Author: Ashley Donohoe

Most of us know we need a bank but don’t always put in the work to find the right one. We’ll often get an account at the closest bank or sign up for one heavily advertised online. Sometimes that works out. Other times, doing that might leave you unhappy with the experience. You can also miss out on perks or pay expensive fees when you choose the wrong bank. Everybody’s situation is different, so you’ll need to identify what’s important to you in a bank. Maybe that’s low-cost accounts or good service. You’ll also need to know all your options…

Much of the time, we don’t think too much about our bank. We’re often more worried about getting paid and paying our bills using it. But J.D. Power said that more Americans were changing their primary banks, with customer satisfaction a major driver. Others are tired of expensive fees or want more options. Even when you know you should, switching can seem like a drag. You might worry you’ll miss a payment in the process. I’ve switched banks a few times, and it’s not that complicated. You just have to be careful and not rush into closing the old account.…

Taking care of your own bills and needs can be hard enough. But the many Americans in the “sandwich generation” have to survive while keeping themselves afloat and being responsible for kids and aging parents. Not only is it stressful managing those competing priorities, but it can also complicate your career and finances. It often feels like you’re constantly deciding between planning for retirement, saving for the kids’ college, and handling your parents’ care needs. Plus, it can all hit you at once. Finding the right balance isn’t easy. Some 77% of these caregivers are behind financially, and 86% came…

It’s an unfortunate fact of life. No matter how much you try to do the right things with your money, there’s always the chance that something will happen and throw you off track. You can be the strictest budgeter and make a good income. But that doesn’t mean you won’t get caught off guard with a large hospital bill or an expensive repair that can’t wait. The difference between whether such emergencies wreck your finances or not can depend on whether you’ve got some savings. Many financial experts recommend an emergency fund for this purpose, and my experiences have shown…

When people think of investing, trading stocks online or having money regularly transferred to a 401(k) often comes to mind. However, hobby asset investing is becoming more popular as a more interesting way to grow your money. Rather than having your investments in an account unseen somewhere, you can invest in physical items associated with hobbies you enjoy. This alternative can be a nice supplement to traditional investments. And for some, it can even offer impressive returns. But before you jump into investing in hobby assets, I recommend understanding how it’s different from trading stocks. Let’s walk through the basics…

While going to college used to be the go-to plan, many people are now interested in skipping piles of student loan debt and becoming an electrician, welder, plumber, or other type of trade worker. Blue-collar workers have a unique situation where they can often make very high salaries with paid training. Many also avoid the AI scares that office workers are dealing with. But building blue-collar wealth requires a unique approach. First, you have the physical aspects of the job that can shorten your career. Then, you have to understand unions, retirement planning, and affording things you might need. For…

Being an entrepreneur as a single parent has its advantages over being a traditional employee. Schedule flexibility is a major one that might let you spend more time with your kids, work when they’re at school or asleep, and attend their activities without asking your boss for time off. However, it often makes your finances more challenging. You and your children rely on your fluctuating income, and any financial setbacks are on you to fix. Then, you’ve got to figure out childcare, which anybody can find unaffordable. In the end, planning and protecting yourself financially is even more important than…

If you’ve ever made a financial mistake, congrats, you’re human like the rest of us. That said, you probably know how hard it can be to recover. Even running up a credit card, like I did in my 20s, can be a pain to fix. But I’ve also realized that recognizing why certain money moves are bad helps minimize some regrets. Over the years, I’ve seen people make these biggest financial mistakes. Also, get my advice on how to handle each one. Zero Emergency Savings I know that saving can be low on your to-do list when you’re juggling bills.…

With inflation going up and companies cutting workers, having a single source of income isn’t comfortable. Over the years, I’ve learned that it’s often not good to put all my eggs in one basket. Even if your income is stable, it doesn’t always cover all your expenses. Micro-income streams that pay small amounts are a good option to look into. You can easily supplement your main income. And over time, you might combine several sources for something more serious. Many micro-income sources are also low effort. Here are nine micro-income streams that I find worth considering. They can actually add…

High prices or complicated finances might have you worrying about your retirement savings running out. A lot of the advice you’ll hear is about living frugally in your golden years. But after working for decades, you might not want to give up the lifestyle you’ve worked and saved hard for. In my experience, you don’t have to give up the enjoyable things if you get creative. While I always recommend getting a financial advisor’s input, here are 10 good ways that you can stretch your savings. Time Social Security Carefully Many people are ready to apply for Social Security at…