Living Greater

Consider This:  American consumers have become increasingly aware that their personal information needs protecting. That concern isn’t unfounded. Javelin also found that 6.6 percent of U.S. consumers became victims of identity fraud in 2017—an increase of almost one million victims over 2016.
 

Hooray! You’ve been accepted to college. Now the question is, “how do I pay for it?”  With several different options, including pay as you go, scholarships, grants and student loans, finding the best way to finance your education can seem overwhelming. Here are some tips to make navigating the financial side of your college education that much easier.
 

If you’re starting to plan a spring break vacation or family summer trip, and Disneyland Resort is where you’d like to head, don’t book anything until you check out the many discounts available to you. Before we look at those special offers, let’s first review upcoming events that you may want to schedule around.
 

What’s a Mobile Wallet?

A mobile wallet is located in your smartphone, tablet or smart watch, and some can be used on a laptop or desktop, as well. The wallet can be part of a built-in feature on a mobile device, or an app that you download from an app store. For instance, the Apple Pay™, mobile wallet is built into the Apple iPhone, where Samsung Pay™ and Google Pay™ mobile wallets require downloading the app on to your smart phone.

Consider This:  There is still some confusion among consumers with the new federal tax laws.
 
A recent NerdWallet study found that almost half—48 percent—of Americans don’t know to what tax bracket they belong. In fact, the study found that about 1 in 14 Americans don’t understand how tax brackets work.

CONSIDER THIS:  A Gallup poll found only about 1/3 of Americans (32 percent) maintain a household budget. Without a budget, it is easy to overspend, waste money, and get into debt.

So, what steps can you take to create a successful budget? Preparation is key. Most of us plan trips, weekend activities, work projects—so why should we handle our money any differently?

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We need insurance for just about everything: home or renters, car, life, business, pets, and possibly a lot more, depending on how many other assets you may have. Although insurance provides us with the necessary coverage to protect ourselves and our possessions, many don’t bother to do proper research on how they might be able to save on their insurance expenses.

Consider This: According to a survey from WalletHub, 59 percent of Americans don’t check their credit reports more than once a year.

But frequently checking scores and reports can be crucially important to financial health. Here are some reasons why it is important to check your credit report more often, and a few tips for raising your credit score.

The holiday season is a time for festivities, cheer, and reunions with family and friends. But as we deck the halls or spin the dreidel, many of us will have something else on our mind: money. In fact, more than three in four Americans overspend during the holiday season, with the average household adding nearly $1,000 in debt. While it may seem like a fact of life, going into gift-purchase debt is not inevitable. In today’s post, we’ll offer four key tips to stress-free holiday spending, allowing you to devote yourself to some worry-free celebrating.