The New Year is upon us, and you have plans to build on your savings in 2023. Maybe you have a wedding to plan, or are looking to move into a larger home, or want to start a college fund. The problem is recurring payments and subscriptions are taking up too much of your monthly spending and you’re not able to save as much as you would like. Sure, subscriptions to video streaming platforms are convenient and typically cost less than paying for cable television outright, but they also are hard to track, especially if the total number of subscriptions you have are high. If you’re not tracking the ..read more

The weather is colder. Days are shorter. Nights are longer. That only means one thing – winter is here. You turned off the air conditioning and hopefully have made sure your heating system is working well. That comes with a rub this year, and you may want to rethink your energy usage strategy in the new year. Eversource supply rates are set to double from 12.05 cents/kWh to 24.2 cents/kWh starting Jan. 1, 2023. This is an $84 per month increase for the average user. United Illuminating supply rates are also increasing from 10.6 cents/kWh to 22.5 cents/kWh, resulting in an $83.09 increase for t ..read more

We have all been through a wild ride these past couple of years, with prices skyrocketing on many – perhaps even most – of the items we purchase regularly.  It’s put a strain on budgets and forced us to reevaluate our finances. But, it doesn’t change the fact that many of us have things we want to do in the future.  Maybe you want to start saving for retirement (or save more that you currently do).  Perhaps you would like to get out of renting and purchase your first home.  Maybe you anticipate needing a new car, or getting married, or starting a family.  Or maybe, aft ..read more

By Pam Reiss As the saying goes, “a penny saved is a penny earned.”  You work hard for your paycheck but, if you’re like many of us, you’re amazed at how little you’re able to save every month.  Especially now, with the rate of inflation as high as it is, and many people still reeling from the past two years, finding ways to save even a little more is important.  It may be to save for a vacation or wedding, college tuition, a new car, or for a rainy day fund, or any other reason. Entertainment is an important part of our lives.  It gives us a much needed and deserved break ..read more

Times have been tough for many people over the last few months.  As if the pandemic wasn’t enough of a headache, inflation is causing everyday items – from gas to groceries – to take a bigger chunk out of our weekly and monthly budgets.  Supply chain issues are also adding to the problem, allowing businesses to raise prices.  As a result, we have to be more aware than ever about the products and services we buy as we try to stick to our budgets. Of course, some spending is necessary.  But, there may be some wasted spending that can be reduced – if not eliminated entirely ..read more

To pay it off or to save? If you have student loan debt, you’ve probably wondered whether you should finish paying it off before you prioritize putting away money for retirement, building a rainy day fund, and focusing on other financial goals. The answer: both! While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, building savings while you pay down your student debt is an effective strategy for many borrowers. Here are four reasons why student debt repayment shouldn’t hold you back from saving: Saving early is key to building a retirement fund. When it comes to retirement savings, starting monthly co ..read more

With the average cost for a year of college in the US up to $35,720, it’s no wonder so many students take out loans. But the average undergraduate borrower receives just $11,836 in student loans each year — a significant gap for most. That’s where Parent PLUS loans come in. The Department of Education allows parents of dependent, undergraduate students to take out this type of federal student loan on their child’s behalf. Parent PLUS loans can be an easily accessible option for families to help foot the bill for their children’s college education — something that many families need assistance ..read more

There’s been a lot of news about student debt lately. And one of the biggest recent developments: the impending changes to federal student loan servicers. Three major federal student loan servicers — FedLoan, Granite State, and Navient — are all in the process of ending their contracts with the Department of Education (DoEd) and transferring borrowers in their portfolios to new servicers. If you’re one of the nearly sixteen million borrowers impacted by these changes, you should know that you don’t need to take any action to get a new servicer. At some point within the next year — and for most ..read more

By Lynda Mason The dawn of a new year is always exciting.  For one thing, it offers a fresh opportunity to break bad habits and think about new ways to make our own lives better.  Some people decide to eat healthier or visit the gym more often.  Others decide to spend more time with loved ones, or make an effort to contribute to the community.  But, if there’s one change we all can benefit from, it’s saving a little more. Inflation, rising gas prices, and supply chain hold-ups are driving up costs across the board, making it harder for regular people to pay for everyday goo ..read more

By Dave Wall In today’s digital world, most of what we do is somehow attached to our smartphones.  From our communication and social media to shopping and dining, you probably use a mobile app to get things done.  That includes banking.  Most of your banking features are available on right in the palm of your hand, including the ability to send money instantly. In a world where many of us pay for just about everything with mobile apps and credit cards, the one thing that isn’t quite as easy as making an online purchase is sending money – at least not until money transfer apps li ..read more