Category: Financial Planning

7 Step Process to Taking out a HELOC

A home equity line of credit (HELOC) is a type of secured loan that gives you a revolving line of credit by using your home as collateral. If you’re looking for a flexible way to finance a major

What Is an HOA?

One in five Americans will live in a neighborhood with an HOA, yet many people have questions about what an HOA actually does. What do HOA fees cover? What is an HOA and how will it affect my

What’s the Difference Between Quarterly Taxes vs. Annual Taxes?

Editor’s note: Please be aware that we’re not tax professionals and this is not tax advice, just a general guideline.

The federal income tax is a pay-as-you-go tax, meaning you pay taxes as you earn or receive

6 Items to Avoid at Warehouse Stores

When looking to save money, many shoppers buy in bulk at a warehouse store like Costco or Sam’s Club. The main idea behind buying in bulk is that you’ll get a wholesale price for committing to

5 Top Companies Offering Seasonal Part-Time Jobs

Taking on a side gig is a practical way to make money on the side ahead of the big shopping season, or simply accelerate your earnings to start off your 2020 savings fund, strong.

As soon as

6 Holiday Expenses to Budget for (Aside From Gifts)

The holidays are packed with opportunities to celebrate life, family, friends, and traditions. With increased family gatherings and celebratory occasions, the holidays tend to cost a little more than the rest of the year. 

Aside from holiday

What I Learned From My “No Shopping on Amazon” Quarter

My challenge also forced me out into the world to explore different avenues of making purchases that were sometimes even cheaper than Amazon’s prices.  

I used to rush to Amazon Prime to buy books, office supplies, clothes,

Pros and Cons to Borrowing Against Your 401(k)

You can think of your financial journey to retirement as a road trip. If you start in New York and plan to retire in California, you have two choices: make the trip as direct as possible or allow

Getting Financially Naked: How My Biggest Fear Changed My Life

I remember my first call to The Financial Gym Advisors like it was yesterday. In 2016, I had just moved to Dayton, OH to start my doctoral degree at The Ohio State University. My bi-weekly two-hour round trip

4 Ways to Overcome Imposter Syndrome

Have you heard of imposter syndrome? If you haven’t yet, there’s a good chance you have experienced it. It’s the scientific name for that dreaded feeling of not being good enough when you are about to achieve a

How This FinGym Client Regained Her Financial Confidence Despite Setbacks 

Jessica Bee has lived in New York City for the past three years and joined the Financial Gym Advisors at the start of 2019. She loves photography, live music and life's small pleasures - like new socks and good coffee!

7 Reasons You Might be Denied a High-Yield Savings Account

You work hard for your money, but what if your money could work for you? This idea is what motivates people to pursue investment options with their savings, one of the most secure being a high-yield savings account. 

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6 Best High-Yield Savings Accounts to Open

Interest rates have been very low so the past few years which isn’t ideal for deposit accounts. Slowly, interest rates have increased to a modest level. Although investing your money in a savings account won’t yield you the

How to File a Health Insurance Claim

Health insurance can be confusing. When talking about your health insurance, the conversation usually involves whether or not you have it, or if your plan has good benefits. But how do you actually file a health insurance claim

9 Easy Ways to Make Money Fast This Labor Day

Every year on the first Monday of September, the United States Department of Labor celebrates the American worker by giving them the day off. Often celebrated with barbecues and weekend trips, Labor Day is a national holiday designed

Women’s Equality Day: How to Negotiate for the Pay You Deserve

A century ago, women still didn’t have the right to vote. But 99 years ago that all changed with the 19th amendment. The 19th amendment, which gave women the right to vote was signed into law on August

How to Calculate Your Business’ Quarterly Taxes

If you’re self-employed, there’s one major issue that can be a pain: taxes. You get to pay taxes not just once each year, but quarterly! This can be stressful whether you’re just starting out or just trying to

9 Insider Secrets to Book an Affordable Hotel Stay

You might be wrapping up your summer travel, but before you know it you’ll be knee-deep in holiday travel planning. A 2018 Holiday Travel Report by Nerdwallet found that nearly half of Americans expected to put an average

5 Tips to Save Money in College

Every year in the United States, about 2.2 million people go to college. College for many people signifies the beginning of a journey of firsts: the first time living away from home and all the responsibilities that come

How to Practice Good Tipping Etiquette While on Vacation

Whether you’re en route on a two-week vacation or creating a budget for your next big trip, there’s one cost that’s commonly forgotten in the process: gratuity. Although you might’ve just spent hundreds or thousands of

How Do Deactivated Checking Accounts and Debit Cards Affect Your Credit Score?

If you want to stay on top of your credit, it’s important to know how your actions affect your credit score. You might be thinking about ditching your current checking account or debit card for something better, and