.How To Rebound From a Bad Financial Year in 2020

By Andrew Lisa May 17, 2021

Follow these steps to improve your financial health.

Many Americans toasted the end of 2020 and woke up in 2021 realizing that while the end is in sight, we still have a long way to go to conquer the pandemic and right the economy. You may be one of the millions of Americans who lost their jobs, closed a business, faced unexpected expenses or experienced some other major loss due to COVID-19. The first thing to know is this: You are not alone.

Even more comforting, you still have the power to achieve financial freedom despite the setbacks of last year. With a little effort, you can shore up your budget, reduce your expenses and manage your financial recovery. The following short list of actions you can take right now will help you improve your financial health this year.

.Tips To Keep Your Finances in Order Without Sacrificing What You Want

Cameron Huddleston Last updated: Oct. 25, 2021

If you’re trying to live on a budget, you might not feel like you can have the things you want. But you don’t have to resign yourself to living a bare-bones existence if your budget is tight — it’s possible to live on a budget and get some of the stuff you want.

Create a Budget That Prioritizes Needs

If your income is limited, make sure it covers your needs first. “Food, shelter, clothing and utilities are needs,” said Donna Freedman, author of “Your Playbook For Tough Times. “The rest is just a series of wants.”

.How To Set Up An Estate Plan

Georgina Tzanetos Tue, October 26, 2021, 10:07 AM·7 min read

Thinking about estate plans usually evokes an image of a wealthy family summoning their family lawyer to make sure their summer homes pass through to the children while evading taxes. Modern estate planning though is much more about organizing your financial assets to make sure they are protected from new problems, such as outside business ventures or a potential divorce — or even a pandemic. According to a new survey from Edward Jones, a third of Americans say the pandemic has triggered conversations with their family about end-of-life plans.

An estate plan is a contract that is put in place to disperse and dispose of a person’s assets upon their death or selected time of transfer for the assets. This can include wills, trusts, powers of attorney, probates and more. It is up to the individual who created the estate plan to determine who the beneficiaries of their estate will be.

.16 Simple Things That People Say Helped Them Feel Less Worried About Money

Tue, October 26, 2021, 12:16 PM

Learning to work through the feelings that come up around money can be *quite* the journey. So when a redditor asked the folks at r/PersonalFinance for their tips on dealing with money anxiety, the responses that came in showed a really interesting range of ideas, both financial and psychological.

Here are some of the top comments:

1."Coming from a frugal but financially stable background, what helped me was budgeting and an adequate emergency fund. Once you understand what your life costs, and you have three, six, nine, 12 months or whatever of living expenses saved up, it helps not to worry about the future. If I lose my job, my house, get divorced, whatever, I know I can make it work." —u/meggers26

Nothing Happens Without a Plan

200-Level (Intermediate) | Retirement Planning

Updated October 15, 2021

October is Financial Planning Month. Of course, it’s also Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Global Diversity Awareness Month, National Bullying Prevention Month, Estate & Gift Planning Awareness Month, and more. There’s plenty of awareness, appreciation, and support-worthy causes to recognize and celebrate this month.

But since Financial Planning is one topic highlighted this month, there’s no time like the present to do something vital for you and your future. Rarely anything happens without a plan. Even your daily to-do list is essentially a plan. If something isn’t on that list, the chances of it getting done go down dramatically.

.5 Signs You’re Saving Too Much

Cynthia Measom Thu, October 21, 2021

For many people, saving too little is the problem. However, for others, it’s the exact opposite because they are saving too much. Too much of anything can be dangerous, including stashing excess cash in a savings account or under a mattress.

But how do know if you’re putting too much cash toward savings? To help, consider these five signs that indicate your savings balance is out of control and learn how you can start being smarter with your money.

.13 Simple Ideas To Stretch Your Money And Beat High Inflation

Ethan Rotberg Tue, October 19, 2021

The pandemic has sparked shortages of goods and workers that have pushed inflation to its highest levels in decades. But you've already seen what that looks like, if you recently bought groceries, gassed up your car or went shopping for furniture or a new TV. Prices are surging, and don't look for relief anytime soon. Various forecasts anticipate that stiff inflation will hang around into the new year.

One strategy for fighting back against rising prices is to take advantage of some simple ways to make and save more money in your daily life.