Used responsibly, credit cards can be helpful in an emergency and for establishing a sound credit history. Paying debts on time, including credit card bills, contributes to building good credit. If a card holder does not honor their payment agreement, your credit rating can be damaged and you may not be able to get credit again...
Stick to a Budget The word budget scares off many adults as well as teens, but a budget is the best way to ensure discipline with your finances. Start by estimating monthly expenditures for major categories such as school expenses, transportation, food, clothing and entertainment. Keep tabs on spending with an Excel spreadsheet or keep...
Financial stress can take the joy out of the holiday season, but there are some small steps you can take to limit spending during this time of year. Budgeting: Budgeting is one of the simplest ways to save money. Allow yourself a certain amount to spend on various holiday needs and be diligent in staying within your...
It’s mid-summer and almost back-to-school time – translating into hundreds of dollars in added expenses for families as they purchase clothing and supplies for their children to begin the new school year. Worse yet, spending for school supplies, if not carefully planned for and budgeted, can add up all too quickly… in what may seem...
(Wednesday, June 19, 2019) – Parents teach their children many life lessons. From learning the basics of walking, speaking and eating to the more complicated lessons of using good judgement in decision making and socializing properly with others.Evaluations returned from DuTrac’s recent financial literacy fair reflected 22.5% of students thought core financial literacy skills should be taught...
Losing a spouse is not an easy journey. Often, grief is set aside to deal with the ongoing practical matters of everyday life and the new reality of handling household finances as an individual rather than as a couple. The good news is there are a number of resources at DuTrac to assist you. Where...
If you are not living on campus, you probably have some household bills to pay. Even if you are living on campus now, you will have these kinds of bills to pay in the future: Rent. Being a good tenant today can help you rent another place in the future. Most landlords research potential applicants with...
As high school graduation, and the expense of a post-high school education approaches, many students feel pressure to obtain as many scholarships as possible. As long as the recipient of the scholarship continues to meet its qualifications, the money never needs to be repaid. High school students can improve their chances of earning a scholarship...
There are many types of student aid with varying eligibility requirements and options to consider. Federal Student Aid – There are nine different programs funded by the federal government. State-Based Aid – There are 605 different programs funded by individual states, with various eligibility requirements. To find all programs in your state, visit www.FAFSA.com/stateaid. College-Specific Aid – Most...
According to the Federal Trade Commission, a new federal law allows you to get free credit freezes for yourself and your children, and year-long fraud alerts. Currently, you may be charged fees to freeze and unfreeze your credit, depending on which state you reside in. How Credit Freezes Work Freezing your credit prevents creditors from...
