Financial and Lifestyle Resources for Vermont

What’s the secret to saving money? Use less money than you make! Saving money is really quite simple, and yet many people struggle to do it. Instead, we tend to use credit to make purchases and end up paying high interest rates on our debt. Why is it so hard to save? Because in order to achieve any goal, you need a plan. With savings, the plan is called a budget.

It’s a new year—the best time of year to set resolutions and goals. If you don’t have savings or are living on a low budget, the idea of setting an investment goal might feel uncomfortable, but remember that discomfort often comes with growth. This is the time to challenge yourself to not just survive the year financially, but to come out ahead in the end. Even if you don’t have a lot of money, this is possible. Here’s how.

I start each year off like everyone else, with New Year’s resolutions—eat healthier and exercise more. Well this year I thought I would have a New Year’s resolution for my car! If you’re looking for some smart resolutions that will help you save money and maintain the value of your car, here are some resolutions you may want to make.

Small businesses come in a variety of sizes and types in Vermont. So, it is no wonder that there is no “one-size fits all” solution for energy savings when it comes to how Vermonters make a living. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, “over half of the U.S. workforce either owns or works for a small business.” It’s clear that small businesses, like yours, power our economy. And your business needs power to keep the lights on, to heat and cool, and more. And, chances are you are paying for more energy than you need to get the job done.

If you have an individual retirement account (IRA), your annual contributions have a limit. In 2019, those limits are rising, which is great news for those who like to save the maximum. Below, you’ll find everything you need to know about the new maximums and your phase-out range (if you are covered by a retirement plan at work). 

Extreme weather events are causing increasing numbers of power outages, and power outages can impact your life and your livelihood—maybe you have to throw out a freezer full of spoiled food, or you are cut off from loved ones during a storm, or can’t shower before work. It’s important to have energy alternatives that can help you meet your essential needs and keep your home habitable, maybe for an extended period, during power outages. Most people say water, food, warmth, and communication rank as essential needs. To help meet those needs, people are increasingly looking for new uses of solar energy that can help them protect their homes during outages. Here’s why.

Criminals love the holiday season. Why? Because it gives them more opportunities to steal payment card information. They do this at the register, online, by phone, and even at the gas station. Fraudsters have many techniques for committing card fraud. This article will outline some of their techniques and give you some tips for how to keep your payment card safe over the holidays.  

Winter is definitely here and you may be thinking about enjoying this early winter snow with a new snowmobile. You may wonder whether you should finance the sled or pay cash for it. If so, you can begin by asking yourself a couple of questions: Do have enough cash to purchase the snowmobile out of pocket? If I take out a loan, can I afford another monthly payment? Do I have to put insurance on the snowmobile? How much do I really want to spend?