Get Financially Fit! | Apps For Kids

No one ever said learning can't be fun! Sabah Karimi, contributor to U.S. News & World Report, shares with us 7 Fun Money Apps for Kids.

If your kids are already playing games on their smartphones or tablets, consider sneaking in an app that will teach them some valuable money skills. Educating your kids about money matters may not be at the top of your priority list, but they may be more inclined to learn about budgeting and money management when they're playing a game. Whether you want to teach kids how to save money or show them how to better manage their allowance, you can turn to a handful of money apps that make the whole process into a fun game.

Here are seven of the best fun money apps for kids.

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GUEST POST | 6 Ways to Teach Your Kids About Money

Start them young! Article via U.S. News & World Report Money written by Greg Ostrowski: ow.ly/ZQBT4.

Get Financially Fit! | Spring Cleaning: Cash In!

Spring and warm temperatures or on their way! (We hope.) Again, this is a great time to think about spring cleaning. Previously, we talked about spring cleaning your finances. Today, let's take a look at traditional spring cleaning. Sabah Karimi, contributor to U.S. News & World Report, shares with us 5 ways to cash in on clothes and electronics you don't want anymore.

Outside of listing your items in the local classifieds, there are several ways to recover some of the costs of those purchases – an easy way to give your savings account a boost, pay off some credit card debt or splurge on something that you couldn't fit into your budget. Here are five ways to turn those spring cleaning tasks into a profitable venture.

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America Saves Week 2016 | Daily Savings Focus: Saving at Tax Time

Friday, February 26: Save at Tax Time

Saving a portion of your tax refund can be a big step toward meeting your savings goals. This tax season, get ahead of your financial goals by splitting your tax refund into savings, and reward yourself with SaveYourRefund.

More tax savings strategies.

Get Financially Fit! | Tax Savings Strategies

U.S. News and World Report recently featured an article written by Lisa Greene-Lewis, certified public accountant and TurboTax® tax expert. Greene-Lewis' article is entitled, "10 Tax Savings Strategies for 2016." Below is an excerpt and a link to the full article.

Whether you had a good year or a not-so-good year, from a tax perspective, the beginning of a new year is the best time to reflect on your previous year and make smart, attainable tax moves so you are better prepared when it comes time to file your taxes. 

Here are 10 easy tax savings strategies to help you save money in the new year.

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Get Financially Fit! | Teach Your Kids About Money

Media Planet recently featured an article written by Gigi Hyland, Executive Director of National Credit Union Foundation, on its website entitled Future of Business and Tech. Hyland's article is entitled, "After Monopoly: 5 Ways to Teach Your Kids About Money." Below is an excerpt and a link to the full article.

It’s no surprise that America’s youth (and adults) need financial education. But how bad is it? 

The National Financial Educators Council’s (NFEC) tested teens on national financial literacy standards last year, and while 4.7 percent participants achieved a score at or above 90 percent (an academic A), a staggering 62.4 percent of participants scored at or under 69.9 percent (a D or an F!). We’ve got work to do! 

Here are five ways to get started:

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7 Foods to Buy When You're Broke

If you’re confined to a strict food budget, you should consider green vegetables, brown rice or beans.

By Aaron Crowe Jan. 16, 2014 | 11:55 a.m. EST

Trying to live on a food budget of about $4 per day can be quite a challenge. People quickly discover this when they take the Food Stamp Challenge and try to learn what it's like to be poor for a week.

The challenge mirrors what someone can get through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, the federal program that helps low-income people buy groceries. One in seven Americans receive the benefits, which were significantly reduced by Congress in November.

To qualify, a family of four can have an annual net income of up to $23,556, which puts them at the federal poverty level. They would then receive up to $632 a month in SNAP benefits, which equates to about $5.25 a day per person for food. The average SNAP recipient receives $4 per day, according to the Food Research and Action Center.

While getting this extra money can mean the difference between eating and going hungry, the limited funds can make it difficult to choose which food to buy. Getting the most nutrition for your money can be hard when you don't have a lot of money for groceries, but it's not impossible.

The Best Purchases to Make in May

It's a great time to buy mattresses and spring clothes.

Thrift stores are usually fully stocked this time of year

By Jon Lal May 7, 2015 | 9:00 a.m. EDT

Now that we are in the beginning of May, spring is in full swing and the seasons are changing. It’s the perfect time to prepare for the travel, events and fun that summer has in store, and there are plenty of bargains available to help you do so. Here is a guide with the smartest purchases you can make this month, as well as a few things you’ll want to avoid:

How to Spring Clean Your Finances

Unload old documents and get organized with these tips.

By Kimberly Palmer March 11, 2014
U.S News Money

When spring fever hits and you start tossing out old clothes and scrubbing the floors, don't forget to give your finances some fresh air, too. Here's an 11-step guide to a cleaner – and healthier – financial life:

13 Money Superstitions to Know on Friday the 13th

Jackie Zimmermann @jackie_zm
6:00 AM ET

Source: http://time.com/money/3742617/money-superstitions

The origins of some of the weird money habits we practice all year round.

Whether or not you believe in the unlucky powers of Friday the 13th (and apparently the stock market doesn’t), there are plenty of money superstitions to keep you occupied throughout the year. Here are 13 of our favorites, from the wacky to the I-might-just-try-that…

No-sweat ways to help kids start out strong, financially

By Laura Schlachtmeyer
America Saves Week is coming up on Feb. 23. This annual event helps thousands of us start out on a regular program of saving money toward our goals. We’ve all got goals and plans for the future, and a lot of them cost money.

Parents, take the America Saves pledge and get started on saving today.
If you’re a parent or caregiver, setting up savings is also a great opportunity to include your kids. Here’s a quick guide to encourage your kids to start thinking about saving. We’re never too young (or old) to learn!

New Year's Resolutions

There’s something about the new year that brings out the child in all of us. There’s the excitement of being on the threshold of something new, a fresh beginning, another chance to get it right. This is going to be the year. The year I give up smoking. The year I get myself organized. The year to put an end to all those bad habits and start some new good ones. The year I’m going to get my finances in order.