Even if you have a regular job, sometimes you need extra cash. You might need to pay off debt, save for something special, or cover an upcoming bill. With a little effort, you can be more comfortable financially and stay out of debt. 1. Try a Temp Job Temp agencies look to place qualified workers with companies seeking short-term help. These jobs tend to pay well, plus there may be potential for full-time work if you’re seeking it. 2. Sell Your Stuff Whether it’s clothes, toys, electronics or appliances, you can sell any unneeded items through multiple channels. If you…

The Internet is home to tons of articles on how to manage your finances. We’ve made the work of finding the good ones a little easier for you by putting together a list of some of our favorites. “It’s Your Own Fault You’re Poor: Why Your Brain Won’t Let You Save Money” This article from GoBankingRates dives into how our subconscious behaviors sabotage our saving goals. Savings are often associated with the “pain” trigger, so you should try to get creative and find ways to feel rewarded for saving. Go to Article >> “Birthday Freebies: How to Get Free Stuff…

Managing money is a foundational life skill. There are so many factors involved and so many open-ended questions at play. How much should you be saving? When is it worth spending more? How do you keep spare change from burning a hole in your pocket? It takes years of discipline and training to perfect this skill, and ongoing self-control to maintain it. That’s why it’s best to give your kids a head start on money management and saving. As a parent or guardian, remember that the lessons you plant today will take root and blossom, enriching your child’s life for…

Have you ever wondered about the real differences between your savings and checking accounts? Many people realize there must be more to it than just the fact that one includes checks and the other does not. However, they just don’t know what those differences are. So let’s look at some of the technical differences that define each account type. Reserve Requirements Did you ever wonder how much cash your credit union keeps in its vaults? It’s not all the money that members have deposited into their accounts. If that were the case, the credit union could never lend or invest money, and you could never earn any dividends on your deposits. Your credit union would simply function as a gigantic communal piggy bank. There are laws determined by the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors, called reserve requirements, which govern how much cash financial institutions (including credit unions and banks) must…

Poet Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them.” What’s left unsaid is that many times, it’s the friendship you can’t afford! In fact, some friends can be a serious drain on your savings. If you recognize these kinds of people in your life, it can be difficult to know what to do. Giving up a friend is never easy, but neither is the reckless financial habits some of them can encourage. Here are a few examples of financially dangerous friends and how to handle…