CONSIDER THIS: The ability to quickly cover emergency expenses is generally what can make a short-term loan seem like a good solution. According to BankRate, 61 percent of American households would not be able to pay for a $1,000 emergency out-of-pocket. That could make a quick injection of cash seem like an attractive option.
 

Person-to-person, or a ‘P2P’ payment, is a term you may have heard in conversation or mentioned in passing. This new form of payment is a way to send or request money from your friends and family, or pay bills via an app faster and easier. For instance, if you go out to lunch with a friend, you can pay them through a P2P payment app and all you need is your friend’s phone number or email.
 

It’s still only July, but for some, it’s already back-to-school shopping time.
 
Back-to-school shopping is the second largest consumer spending category after holiday shopping. Once you combined school supplies with other expenses—such as clothing and electronics—a family could easily spend between $600 and $1,000.

Do you need a new vehicle and want to score a great deal, but don’t necessarily like the process of negotiating price? Luckily, there are plenty of tools out there to help you do a little research up front and feel confident you’re not paying too much for either the vehicle or the financing.

This month, in partnership with the National Cyber Security Alliance, we aim to provide some valuable tips on staying cyber safe while heading on a summer vacation. Whether you are out exploring or relaxing, it is important to strive to be as secure as possible with your digital devices and information. Unfortunately, travel can open you up to different points of vulnerability compared to normal everyday use at home, and we don’t just mean accidentally going swimming with your cell phone. You see, while traveling you are operating outside of your normal, safe routines. This means using your devices on different networks and putting them down in different locations, including under your beach towel while swimming. By following some smart practices, you can connect with greater confidence during a summer escape.

Most financial institutions offer both debit and credit cards. Debit cards (also called bank cards) are typically tied to a checking account and are an alternative to writing paper checks.  When you pay for something using your debit card, the entire amount is taken directly from your checking account. For that reason, it’s important to make sure you have the money in your account to cover the payment.

Most Americans don’t shy away from spending on their furry, feathery and scaly family members.

According to the American Pet Products Association, pet owners across the U.S. spent about $29 billion in pet food in 2017. They spent $17.07 billion in vet care. And that number is likely to rise. The APPA estimates Americans will spend $72.13 billion on their pets this year—almost $3 billion more than in 2017.

CONSIDER THIS: College graduates are finishing school with high hopes, bright futures—and decades’ worth of student debt.

Student Loan Hero estimates the average 2016 college graduate has $37,172 in student loans. All that money can take a decade or more to pay off. The Consumer Finance Protection Bureau considers a standard payment term on a student loan to be about 10 years, although borrowers with more than $30,000 in federal student debt could be eligible for payment plans up to 25 years. A Pew Research Center survey found 16 percent of adults report having outstanding student loan debt left over from funding their own education. Of those respondents, 22 percent are between the ages of 30 and 44. Another 7 percent are ages 45 to 59. Overall, Americans owe more than $1.48 trillion in student loan debt, according to Student Loan Hero.

Financial experts frequently advise people to set aside in an emergency fund enough money to pay for between six and nine months of living expenses.

Recent surveys show many Americans don’t have an emergency fund of even $400. What if this is you and you’re broke and in debt? What do you then? Here a few tips that may help:

Recent surveys found that Americans’ biggest financial fear is never being able to retire, and that 56% of Americans have less than $10,000 saved for retirement. Working for a company that doesn’t offer a retirement plan (such as a 401(k)), not being able to save money after the bills are paid, and/or simply procrastinating on getting started are commonly cited as reasons by those that are falling short or feeling financially insecure.