TIPS FROM LOCAL FINANCIAL EXPERT ADAM DUNBAR It used to be relatively simple to plan for retirement: You’d just circle the date on the calendar when your pension was set to kick in and have your co-workers start planning your send-off party. But that was then. These days, retirement planning is a lot more complex. […]

Eating out is usually more expensive than buying food and preparing a meal at home. Those who like to eat out at least once a week can try several saving strategies to stretch their budgets. Join a loyalty program. Restaurants may have loyalty programs that reward repeat customers. Diners who provide contact information like an […]

You can’t turn on the TV or open a magazine without seeing incredible credit card rewards programs. Free airline miles here, free cash there, but are these rewards worth it? If you think about it, it’s kind of like trying to win a stuffed animal at the carnival. You have to spend money, sometimes a […]

Most people work to live, not the other way around. And while many people enjoy their jobs, everyone works for money. So, if you feel you’re worth more than you’re being paid, how do you ask for a raise? The first thing to do is learn what you are worth. That sounds kind of like […]

Growing up in a time of economic struggle, today’s kids might be inadvertently learning lessons about money. If Mom and Dad have been forced to cut back or even lost their jobs, chances are kids have noticed and learned something as a result. Even if parents have managed to weather the economic storm of the […]

Most people have a mortgage and understand how traditional mortgages work. They may know little about a reverse mortgage, however. Put simply, a reverse mortgage is a home equity loan that does not have to be paid back until you no longer live in the home. The most common type of reverse mortgage is a […]

Everyone needs a vacation now and then. It’s a time to recharge and spend important time with family. But if you don’t plan ahead, your vacation could put you in debt. Here are a few tips for saving money while you rest and relax. First, do the math. Is it cheaper to drive than to […]

1. Know what you really need: Before you go shopping, plan what you need. It might not be as much as you think. First, take inventory of what you have already. Remember to check backpacks, desks and bedrooms to take stock of usable supplies left over from last year. It helps to make a list […]

(BPT) — Many people don’t take enough ownership over what they pay when it comes to investing. A recent study by Charles Schwab in May 2013 of investors who are highly engaged in their everyday lives shows that most Americans do research before making a major purchase. Yet just 51 percent say they know how […]

Like thousands of American workers who find themselves sidelined by illness or injury, Miller could no longer work. As in many jobs, if you don’t work, you don’t earn. Miller soon found himself in dire straits, both financially and in terms of his health. He had never accepted any kind of public assistance, but now […]