Having trouble saving? You’re not alone. A recent survey conducted by Bankrate found an estimated 76 percent of Americans are currently living paycheck to paycheck. While this way of living may be sufficient for a little while, how long can you maintain it? The key to being better with your money is to be smarter …

1. How to Break Bad Financial Habits “One way to stay on track is by setting periodic goals or a series of milestones that help you stick to and develop strong new habits. You might consider setting milestones for 30 days, 60 days, 90 days or more. These mini-goals can help with planning longer-term goals …

Do you constantly check your bank statements and wonder where all your money went? A dollar here and a dollar there quickly accumulates, and as any financier worth their salt will tell you, it’s the little things that often end up costing you the most. Just take these five everyday items people are constantly wasting …

Planning a vacation but worried about overspending? While having fun and saving money aren’t two terms that necessarily go hand-in-hand, enjoying a much-needed vacation with the family while sticking to a set budget isn’t all that hard if you take the right approach. 1. Things to Keep in Mind While the term ‘super cheap’ is …

Looking for ways to help keep your budget in check? No problem. We scoured the Internet to help bring you our top five free budgeting apps! Take a look at our top five picks below. 1. Mint Just how fresh is this app? Mint(y) fresh! The Mint app both organizes and categorizes your spending—making it …

Taking the family to the game is a great way to have fun while spending some quality time together. However, while you go for the competition, camaraderie, and to root for your favorite team, you may not realize just how expensive sporting events can actually be. So, before you plan your next big outing, take …

Summer vacations can be costly—especially if you have children. With airfare prices, gas prices and even lodging prices rising, it seems like a family-friendly vacation is becoming more trouble than it’s worth. Though traveling can be expensive, there are ways to keep your family happy while sticking to a budget. Here’s how: Pick the Right …

Thinking of applying for a new credit card? The average American household owns at least four credit cards, and with an average credit card debt of almost $5,000, most credit cards are carrying a balance of over $1,000. Although having a credit card can help improve your credit, they can also hurt it. So, before …

As part of an ongoing Friday series, we talked to financial experts around the web about saving money, smart spending, and retirement planning. We recently had the pleasure of interviewing Carl Richards, certified financial planner and director of investment for the BAM ALLIANCE. In his latest book, The Behavior Gap: Simple Ways to Stop Doing …

Are you dealing with less-than-perfect credit? Perhaps you’ve been trying to apply for a loan but the offers you’ve received are way too high? Though your credit score may sound like just a random number, it’s actually much more than that. A good credit score helps you secure better loan options, which in turn will …