(StatePoint) Even after setting a holiday budget, the most wonderful time of year is often the most expensive. Experts say that this Christmas, there are new ways to make your dollar go further.

(NAPSI)—Quicken, maker of the best-selling personal finance software in the U.S., recently surveyed over 1,000 married adults to get a picture of their spending habits over the holidays—and to find out if spending impacts their relationship happiness.

(StatePoint) According to one quirky and fun annual economic indicator, the cost of holiday shopping is on the rise this year, at least according to the song “The 12 Days of Christmas.”

(NAPSI)—Many retirees and others looking for extra income consider what’s known as multilevel marketing (MLM) or network marketing. It’s a type of direct selling where products are purchased from a company and sold through independent contractors. These contractors make commissions from what…

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(NAPSI)—A recent study by the Insured Retirement Institute found that only 25 percent of baby boomers believe they will have enough money in retirement and just 28 percent believe they did a good job financially preparing for their retirement years.

(NAPSI)—For many of us, this season is a time to celebrate the holidays with family and friends. Unfortunately, thieves take advantage of the holidays to steal packages containing gifts for loved ones or supplies needed for holiday celebrations.

(BPT) - For years, the International Farm Youth Exchange Association (IFYE) has offered young adults an opportunity to travel and learn about agriculture in a different country. Now, global agribusiness Syngenta is taking the program a step further by introducing a corporate component to the…

(NAPSI)—According to InComm’s 2018 Holiday Index, over 211 million U.S. consumers will be shopping for holiday gifts this year, and gift cards are this season’s most requested gift. If you’ll be among those giving a gift card, these three wrapping ideas can make them even more special to you…

(NAPSI)—Mothers want to do it all, but between work, children’s schedules and home life, you can be left scrambling to keep all the balls in the air. For most, there are just two options: work full-time or stay at home to care for your children. A new company, Pepperlane, is working to give …

(StatePoint) Millennials are a generation with unique financial challenges. Seven in 10 possess student loan debt, according to the Institute for College Access and Success’ “12th Annual Report, Student Debt and the Class of 2016.” Combined with car loans, housing expenses and entry level sa…

(StatePoint) “How can we make our money go further?” The eternal question being asked by families everywhere, every day. While military families are no strangers to the same budgeting dilemmas as everyone else, the good news is that there are plenty of ways that our servicemen and women, vet…

(NAPSI)—With historically low unemployment and a strong economy, retailers are expecting a huge shopping season this year, with the National Retail Federation forecasting holiday retail sales in November and December—excluding automobiles, gasoline and restaurants—to increase between 4.3 and…

(StatePoint) Looking for the “perfect gifts,” paired with enticing retail discounts and deals, can pressure holiday shoppers to spend more than they can afford. As a result, consumers may max out credit card limits or miss payments, negatively affecting credit scores. In addition, store cred…

(NAPSI)—The U.S. Postal Service plans all year for the holiday season. With more than 240 years of experience delivering the holidays, the Postal Service and local postal elves are ready to make this year the best one yet. Here are some tips designed to help postal customers have a happier, …

(NAPSI)—The days of formal, buttoned up and by the book, it seems, are over. The new trend is for easy breezy, free-spirited, casual. An attitude of latitude! From lifestyle to fashion to flowers, today’s beauty is in the looser details. You might say it’s perfection in imperfections.

(NewsUSA) - For military veterans with Medicare and their caregivers, the Annual Election Period (AEP) for Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans is a critical time. You'll want to assess that your health care coverage to ensure you select the best possible health plan to cover your …

(NAPSI)—Getting into college can seem complicated, even overwhelming—but help is available.

(BPT) - A generation ago, Americans were savers. When the Greatest Generation and Boomers needed to make a major purchase or wanted to take a trip, they put money aside. And then they saved some more. Putting money aside each week or month was an ingrained habit, perhaps as an outgrowth of p…

(BPT) - Today’s college students are just as likely to be moms and dads themselves, full-time and part-time employees or members of the U.S. armed forces. Many students juggle work and family, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, which found that 62 percent of students …

(BPT) - Navigating the United States' immigration process is not without its challenges, especially for those who are learning to speak English. From the anxiety of trying to decide whether you qualify for a green card or another visa, to navigating the various information sources and the li…

(BPT) - As your child is wrapping up their high school career and making plans for college, there is often a mix of emotions for everyone involved. On one side, you and your student may be feeling a sense of pride and excitement for the ambitious plans ahead. However, as with any transition,…

(NAPSI)—There could be good news for taxpayers—especially those who are also parents of school-age kids. Since the creation of the first school voucher program in 1990, 42 analyses have examined the fiscal affect of school choice on taxpayers. While public officials often fear the fiscal eff…

(NAPSI)—Colleges across the country are adapting to a new landscape in which prospective students are more carefully scrutinizing their choices. High schoolers are savvier than ever—more than a third now apply at nine or more colleges, according to the National Association for College Admiss…

(BPT) - Many options exist when it comes to investing, and the variety of choices can be overwhelming. Whether it’s stocks, capital investments or the latest investment tool, each seems to come with its own set of rules and specialized terms. But one tool stands out as simple, safe and acces…

(StatePoint) It is hard to think about death, but organizing your financial paperwork, having a will, making sure you have an appropriate amount of life insurance coverage and even writing out funeral plans, can help ensure that loved ones left behind have a little less to worry about during…

(StatePoint) While there’s no doubt that putting money aside with each paycheck is an essential component to a healthy financial future, it’s important to keep in mind that not all savings accounts are going to give you the same pay back or benefits.

by Anthony Bradley

(NAPSI)—The Employee Benefit Research Institute estimates that a typical 65-year-old couple will spend a total of $265,000 in health care costs over the remainder of their lives. This staggering amount of money has the potential to derail even the best-laid retirement plans.

(StatePoint) For kids, October is a big month because it includes the one night where costumes are encouraged and begging for candy is expected. But it’s also National Financial Awareness Month, and amazingly, many teenagers will graduate high school this year with little knowledge about h…

(StatePoint) Whether you’re a novice or experienced investor, there are steps you can take in order to take control of your financial destiny, and you don’t necessarily need a professional financial planner to do so, say some experts.

(StatePoint) When it comes to purchases, Americans overwhelmingly prefer credit cards to cash or debit cards, yet few review the rewards and benefits that come with their card. This means millions of Americans may be missing out on experiences, cash back or other benefits that credit cards offer.

(NAPSI)—While no one really likes to talk about the scenarios in which life insurance becomes necessary, having these conversations and taking the required steps to insure your legacy is the best way to protect loved ones’ financial futures—and is especially important as you near retirement.

(BPT) - Up to 40 percent of food grown, processed and transported in the United States is never eaten, yet one in eight Americans suffers food insecurity. The average four-person family wastes $1,500 a year on food.

(StatePoint) No matter if you’re single or married, in your twenties or your forties, a parent or not, life insurance coverage is important in ways you may not realize, and costs less than you’d expect. And experts now stress that employer-sponsored coverage typically isn’t sufficient …

(NAPSI)—A recent survey by Ameriprise Financial found that 68 percent of retirees with at least $100,000 in assets have not yet taken money out of their savings, beyond what they must withdraw as part of the IRS’ required mini-mum distributions from their retirement accounts.

(StatePoint) Nearly half of consumers have encountered an emergency expense in the past year, but when it comes to financially preparing for the unexpected, many fall short, according to CIT Bank’s new Summer Savings Survey conducted by The Harris Poll. What’s more, the survey also found…