Posts by Holli

Get ready! 2021 is literally around the corner! And just like starting fresh in the new year is a great goal for weight loss, exercise and all the other common new year’s resolutions…it’s the perfect time to think FINANCIAL FREEDOM in 2021!! This past year has been a rollercoaster. No doubt about it. Time to…

FTC (Federal Trade Commission) reminds shoppers to look out for scams and do your research to save money. Holiday shopping has taken on a new shape this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Likely you’ll be going online to look for those perfect gifts. With endless sales going on, it’s important to keep some online…

Holli Lewandowski; Certified Credit Counselor and Credit Educator Recently I spoke with a group of high school students who had been discussing personal finances in a life skills class. They had many great questions and so it had me thinking…what would I have wanted to know as a young teen that I now know regarding…

There have been new changes to the legal and economic landscape for renters. The CDC published an order that protects qualifying renters who have been impacted by COVID-19 and submit a proper affidavit. However, that order expires at the end of the year. A few other federal protections may help some renters, and individual states…

The pandemic has caused us all to take a second look at our spending habits. And it’s more important than ever to recognize where you can cut back and save. An easy place to start is looking at your spending habits and recognizing when it is that you spend when you don’t need to spend.…

The lightbulb moment. The “ah-ha” moment. When algebra finally makes sense. Those are the KEYS that change your life. The following 6 are those moments financially: 1. People who overspend their income do so in one of three ways: 1) Too much house, 2) Too much car, 3) Too much entertainment. Of course there are…

How to keep your information safe: Make sure you know who you are communicating with. Fraudsters pose as legitimate organizations like banks, the IRS, etc. There are some basic things to remember. Text message: Your bank will never ask you to sign in or give personal information via text message. Email: Watch out for emails…

Are you stuck in debt? These are the continuation of warning signs. OVERWHELMED BY STUDENT LOANS Student loan debt has reached $1.5 trillion! And more than 9% are at least 90 days late. Solution: Speak to a school loan counselor to identify options like income-based repayment or consolidation. Avoid it in the first place: grants,…

80% of Americans are in debt. $13.95 trillion (yes, with a “t”.) This is the total amount of debt from the most recent report on household credit and debt. (Federal Reserves of NY) Read those again. Are you stuck in debt? There are warning signs. YOU BELIEVE DEBT IS PART OF LIFE Nope. Debt is…

You can do it! It will change your life. **This is NOT a guide to becoming debt-free in 21 days but instead 21 days of motivation, inspiration, and action to FINALLY get started!** This is a guide to change the way you think about money. Day 1: Plan with your partner (or self) a day…