The Extra Mile Blog

Financial knowledge deserves a place in everyone’s lives. With it, you can help yourself from falling into bad budgeting habits, irresponsible spending routines, or late and missed payments. These factors may also affect your credit score. Learn more about what may impact it and how to help keep your credit score healthy.

If you think a loan can only be used in emergency situations, you have not considered the full scope of how loans can help you. Of course, everybody has their own financial circumstances; however, a loan can be responsibly used as a financial tool. Let’s explore five money-wise ways to use a loan for non-emergencies.

Fall is one of the best seasons of the year, and one of the busiest. Just as quickly as there’s a crispness in the air, fall expenses and responsibilities bob up like harvest apples in a bucket. From back-to-school shopping and holiday planning to seasonal home and auto costs, financially preparing for fall could be a big help for a household.

Money ranks as one of the top stressors for people, so we tend to take it as just a consistent part of life. But dealing with finances does not have to be a battle with a scary money monster. Below are a few simple habits you can choose to start today to help reduce money stress.

We’ve all done it. A quick impulse buy at the checkout lane, getting dinner from a food delivery app, or opting for same-day shipping for an extra cost. These kinds of purchases can make things easier or more convenient in the moment and that’s why we do them. But can they fumble our finances?

Borrowing funds to make ends meet or to make large purchases is a common practice. So why do we often feel there is a stigma associated with getting a loan? It’s normal for people to rely on credit at some point in their lives to achieve a financial goal and then dutifully pay the loan back.

We all know the battle of balancing our financial wants and needs. Do you get takeout food or save that money for a bill? Do you upgrade to the newest phone, or do you buy a new clothes dryer? Do you get the name brand product or go for the less expensive store brand? We could go through tons of need vs want examples, because regular people go through these challenges every day.

Almost everything costs something. We work and get paid so we can purchase essential products and, if we’re lucky, some extras that make life easier, more fun, or technologically advanced. Money – the good and the bad – are just part of our lives.