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Feast Without Famine
Thanksgiving - pleasant memories of feasts held in years gone by and loved ones held dear - can be strained by fears of the looming famine after all that eating and shopping is done. As recipes and plans fill our minds and we make our last minute grocery store calls, somewhere in the preparations our budget might be suffering. As we make all of the preparations for Thanksgiving, we don't have to kill our budget. [...]
Holiday Greeting – Let’s Talk Turkey!
Thanksgiving is the mother of all family dinners. It’s a celebration of our great nation and the many blessings that occur when people unite together in the spirit of communication. As you’re gathered around the table this year, here’s some turkey data trivia to share: - History: In a letter to his daughter Sarah Bache, Ben Franklin wrote he preferred the turkey to the eagle as a symbol. “For in Truth the Turkey is in [...]
Holiday Greeting – Fight for the Brave Men and Women Who Fought for Us
All too often, we assume the men and women who fought for our country can take care of themselves. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. There are some important ways ordinary Americans can help those who are returning from battle. One issue that needs to be addressed is hunger. In 2015, the journal Public Health Nutrition reported more than one-in-four veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan had suffered food insecurity during the previous 12 months.1 That [...]
Best Saving Strategies to Secure Your Future
The future is coming, ready or not. Will you be financially ready? Time will tell. But while we are waiting, we can do our part. Diversifying The old adage of not having all of our eggs in the same basket rings true and helps to establish our savings goals. Hallmark counsel that has stood the test of time, diversifying is a safety net in case any of our investments fail to meet our goals. [...]
Maximizing Your Social Security Benefits
Retirement and Social Security are inextricably linked. Not only did Social Security help establish the official U.S. retirement age at 65, it also provides a significant portion of today’s retirees’ incomes. Retirement and Social Security are inextricably linked. Not only did Social Security help establish the official U.S. retirement age at 65, it also provides a significant portion of today’s retirees’ incomes. Some of the earliest company pension programs began paying benefits at age 65.1 The [...]
Holiday Greeting – Halloween Trivia Anyone?
Halloween is almost upon us! Whether you’re wearing a costume, decorating your yard/house, or handing out treats, you won’t be alone. More than 179 million Americans are expected to participate in 2017’s Halloween festivities – and spend more than $9 billion doing it. See what you know about Halloween 2017 by taking this fun quiz. 1. What is the most popular Halloween activity?1 a. Dressing in costume b. Carving pumpkins c. Handing out candy [...]
LifeStyle Newsletter – A Sturdy Case Isn’t All You Need to Protect Your Smartphone
Smartphones are incredibly handy. That may be why about three of every four Americans own them.1 On average, smartphone users spend almost three hours a day – 86 hours every month – using their phones. They send texts and email, interact on social media, listen to music and podcasts, watch videos or movies, take and send pictures, play games, read eBooks and online publications, get directions, make payments, and much more.2 Of course, there is [...]
Taking Care of Business
Business ownership is increasing rapidly as more families depend on themselves as entrepreneurs of their own company as their lifelong mission and to provide for their family. According to an article from Forbes, 16 Surprising Statistics About Small Businesses, over 50% of the working population (120 million individuals) works in a small business and those small businesses have generated over 65% of the net new jobs since 1995. Not so small, indeed. Although it is [...]
College is Coming – Have You Started Saving Yet?
How times change! In 1940, half of Americans finished their education in eighth grade. College degrees were relatively rare. Just 6 percent of men and 4 percent of women had one.1 During the past 80 years, college has become far more popular. As interest in higher education grew, America’s network of colleges and universities expanded. Oxford Bibliography described it as:2 “A radically pluralistic system of public, private, and for-profit two- and four-year training institutes and colleges [...]
Holiday Greeting – Happy Labor Day!
Labor Day is about a lot more than the end of summer and the start of a new school year. The holiday, which celebrates American workers, became a federal holiday in 1894 and was created to recognize the contributions and achievements of the labor movement. History.com explained:1 “…at the height of the Industrial Revolution in the United States, the average American worked 12-hour days and seven-day weeks in order to eke out a basic [...]
After the Diagnosis: Making a Plan for Alzheimer’s
In a 2002 interview with Mike Wallace, former First Lady Nancy Reagan said she often reread the love letters written by her husband, former President Ronald Reagan. The letters, which had sustained and enriched their relationship, helped Mrs. Reagan reconnect with her husband and remember the man he was before Alzheimer’s claimed him.1 An excerpt from her book, I Love You, Ronnie: The Letters of Ronald Reagan to Nancy Reagan, reads:2 “No matter what else was going [...]
Back to School: How to Finance & Plan for Rising Educational Costs
Ah . . . routines are back in full force as school is back in session. College students everywhere begin the mantra of complaining about their education while parents scramble to finance it. An excellent education is beyond defining in value when we consider how an education affects our future, but the costs associated with that education can inhibit the ability of some attaining it. In 2016, tuition costs at a University ranged from [...]
