Time—it’s something everyone says they want more of. And this year, everybody gets more time—specifically one more day! February 29 is Leap Day, and it only comes around once every four years. Take advantage of this extra day by using it to do something to increase your well-being, reduce your stress, connect and reconnect with who and what matters to you, and reduce life’s “noise” and annoyances. Need some ideas? We’re sharing 29 activities you can do today, on your extra day, to make life easier and more fulfilling. Call or write a handwritten note to someone you care about and haven’t reac ..read more

Happy 2024! With the holiday hustle and bustle behind us, the start of a new year is a great time to get refocused on your health and well-being. These tips can help you be proactive and prepared, maximize your health benefits, and save money so you have your healthiest, happiest year yet! Be proactive and prepared! Update your wallet If your health insurance changed, make sure you received your new insurance card and that you add it to your wallet. You may or may not receive cards for your dental and/or vision benefits, but it’s a good idea to write down any important information like insuran ..read more

Having enough money saved for retirement is a top financial stressor among nonretired adults. The fact is, retirement can be expensive, and the sooner you can get an idea of what you will need to fund a comfortable retirement and take steps to grow your nest egg, the less stress you will have. It takes educating yourself, adjusting your spending habits and committing to savings. The following tips and tools can help you take control of your financial future for greater peace of mind, whether retirement is several decades or just a few years away. Get a rough estimate of what you’ll need.  ..read more

Keeping track of your healthcare costs can take effort, but the payoff can be worth it! Following these tips could mean more money in your pocket, and may even help you get healthier. Know what your health plan covers. Is chiropractic care covered? How about rehab? Knowing this information ahead of time can help you avoid surprise medical bills. Understand your out-of-pocket costs. This includes copays for doctor visits and hospitalizations, deductibles, and coinsurance. Choose in-network providers. Make sure that any doctors, hospitals, labs and other providers you use are in your health plan ..read more

Financial discussions are the most common source of disagreement for couples, studies show. These conversations can be particularly stressful in a time of economic uncertainty, job loss and other disruptive events. Try these suggestions for healthier financial discussions, no matter what your circumstances. Set a time to talk when you’re calm and not distracted. Make sure the kids are occupied, and there are not urgent chores to attend to. Turn off your TV, phones and other devices. Start with an understanding of each other’s beliefs about money. Conflicts may be avoided by knowing what financ ..read more

Did you recently renew your health plan or sign up for a new one through your employer? You may already know that you’ll have to pay an annual deductible before the insurance begins to pay for coverage–or that, if you’re continuing with your plan, deductibles reset in January.  This means you may be paying thousands of dollars for care or prescriptions before most insurance coverage starts. This can be a particular hardship if you have a medical condition with frequent treatments or medications. Planning for anticipated expenses is vital. Here are some suggestions to help with early year ..read more

Now that we’re more than halfway through the year, this is a great time to take stock of your Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA). While there are administrative differences in these types of accounts, both allow you to save and use pre-tax dollars toward healthcare-related expenses for you and your family without being taxed. For example, while the funds in an HSA can roll over and accumulate year to year, you may be limited in how much of your FSA you can roll over to the next year, so now is the time to determine if you are maximizing this money so nothing is lef ..read more

Make 2022 the year you take control of your finances. Setting financial goals creates a roadmap for both short-term and long-term planning, allowing you to establish good financial habits and a strong foundation for future success. Take some time to think about where you see yourself in the months and years ahead, and set up financial goals now to help you get one step closer. Here are a few steps to help you get started: What is your goal? Think about what is meaningful and important to you. Are you looking to pay off student loan debt or create a budget? Or are you ready to save for a new h ..read more

Aspiring toward improved health in 2022? Then you may be interested in these 22 easy tips. Start the new year off on the right foot by trying some or all of these ideas! Drink more water. Water is a healthy, calorie-free and sugar-free beverage option. Add 10 minutes of exercise to your day. If you don’t already exercise, aim to do 10 minutes each day. If you do currently exercise, add 10 extra minutes to your routine. Get moving at work. Aim to stand up more often, or take a quick walk or stretch break. Go to bed 10 minutes earlier. By the end of the week, you’ll get an extra 70 minutes of s ..read more

Keeping track of your healthcare costs can take some effort, but the payoff can be worth it! Following these tips could mean more money in your pocket — and it could help you get healthier, too. Know what your health plan covers. Is chiropractic care covered? How about rehab? Knowing this information ahead of time can help you avoid surprise medical bills. Understand your out-of-pocket costs. This includes copays for doctor visits and hospitalizations, deductibles, and coinsurance. Choose in-network providers.  Make sure that any doctors, hospitals, labs and other providers you use are in ..read more