Division of Extension
What does the word “debt” mean to you? Car loans, credit card bills, mortgage payments, school loans, payday lender loans, retail credit cards? Debt means owing money that you have borrowed. How Much Debt Is Too Much? Some people are comfortable with owing money as long as they can keep up with the monthly payments. […]
Good credit, bad credit, or no credit? Using credit wisely allows you to pay off big expenses over time without becoming buried in debt. Having good credit can help when applying for a loan, apartment, job, or car insurance. The better your credit, the less you pay on loan interest. Almost all of us use […]
Do you have a checking or savings account? Do you love technology and e-banking? You have many options for where to keep your hard-earned money. Making the most of your money Just like searching for the best deal on a car or a new phone, it’s worth your time to shop around for the best […]
Have you ever gotten to the end of the month and wondered where all your money went? You ’re not alone. Many people feel like saving is impossible when there’s nothing left over. But saving money just means setting some aside for the future. It could be for an emergency, a vacation, or retirement. If […]
Most adults who earn money need to file a tax return. You may want to avoid filing taxes because you’re afraid that you owe money to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or the state. But, you may get money back from filing taxes. This is called a tax refund! Here are a couple of things […]
What does the word “budget” mean to you? Pinching your pennies or clenching your wallet? Now think about the words “spending plan.” A Spending Plan: A spending plan is like a road map for your money. It helps you: Where you spend your money is personal. The goal is to spend money on the things […]
A goal is something you want to work toward. It gives you a sense of direction and helps you focus on what matters most to you. You can set goals for your health, your habits, your job, your learning or your family life. A good way to begin is by thinking about what is important […]
While retirement can be a different experience for each person, once you stop working, you’ll need sources of income to support yourself. Retirement income can come from savings and social assistance programs such as social security retirement benefits. Social Security, also called ‘Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance’ (OASDI), is a federal program that provides […]
In July 2025, the federal government passed a bill known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” This bill introduced many important economic changes including the creation of “530A accounts,” which are a new type of individual retirement account (IRA) for eligible children (IRS). IRAs are often used for retirement savings by people with earned income. […]
For many years, if a person didn’t have enough money or didn’t want to use their money to buy an item or service, their options were to delay the purchase, borrow money through a bank or credit union, or use a credit card. Since 2019, ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ (BNPL) loans have become a popular […]
The accounts you can use to save for retirement include employer-provided accounts like a 401(k) or 403(b). Other options include personal retirement savings accounts like individual retirement accounts (IRAs). No matter which type of account you use, it is important to know if the account is a ‘traditional’ (pre-tax) account or ‘Roth’ (after -tax) account. […]
Perder su trabajo puede conllevar un impacto serio en su vida. Más allá de los problemas financieros que la pérdida del empleo puede significar para una persona y su entorno cercano, también implica un desafío en el área del bienestar. Según la Asociación Estadounidense de Psicología, las investigaciones en torno al desempleo muestran que perder […]
