Financial and Lifestyle Resources for Vermont

April is Financial Literacy Month, and I’m taking the concept very literally with some finance book recommendations. There are many books on finance out there, of course, but here are a few of the best books about personal finance, money management, and our financial system that I’ve read.

One day your child will start their way in the world, and as a parent, there are things you can do to help invest in your child’s financial future. While some children may continue their educations going on to college, others may choose a different path looking for a job after High School graduation. Both paths are admirable, with different financial tools a parent can use to help their child on whichever journey they end up taking. Read on to look over options to start planning for your child’s major financial events.

Do you ever feel afraid to talk about money? Does just the idea make you feel uncomfortable? Like politics and religion, finance seems to be one of those topics not talked about. Why is that? According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, fear is “an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger.” For some reason, we’ve allowed ourselves to be afraid of things that aren’t an immediate danger to us, like money. I’ve been there. Money can be scary, and how we manage money, especially if we don’t do it well, can be an embarrassing topic to talk about. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. In three steps, you can be on your way to approaching money with a fearless mindset, instead of allowing fear to hold you back from potential financial gain.

Financial literacy is more than just the knowledge you need to make responsible financial decisions. It’s also the ability to put that knowledge to good use. Those who are financially literate can create a budget and manage their checking account. They understand how credit cards work and how to use them without racking up debt. And they know what is involved in saving for their future financial needs like college, a home, or retirement.

There are so many reasons to celebrate Women’s History Month, most notably the trailblazers and visionaries of the past and present, who have championed gender equality, calling out the economic, social, cultural, and political oppression women have faced for over a century.

With interest rates at historic lows for loans and deposits, the current rate environment certainly rewards borrowers but what choices are long-term savers left with?

We are still in the midst of winter, but now is the time to start planning for spring upgrades, repairs, and projects. Warmer weather will be here soon (I promise!), so it is best to be prepared to take advantage of our limited warm months. Preparation and planning now can make any project go smoother.

What do you do when your paycheck doesn’t cover your monthly bills? This has become a larger problem for people during the pandemic, but it can be a problem at any time. You may just hit a bad month, where expenses got out of control; or you may have lost a job, found yourself caring for a sick family member, or maybe your expenses increased but your paycheck didn’t. Either way, if you’re in a situation where you’re missing bill payments or skipping meals so you can meet other financial responsibilities, it’s time to take action.