Posts by Holli

Repayment starts as of October 1 for 4.29 million student loan borrowers with federal debt. It’s been 18 months without a payment. That ends in October – ready or not. The interest-free federal student loan payment pause, known as forbearance, was extended three times after it initially went into effect in March 2020. But with…

The federal Child Tax Credit (CTC) is kicking off its first monthly cash payments on July 15 to eligible families with children ages 17 or younger. Almost 9 of 10 payments were sent via direct deposit according to the IRS and Treasury. The enhanced Child Tax Credit is an expansion that boosts the credit from…

Buying your first home is both thrilling and challenging, and not for the faint of heart. Before you even get into the housing market, you will spend quite a bit of time thinking about your goals and preparing your finances. One the most difficult decisions can be figuring out when you are ready to enter…

Household budgets are comprised of two types of expense: fixed and variable. A fixed cost is an expense that does not change from one month to another. These are expenses that have to be paid. Think mortgage payment, rent, insurance, etc. But the exact money spent on clothing or ice cream varies wildly from one…

Nearly half a million Wisconsin children are eligible for Pandemic EBT benefits, but many parents may not know it. Starting in March 2021, this program will provide grocery store benefits to parents to replace the value of missed school meals. Pandemic EBT (or P-EBT) is a federal nutrition program that the USDA has recently approved…

There are many ways that simplifying improves your quality of life. But let’s focus on FINANCES. One encouraging effect of simplifying is that it also saves you money. Decluttering and simplifying makes you more thoughtful of what you purchase going forward. You see what you have wasted money on and reign in your purchases, which…

We ALL make mistakes. That’s a given. And we all know about learning from our mistakes. You’re not alone if you’ve made a few financial mistakes. While money mistakes are arguably subjective, there are a handful of missteps that experts agree you can easily avoid. Here are 5 common money mistakes and steps you can…

January is the month of “new beginnings”, “fresh starts”, “do-overs”. And finances usually top the list. Don’t be fooled by credit repair scams. Good credit is important for many reasons. It makes it easier to get a credit card or loan with favorable terms. Bad credit can make it difficult to rent an apartment, find…

Have you checked your bank account?  Yours may be one of the bank accounts that already has the $600 stimulus check deposited! This second round of stimulus direct payments started December 29, 2020. The checks will continue to hit bank accounts (or mailboxes via paper check or debit card) through the first half of January…

A new year, a new you. We’ve all heard that, right? But what if you like the old you and maybe just need a little boost? Make 2021 your saving-savvy, year of positive growth. Start with one or two tips below. But START! BE SCARED OF CONSUMER DEBT… But not necessarily of credit cards. Keep…