Archive for Oklahoma

How to Stop the Cycle of Financial Stress

Anywhere the eye can see, it likely also sees advertisement. Advertisements have been tasked with communicating the message of their brand – which is almost always “buy me.” A compelling message to purchase rarely communicates validation, encouragement, or approval, but most often uses methods to appeal to the parts of our minds that feel off-center,

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Excessive Financial Optimism Can be Dangerous

NFCC Warns Consumers About Financial Amnesia Washington, DC – The December poll hosted on the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) website revealed that more than half of the respondents, 56 percent, predicted they would be in a better place financially at this time next year.   This response rate tripled the next highest category where

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Summer Vacations Can Bite You in the Budget

Whether you live on your own or are a family of few or of many, the summer vacation seems like an earned entitlement of our year of hard work and a must-have part of the all-American dream. The problem is, while you may have accrued paid time off to take a trip, and you didn’t

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The Chopping Block May Not Be So Bad! Options to Save on Home Entertainment Expenses:

The average monthly cable bill rings in at about $70, with many paying more and less than that amount. Often when a household is working to pare down expenditures in order to accomplish goals such as saving, repaying debt or balancing a budget, the paid television subscription becomes an item of scrutiny. If you have

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Poll Reveals Consumers Confused Over Purpose of a Budget

Washington, DC – A recent poll on the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) website revealed that 57 percent of respondents misunderstand the purpose of a budget, viewing it as a restriction on their spending, when in fact, just the opposite is true.  “A budget actually provides the structure through which a person can be

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Parents – Some Options to Help Your Child Afford Higher Education

OK Policy.org reports that 69 percent of Oklahomans report that they have not set aside money for children’s college education, compared to 63 percent nationally in 2013. The average income for a college graduate is $44,455 compared to around $25,000 for those who have only a high school diploma. While parents work hard to give

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Buying or Renting. Which Housing Option is Best For You? The answer may surprise you…

According to many, the American dream has always included owning your own home.  That dream turned into a nightmare for millions of Americans during the Great Recession, which started when the housing bubble burst at the end of 2007.  Families across the nation, and Oklahoma, were forced into renting when they lost jobs, income, and

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