Top Tips for New Homeowners to Manage Utilities Expenses

You dreamed for years of owning your own home, and now you’ve finally done it. You saved the down payment and qualified for a mortgage with terms you can handle. But if you move in right before the deepest cold of winter or the peak of summer, you might be in for a surprise. Utilities cost a lot more for a house than for an apartment. Here are some ways to cut back on energy bills.

Why Quicken Is the Best Way to Keep Track of Your Money

Meticulously counting each dollar you spend gets old in a hurry, but keeping track of them as they leave your pocket is still the best way to monitor your cash flow. Good news is, you no longer have to do all that counting manually. Budgeting software takes all the legwork out of keeping track of your money, and Quicken is your best option. Here’s how you can use it to keep your money in check.

The Fastest Way to Rebuild Your Savings

A savings account is a safeguard against unexpected expenses — after all, emergencies never strike when it’s convenient. If you’ve used up all of your savings, rebuilding your financial safety net as soon as possible is an important priority. Katie Ross, education and development manager for American Consumer Credit Counseling at ConsumerCredit.com, suggests using a five-point plan to get your savings back in shape.

The Fastest Way to Save for a Car

The fastest way to save up for a new car is to first reduce the amount you’ll have to save. Putting 20 percent down on a new car has been the golden rule for years, but you can scale down the amount necessary for the down payment on a car in just a few ways. 

Budgeting Tools for New Small Business Owners

Budgeting for your new small business is much the same as budgeting in your personal life in some respects, but there’s one big difference: The income factor in your personal budget is usually somewhat fixed. Your business income can be limitless, on the other hand, or at least that’s your goal when you start out. Making and maintaining a good business budget helps you control costs and invest in growth.

The College Student’s Personal Finance Guide to Adulting

You’ve got the applications filled out and you have a list of your favorite schools — but what about your financial plan? While it’s easy for money management to slip your mind, planning for college financial management now can save you money-related stress later (like, during finals). Get these essentials covered and you’ll be in good shape to ace your budgeting all year.