Allison’s Story: No Such Thing as Over-Prepared
Meet Allison, a Data Analyst who lives in Winooski, Vermont with her three roommates. What do you do? I am the Manager of Data Analytics for a home health and hospice agency. I’ve been here for a year and a half, and really love my job. I have a lot of autonomy, and I get…
Read MoreAndrea’s Story: Money is About Having Options
Meet Andrea, who lives in Connecticut and loves video game memorabilia. What do you do? I’m not employed at the moment. I have been employed in the past, but it’s been a while. At the moment, I’m trying to figure out some things before diving back into employment. What did your upbringing teach you about…
Read MoreShould I Rent or Buy a Home?
Renting versus owning – how to determine which is right for you Choosing whether to own or rent a home is a big decision. The “right” answer for you will be deeply personal, based on a few key considerations that we will explore below. 1. Examine your personal values A good place to start is…
Read MoreGrab a Friend! Social Strategies to Help You Save
There is strength in numbers! This is especially true when you’re trying to reach your goals and change behaviors. Weight Watchers uses this principle to support healthy eating, and Alcoholics Anonymous uses it to encourage sober living. Emerging research shows that peer support can increase your confidence and sense of control. Social support also makes…
Read MoreMichael’s Story: Make Your Money Work For You
Meet Michael, a substance abuse counselor who lives in San Diego, California. What do you do? I’m a substance abuse counselor. I’ve been doing it for about two years now – midlife career change. Unfortunately, it’s one of the fastest growing professions in the US, which doesn’t bode well for us. What did your upbringing…
Read MoreDo you recommend credit consolidation?
Do you recommend credit consolidation to improve scores and decrease debt? Submitted by Natasha P. There are two parts to this question, so let’s dig into them separately. Improving Your Credit Score Whenever a financial institution pulls your credit with the purpose of offering you a loan, your score may be affected. Closing a credit…
Read MoreNicole’s Story: Live on Less Than You Earn
Meet Nicole, a social worker and mother of two in Atlanta, Georgia. What do you do? Right now, I’m working in logistics, but I was a social worker for a very long time. When I got married and had my kids, I took a break from social work because it’s a very involved career. So…
Read MoreWhat is a financial health score?
Congrats on taking this step in your SaverLife journey! Your score is on a scale of 1 to 100. Here is how to read it: 0-39: You might feel like one financial emergency, like a blown tire or unexpected medical bill, would set you back for months. It’s hard to devote time and resources to…
Read MoreWhat does it mean to “pay yourself first”?
Hi, I’m Saundra Davis, SaverLife’s financial coach. Let’s talk a little bit about the golden rule of saving: pay yourself first. So many people say, “I’m going to wait and save after I’ve paid all my bills and I’ll save what’s left,” but we all know what happens then. Very seldom is there anything left. So the idea of…
Read MoreHow to Make Good Financial Decisions
Hi, I’m Saundra Davis, financial coach here at SaverLife. Today we’re going to talk about how we make good financial decisions. There is no shortage of information online and, frankly, even from family and friends. How do we know that what worked for them will work for you? Check the source The question becomes: How do you know when the advice…
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