Financial and Lifestyle Resources for Vermont

This winter is looking a little different for many of us. No large family gatherings, no bonfires with hot toddies at our local ski resorts, and no major traveling for this season. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy what Vermont has to offer you in nature: beautiful and affordable, even free, activities!

Now that the holidays are over and you’re left cleaning up from all the fun and catching up with those who couldn't visit, you may be wondering how you can decrease the debt you’ve acquired over the holidays. Debt is an age-old problem, but fortunately there are solutions to help you recover and pay off debt after the holiday. 

When I first moved into my home about four years ago, I was paying higher electric bills, with air conditioning in the summer and pellet stove heat in the winter. This worked for me for a while even though it meant purchasing pallets full of pellets (averaging a few hundred dollars per pallet) and hauling those into my home, and of course during the cold months keeping the hopper full on a regular basis. Then the pellet stove broke down and pushed me down a different path.

With interest rates hitting all-time lows, finding a savings account that offers great returns is a challenge. High-interest savings accounts are few and very far between these days. So, should you throw your money into the best account you can find and just wait for interest rates to rise or are there better ways to make the most of your deposits until the interest rate tide turns?

Although you may be thinking mostly of what gifts you’re buying this year and how to teach grandma and grandpa how to use Zoom, it’s never too early to start thinking about your New Year’s Resolutions. So often, those considerations are relegated to the 5-day liminal space between Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve. Let’s face it; 2021 is not the year to get a gym membership. So, why not try improving your financial wellbeing?

It’s safe to say that most of us have had a difficult year and with the holiday season, life can get more complicated, leading to more stress. Here are some easy strategies to simplify the season, including a tool that can help you save money.

I’m diversified. I have money in three different mattresses! Diversification is a strategy whereby investors spread out their risk by investing in multiple asset classes. In other words, they don’t invest all of their money JUST in domestic stocks or JUST in municipal bonds. They spread it out over a variety of investment types that have different risk profiles. That way, if their domestic stocks are doing poorly (losing money), their investments in bonds may bring in enough of a return to make up for their stock losses.

This holiday season looks a little different from years past and that includes shopping days like Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday. Rather than offering different deals on different days, many local Vermont retailers have modified their holiday plans and are offering sales online instead. It’s easier, faster, and safer, especially during COVID-19! We rounded up a list of deals to some of our favorite local businesses for your convenience.