Last week, I talked about how to protect your family members from financial scams. But what if you're sitting down for Christmas Dinner and you come to find out that Grandma has fallen victim to one of these scammers. What do you do? Find Out What Information Was Given Out First things first, find out what sort of scam the family member fell for. Did they go and buy gift cards and transfer the numbers? That's good and bad. Bad in that … [Read more...]
How to Talk to Your Family About Financial Scams
Recently, the Wall Street Journal published a great (yet horrifying) article regarding a woman who lost her life savings, over $340,000, to what began as a robocall scam. This story has some incredible twists and turns and shows just how sophisticated these scammers are. The scam started when someone left a message on her voicemail saying that her Social Security Number had been stolen and then used to commit a number of crimes. To protect … [Read more...]
What Parents Need To Know About Student Loan Debt
What do parents need to know about student loan debt? There are several areas to be mindful of, especially if a parent is contemplating acting as a co-signer on a student loan. These range from preventive measures (starting the application process as early as possible) to future planning (the timing of your financial commitment to a child’s student loans). Student Loan Debt: Planning Counts Schools and government agencies often have a finite … [Read more...]
Military Benefits: not Just for Those in Uniform
Military benefits are not just for those in uniform; military spouses and what the military calls “dependents children” are also eligible for money-saving benefits that may apply to both officer and enlisted members as well as their immediate family. Pay And Benefits For Families At the most basic level, those who enter the military with a family or start one after joining the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard get benefits … [Read more...]
Splitting Housing Expenses When Moving in with a Partner
One of the biggest strains on many relationships is money. Moving in with a partner comes with a lot of changes and one of those is how to handle your financial situation. I've been reading quite a bit about the subject over the past few weeks, and here are some suggestions I've learned for couples moving in together who aren't married. Sharing a Rented Home If you are sharing a rented house or apartment (meaning that no one is earning equity … [Read more...]