Saving receipts, paystubs, tax forms, and other documents can be important. But it can be challenging to know which documents to save, how long to keep them, and which papers to throw away. This information sheet provides tips on documents you should save, how to save documents, and how to throw documents away. Documents to […]
Ever feel like you’re invisible? 11% of adult Americans actually are.. credit invisible that is! Credit invisible is a term used for people who have no credit history at any of the three national credit bureaus. Isn’t it good to not have any credit card debt? Yes. It’s wonderful to not have any credit card […]
Inflation and the costs of items seem to be on everyone’s minds lately. Stress levels are high due to the impact that inflation has on groceries, fuel, heating costs and credit card interest rates. This depressing news is making people feel that they have little control of their finances. As we enter the holiday shopping […]
Financial education mandates have increased across the U.S. As of June 2022, 13 states require all students to take at least one semester of personal finance. In other states, personal finance is an elective or embedded within another course such as math, economics, or entrepreneurship. Financial education courses notwithstanding, children’s strongest financial influence is most […]
Have you ever fallen for a scam? If so, you are not alone. The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection’s website states that “consumers lose more than $40 billion a year to telemarketing fraud”. And it’s just getting worse. According to a 2021 Scam and Robocall Report, phone scam attempts increased by over 116% in […]
With gas prices passing $4.00/gallon in Wisconsin many of us are feeling the pinch at the pump. While many families are still recovering from losing income during the pandemic, the current spikes in prices for gas and food can feel particularly hard to manage right now. Consider trying some of the strategies listed below to […]
Managing Your Personal Finances in Tough Times is designed to share trusted resources used or developed by UW-Madison Division of Extension Financial Education professionals. It is designed to help people make sound financial choices in tough times. All materials are free for personal use. Extension financial educators who can help you find resources and come […]
You hate to let a temporary financial setback impact your good standing with your creditors and lower your credit score for years to come. If you find that money is tight and you won’t be able to keep up with bills, take action right away. Not all creditors will accept payment plans, but they’ll be […]
There are steps you can take to get a handle on your finances – and your financial stress. The very first step is to figure out if your income covers all of your current expenses. An increase in expenses or a drop in income usually means a change in lifestyle. The sooner you look at […]
Sometimes a household’s income drops suddenly because of a job layoff, an illness or death, or a divorce. It’s natural to feel shocked or panicked or to want to ignore the situation. Whatever the cause, the best thing you can do is to figure out if your new income covers all of your current expenses. […]
When Your Monthly Budget Needs a Tune Up Whether it’s due to a drop in income, a big unexpected expense, or the cost of everyday living overtaking your paycheck, there are steps you can take to get a handle on your finances – and your financial stress. The very first step is to figure out […]
A “goal” is a purpose. It’s something to aim for. A goal can point you in the direction you want to take. A good place to start is thinking about what’s important to you. You can set goals for your health, your habits, your work, your education, or for your family. Once you know your goal, you can decide how to move forward.
