Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
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Americans have been wrestling with inflationary pressures all year. As the New Year approaches, millions of individuals and families have set resolutions to save more money. “Looking to boost your savings is a worthy goal. But to make it work, you have to take small steps that add up to big change over time,” said Amy Maliga, financial educator with Take Charge America, a nonprofit credit counseling and debt management agency. “By exploring a few small changes in your day-to-day life, you can curb spending and put more money in your savings thr...
Buy now pay later services are responsible for $100 million in annual transactions and have quickly become a go-to financial tool for millions of Americans. Although these options provide an easier way to make purchases, they aren’t without risks. “People love the convenience, but there remains a lot of misunderstanding surrounding BNPL services and their impact on people’s financial lives,” said Amy Maliga, a financial educator with Take Charge America, a nonprofit credit counseling and debt management agency. “With that confusion, it’s easy t...
From low inventory to higher prices and climbing interest rates, the housing market nationwide continues to present challenges for individuals and families as they home hunt. “With so many market factors beyond buyers’ control, it’s vital to keep emotions in check and focus on those things you can control while looking for a house,” said Jessica Ferastoaru, a housing specialist with Take Charge America, a nonprofit credit and housing counseling agency. “With some patience, diligence and flexibility, you should be able to find a home you love...
From labor and product shortages to higher prices and shipping delays, this year’s holiday shopping season has the potential to be more stressful — and costly — than usual for consumers. “Despite the uncertainty and added stress brought on by supply-chain and other pandemic-induced challenges, no doubt many people will get caught up in the spending spirit this holiday season,” said Michael Sullivan, a personal financial consultant with Take Charge America, a nonprofit credit counseling agency. “But overextending yourself doesn’t help you, you...
The U.S. Department of Education is temporarily changing certain rules to allow potentially hundreds of thousands of borrowers the chance to qualify for student loan forgiveness if they have worked in public service. This opportunity is only available for a limited time, and borrowers must act before Oct. 31, 2022, to qualify. “For years, the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program has been plagued with issues, resulting in frustrated and disappointed borrowers who thought they were making progress toward loan forgiveness only to find out t...
For many teenagers, college is the first time they make money decisions without parental assistance. But if they don’t fully understand how finances work, they leave themselves open to making costly and long-lasting mistakes. “Many teens don’t intuitively know how to manage money. That’s why it’s critical for parents to sit down with their kids and have an open and honest discussion about financial basics,” said Michael Sullivan, a personal financial consultant with Take Charge America, a nonprofit credit counseling and debt management...
