The holidays can be joyful and expensive. With higher prices on everything from travel to groceries and endless options for gifts, it’s easy for spending to spiral. A thoughtful plan can help you keep the season merry without straining your finances. Develop a Spending Strategy When budgeting, remember to include not just gifts, but also holiday meals and parties, travel, greeting cards and postage, wrapping supplies, decorations, and any other essentials. Setting limits in e

Thanksgiving brings together two of life’s best things: food and family. Whether you’ve been heading to grandma’s house for the past 20 years or you’re hosting your first Friendsgiving in a tiny apartment, the same beloved traditions are there and there’s always room to start a few new ones of your own. Let’s look at some Thanksgiving traditions, both classic and creative, that might show up around your table this year. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade It’s long. It’s early

Life insurance can be an excellent tool for charitable giving. Not only does life insurance allow you to make a substantial gift to charity at relatively little cost to you, but you may also benefit from tax rules that apply to gifts of life insurance. Why use life insurance for charitable giving? Life insurance allows you to make a much larger gift to charity than you might otherwise be able to afford. Although the cost to you (your premiums) is relatively small, the amount

Making decisions about your retirement account can seem overwhelming, especially if you feel unsure about your knowledge of investments. However, the following basic rules can help you make smarter choices regardless of whether you have some investing experience or are just getting started. 1. Don't lose ground to inflation It's easy to see how inflation affects gas prices, electric bills, and the cost of food; over time, your money buys less and less. But what inflation does