refunds are something to look forward to. Why wouldn’t they be? It’s exciting to imagine all the things you’ll be able to do with that money. As much fun as it is, your friend is right – getting a tax refund isn’t ideal. If you receive a refund, it means you’ve had too much withheld from your paycheck. That means you’ve essentially given Uncle Sam an interest-free loan on money you could be using every month to pay bills, buy groceries or get closer to your financial goals! Instead of aiming for a refund, a better ...

A new year offers an opportunity to reflect on where you've been and to make plans for your future goals — whatever those may be. By identifying that you don't know where to start and seeking help, you've already made progress in fixing the situation. Consider these steps to get you closer to those financial goals this year. Assess where you are: You can't know where you're going until you know where you've been. That said, the first and most important step is to evaluate where you are right now — at this moment. How much debt do you have? Do ...