Financial and Lifestyle Resources for Vermont

August 14 is National Financial Awareness Day—a good reminder to take personal stock of your financial awareness. What does it mean to be financially aware? Financial awareness is akin to financial literacy and both refer to the knowledge and skill sets that support solid financial decisions and overall financial health.

If you’re a parent, you may find that as the school year gets closer, figuring out a game plan to pay for college gets more overwhelming by the day. For most, funding education from a savings alone is not an option.

My daughter is in college, so for the past couple of years I’ve struggled to pull together the funds for a vacation. This year is even more of a struggle because I had to pay for some significant repairs to my home and my car. I know I’m not the only one in this situation, so I thought I’d share what I’ve learned how to travel on a budget while still having a fantastic vacation.

Though I help people figure out their money woes all day, when it comes to my own finances, I sometimes feel like sticking my head in the sand like the proverbial ostrich. Like anyone else, once I pay my bills, I’m lucky if I have extra money for the things I want to do. Fortunately, I’ve learned a few money-saving strategies along the way. If you’d like to stop living paycheck to paycheck, here are some techniques you can try:  

According to AAA, the average cost of car ownership is roughly $8,000 per year. Fuel and repair costs are increasing, and transportation is often the largest household budget item for a Vermont family when factoring in car payment, insurance, repairs, and fuel.

You’re in your car with the windows rolled down. The wind is blowing your hair and the song “Happy” by Pharrell Williams comes on the radio. You start singing and thinking about how amazing a road trip would be with some friends.

Discussions about money can feel taboo, so it’s easy to feel alone when you have financial issues and hard to know who to ask for advice. Besides confiding in a trusted representative at your credit union or bank, below are some ideas that may help you recover from common money mistakes and reduce your anxiety so you can start saving again.   

Did you know that April is National Car Care Month?  It is! And there's no better time of year to start thinking about your vehicle. By caring for your vehicle monthly, using this car maintenance checklist, you will help reduce stress and expenses associated with your vehicle and possibly help conserve energy. People often think car care costs a lot, so I want to share this car maintenance checklist to help you take care of your vehicle without breaking the bank!