Money Matters

We share a simple plan to enjoy the holidays without debt or stress, from setting a real budget to spotting fake sales and making meaningful gifts. Practical steps help you find last‑minute cash, use credit wisely, and start saving for next year now. • setting a holiday budget at 10% of take‑home pay • using last‑minute tactics like no‑spend weeks and canceling subscriptions • automating short bursts of savings and round‑ups • comparing prices and separating real deals from hype • leveraging...

We break down the most common holiday scams and show how small choices—slowing down, going direct, and verifying—protect your money and your identity. Russell Barger, VP of Information Security, shares simple rules that stop most attacks at home and at work. • seasonal lures through fake deals, social posts and tracking links • warning signs: urgency, odd senders, spoofed domains, impersonal tone • safer shopping by navigating directly to trusted sites • workplace risks from HR and payroll p...

We share fast, clear ways to find food, rent help and local resources as government shutdown effects ripple through our parishes. Crystal Ward from Capital Area United Way explains how 211 works, which partners are active, and how donors can keep the safety net strong. • increased calls for food support and essentials • how 211 routes by parish and follows up • Greater Food Bank access and monthly drives • Family Stability Program for eviction prevention • practical info to have when calling...

We strip estate planning down to what matters: simple documents that protect your wishes and spare your family from conflict. Jason Knapps joins us to bust myths, map decisions by life stage, and lay out a clear starting checklist and next steps. • what estate planning covers beyond assets • essential documents: will, financial and medical powers, directives • keeping beneficiaries aligned with current wishes • review cadence and triggers after life events • common myths: not rich, too young...

We trace the real costs of welcoming a second child and how a strict budget turned worry into confidence. From rising doula fees to two daycare bills, we share what changed, what we reused, and how we planned leave, space, and school decisions without losing joy. • daycare becoming the largest monthly expense • getting serious about budgeting to pay off debt • navigating higher medical and doula costs • planning for feeding costs and inflation • where thrifting works and where buying new win...