.Organize Important Papers in Case of Emergency

Help others find key documents and records if you are incapacitated

Based on content from the NIH/National Institute on Aging AgePage "Getting Your Affairs In Order."

No one ever plans to be sick or disabled.

Yet, planning ahead can make all the difference if you take an unexpected trip to the hospital or suffer a health problem making it hard to remember where you put everything.

Good planning and organization is a gift to those who will help you manage your health and financial affairs if needed.

.What You Should Keep in a Fireproof Safe – And What You Shouldn’t

If you’ve read up on fire safety, you’ve likely taken precautions to keep your family safe and prepared — you’ve equipped your home with a smoke detector on every floor, established an emergency escape plan with your family, and invested time in teaching your children to call 911 in case of a fire emergency. You’ve taken the steps to protect your family — but have you fully protected your most valuable possessions?

In an instant, a household fire can destroy treasured items, documents, and a lifetime of memories. You can protect your valuable possessions by storing them appropriately. Today, many people opt for a fireproof safe, rather than paying to keep their belongings in a safety deposit box at the local bank.

.Where Should You Keep Your Emergency Fund?

By AJ Smith

We have all heard and (hopefully) heeded the advice to keep between three and six months' worth of expenses aside as an emergency fund. Even if you feel like you have a handle on budgeting for your day-to-day expenses, what happens when the unpredictable hits with the potential to set your finances back?

This stash is not meant for buying a home or going on a trip, it is for real emergencies. It's a good idea to make growing an emergency fund a priority and where we keep this money can make a big difference.

It's important for the money to be accessible, but it can also be earning interest while waiting to be tapped. If you are building up your emergency fund and looking for a better place to keep it than under the mattress, check out these options of places to park your emergency fund.

.The Real-Life Secrets of Millionaires

By Kimberly Palmer

Several years ago, New York Times Wealth Matters columnist Paul Sullivan opened up his finances to a group of high-powered, high-net worth investors known as Tiger 21. Members gather regularly to discuss investing strategies and at one meeting, Sullivan asked them to critique his own -- relatively meager by their standards -- financial life.

"Given what I do, I thought [my wife and I] had a handle on it, but what I learned from that meeting is that we hadn't thought enough about the risks in life," Sullivan says. Those risks include declining incomes and the unexpected death or disability of a household wage earner.

As a result of that meeting, Sullivan and his wife took out life and disability insurance policies and sold off a condo in Florida that had been a vacation home for the family.

.What to Do When You Inherit Your Parents’ House

Advice for selling it, moving in or renting it out used 6-17-20

By Craig Venezia July 1, 2019

Boomers stand to inherit upwards of $27 trillion over the next four decades, according to The Center of Wealth and Philanthropy at Boston College, and a portion of that includes the house their parents lived in.

But when that house becomes yours, figuring out what to do with it can present financial and emotional issues. If your siblings are involved, things can get even trickier.

“There are three basic paths you can take,” says Bruno Graziano, a senior estate planning analyst with Wolters Kluwer, CCH. “Sell the house, move into it, or rent it out.”

.How Are You Expected to Fix Your Finances By Yourself?

Financial Literacy By Michael Dinich

No one is born with financial intelligence.

It is something that is trained and learned through your parents, providing vital information or by making one too many financial mistakes in your teens and early twenties.

When faced with the prospect of ruining your finances, from debilitating overdraft fees to terrible credit that doesn't even allow you to purchase a cell phone plan, it can feel like you will never get out of this financial hole.

This isn't the case, though; everyone can fix their finances, and they don't need to do it alone.

.How Many Bank Accounts Should You Have? [The Simple Guide]

As you build your emergency fund and savings, a question you might ask yourself is, “How many bank accounts should I have?”

However, for most people having one bank account is a common option and there is no thought in really expanding to other accounts.

Personally, it never crossed my mind when I was first focusing more on my personal finances. But as I grew my savings and investments, I did start thinking about it more and if additional accounts were the right move.

Now the majority of people really do not need more than one institution that they do banking with. And the common choice to make is to have a checking account and savings account at one bank of your choosing.

But if you’re wondering how many bank accounts should you have, some pros and cons, and the options you have — then stick with me below!

.Money Mentor: A Trusted Financial Companion

June 12, 2020 by One Frugal Girl

Where do you go when you need to talk about money? Do you have a money mentor in your life? A trusted source who can listen to your financial questions and provide you with monetary guidance.

It doesn’t matter if you are financially savvy or have absolutely no idea how to manage your money. We all need a way to bounce ideas around with someone who is willing to listen. A money mentor allows us to talk about money matters and financial decisions without judgment or worry.

Money Mentor

What is a money mentor? A money mentor is a friend, family member, or coworker who openly talks about money. A financial companion who shares ideas about money management, budgeting, spending, and saving.

A money mentor shares their knowledge and experience. They help us think through difficult financial topics and questions. By learning about financial experiences we can make better, more informed decisions.