A document titled "Life Insurance Policy" is surrounded by a calculator, pen, eyeglasses, and financial charts—necessary tools for managing your life insurance effectively.

Women: Do You Have Enough Life Insurance?

Right in time for Life Insurance Awareness Month this September, Northwestern Mutual has uncovered some interesting facts about women and life insurance. For starters, women feel significantly more secure than men in owning a variety of insurance products, according to a new poll from Northwestern Mutual. Ironically, though, many women are still underestimating their true […]

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A shopping cart filled with school supplies like pens, pencils, scissors, a calculator, and a ruler, with a red "SALE" tag attached and colorful letters spelling "SCHOOL," perfect for managing school expenses.

Beyond School Supplies: Saving Money On All Those “Extra” School Expenses

Listen up Moms — and Dads! – if you want to save some serious money this September and the rest of the school year. We all know that school is back in session, so you’ve already shelled out a small fortune for your kids’ clothes, textbooks and school supplies. But what about all that other

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A woman in a suit concentrates on a chess game, sitting with her hands folded, looking down at the chessboard, embodying the determination seen in many women who excel in strategic thinking.

6 Traits of Financially Smart Women

Being financially savvy is enormously empowering for women, and can help you make important financial decisions throughout your lifetime. But all too often, many of us women feel as if our finances are out of control. Sometimes, things are going haywire because of events that aren’t of our doing – like when you get downsized

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A roll of U.S. hundred dollar bills secured with a rubber band lies among pieces of a broken pink piggy bank, symbolizing shattered dreams and lost retirement money.

Should You Use Your Retirement Money to Pay Bills?

Many people have tapped into their 401(k) plans as a way to get money to pay their bills. That money probably offered a short-term cash cushion, but it also has long-term tax consequences, particularly for those who were under the age of 59 ½ at the time of their withdrawal. In such cases, cashing out

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identity theft

4 Reasons You Must Protect Your Identity, SSN and Sensitive Documents

I’m often shocked at the ways in which many people in their 20s, 30s and 40s carelessly share personal information about themselves in very public ways. We’ve all heard of people over-sharing on Facebook and Twitter, doing things like telling other when they’re away from their home or exactly when and where they’re traveling, or

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back-to-school

3 Tips for Back-to-School Clothes Shopping on a Dime

Unless your child attends a private or parochial school with mandatory uniforms, you’re probably clothes shopping right about now to find new outfits for the kids to wear this back to school season. Discount stores such as Target and Wal-Mart are a good place to head, however, consignment and resale shops are even better if

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credit

Will My Overdue Health Club Bill Appear on My Credit Report?

Q:  If I have an overdue account at a health club, and the club sent me to a collection agency, will this go against my report? I was told that health clubs do not get reported. A: It’s not true that health club bills that are overdue or that go into collections don’t get reported to

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A standard calculator with a display showing the number zero, often used in calculating various expenses like child support.

How is Child Support Calculated? Here are Basics

If your child needs child support for basic expenses such as food, clothing and shelter, the bad news is that there is no federal law or national set of guidelines to determine how child support is calculated. Each state in America has its own rules, laws and guidelines for calculating child support. Generally, however, a

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How to Save Money on a Tight Budget

Saving money can be particularly tough on one or even two income households in today’s economy.  But there are many money-saving strategies that can boost your bank account and help you save a few hundred dollars per month. Here are some ideas: Save on Your Current Housing Some of the ways you can cut your

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A red carpet flanked by gold stanchions with red ropes stretches forward, symbolizing a grand entrance or event, much like the path of commitment and responsibility one takes when addressing child support.

Celebrities and Child Support: Are These Massive Payments Fair or Outrageous?

When it comes to celebrities and child support, the figures can be downright staggering. While the average U.S. monthly child support payment is around $430, some celebrities pay tens of thousands—or even over $100,000—each month to support their children. These headline-grabbing amounts often spark public debate. Are such massive sums fair, or are they a

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A "Child Support Hearing" document on a wooden desk with a pen placed on top, next to a blue coffee mug, a calculator, and child support paperwork neatly stacked beside it.

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Child Support

During Child Support Awareness Month in August, and even during the rest of the year, it’s important to be mindful of the facts about child support. Child support is money paid to cover some or all of a child’s basic needs, such as food, clothing, housing, education and childcare. Some child support orders may also

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A woman with dark hair and a purple top smiles at the camera. She is wearing a gold necklace, her serene expression reflecting the relief of securing child support for her family.

Child Support: A Personal Story From The Money Coach

Child Support Awareness Month occurs in August each year. So it’s a perfect time for all of us to reflect on the children we know – in our families and communities – and to question whether they’re getting the parental support they need and deserve. I have very strong personal feelings about child support after

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student loans discharged

Do I Qualify To Have My Student Loans Discharged?

Q: Hi. I keep hearing that only a small number of people can discharge private loans in bankruptcy and I want to know what makes them eligible? I owe over $100,000 in student loans for a degree I never finished. I have multiple health issues and have not worked in years and want to know

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