Tips and resources that can help you get started Did you know that women business owners are a growing force? Here are some powerful facts from the Census on women-owned businesses: 7.8 million US businesses are owned by women. This represents a 44 percent increase from 1997-2007, and is twice the growth rate of men-owned businesses! Women-owned businesses generate $1.2 trillion a year and employ 7.6 million people. Along with the chance to achieve financial success and be your own Read more [...]

I always get a little stir crazy at the beginning of spring. After making it through another Michigan winter, I can’t wait for the sunshine and warm weather right around the corner. It’s time to shake off winter and welcome spring for the fresh start that it is. Spring cleaning is definitely on my agenda, but that won’t just involve cleaning out the basement and the garage. Okay, I can’t lie: my husband will probably take care of that stuff anyway. My plan for this year’s spring cleaning Read more [...]

Bad credit can happen to good people. The tough economic times in recent years led to an increase in delinquent loan payments, bankruptcies, vehicle repossessions and home foreclosures, even amongst people who normally managed their finances very well. These problems are serious and cause major damage to credit reports and scores, but these circumstances are still workable and can be improved. If you are in a situation where you want to reestablish positive credit but are not sure where to begin, Read more [...]

The holiday shopping season is underway for many of us, and if you’re like me, you get a little stressed by all the spending that goes on this time of year. Ideally, we can pay for all our holiday expenses with cash, but this is not always an option. If you’re planning to use credit cards for some of your holiday purchases, here are a few tips to help you prevent financial stress in the coming months. Use Cards to Your Advantage Credit cards sometimes have a bad reputation for getting people Read more [...]

I spend a lot of time in East Lansing, so it should come as no surprise that Michigan State University (MSU) has been on my mind this past month. Because I work at a financial institution, when I see all the students moving back to campus each fall, I can’t help but think about the financial aspects of college. As a proud MSU alum (Go Green!), I wholeheartedly believe that a college education is worth the financial investment. The only issue is, no matter how you do the math, college is expensive. Read more [...]

Gas prices, day care and health care are big expenses families can have each month. The ever-increasing costs of health care have left families and businesses struggling to find solutions. One way to minimize health expenses by realizing tax benefits is through health savings accounts (HSAs). What is a health savings account? A health savings account is an account that you set up at a financial institution, just like a typical savings account. However, with HSAs you are able to set aside money Read more [...]

As part of my summer goal to get organized, I attempted a major closet purge and donated my still fabulous but not-worn-since-my-last-purge clothing to a local nonprofit. When I dropped off my clothing, not only did I feel good clearing out my space and supporting a great organization, I made sure to get a receipt so I could include the donation on my 2012 tax return. Donating clothes is just one of the countless ways to contribute to our community, and tax deductibility is only one of the many Read more [...]

Vacations are fun ways to build family experiences that can create laughter, adventure and lasting memories. For example, in the comedy RV, Robin Williams plays Bob Munro, a dad who is trying to bring his family together for a vacation. The movie shows the hilarious side of what can happen when a family travels together on an RV adventure! Whether you are considering a car, pick-up truck, boat, motorcycle or RV for summer fun, it’s important to shop around for the best deal on your loan before Read more [...]

There’s something about summer that gives me crazy motivation to get things done around the house. Maybe it’s the longer days or maybe it’s just me looking at my neglected backyard and comparing it to all that amazing landscaping I keep seeing on HGTV, but I really want to take on some home improvement projects this summer. If you’re also looking to upgrade your space, here are four questions to help you plan out your home improvement projects and keep them manageable and affordable. What’s Read more [...]

If you are like me, you try to make green and eco-friendly decisions as much as possible. Economical cars, reusable cups, recycling and buying local — and let’s not forget about the big one — finances! Your finances are a great and easy way to make responsible choices for yourself and sustainable choices for the environment. Here are a few easy steps to take control of your finances and reduce your carbon footprint. Get organized Paper bills, receipts and statements can easily become an Read more [...]

If you’re anything like me, you overspent (again) during the holiday season and vowed to get your finances back on track as one of your 2012 resolutions. Resolving to save more money is one of the most common resolutions. Now that January’s passed, and some of us are already losing motivation to stick with our savings resolutions. Here are a few easy steps to get you back on track with a savings plan. #1 Determine a clear savings goal. Simply setting a goal to save up more money is a great Read more [...]

December always seems to fly by, and before we know it, 2012 will be upon us. The beginning of the new year is the perfect time to set goals and create a plan for the rest of the year, especially when it comes to your financial situation. Here are two of the most common financial resolutions and ways you can start working toward these goals this holiday season and into 2012. Save More What to do now: It can be difficult, but do everything you can to keep the holiday season affordable. Set a budget, Read more [...]