If you’ve received financial aid for school, you might be wondering: do you have to pay back a Pell Grant? In most cases, the answer is no. Pell Grants are designed to be financial aid that does not need to be repaid. However, there are some situations…
Author: Timi Joy Jorgensen, PhD
Recent economic reports show that prices of groceries, gas, and rent across the U.S. are climbing quickly, with inflation at 3.8%, the highest in nearly two years. With inflation and interest rates both rising, many Americans are feeling the pinch. For…
There are a lot of reasons to get a personal loan—but let’s be honest, not all of them are good. A personal loan can feel like a clean solution. You get a lump sum, a fixed payment, and a clear timeline. It looks organized. It feels manageable. But it’…
If you’ve ever reviewed an auto loan agreement, you’ve probably seen a line labeled “finance charge” and thought, “Okay…that sounds important,” without being entirely sure what it actually means. And fair enough. It’s one of those terms that feels self…
An audit doesn’t always mean that the IRS suspects you of fraud. However, if your tax return includes one or more IRS audit red flags, you might find yourself under investigation. Even if you know you haven’t done anything illegal, IRS audits can be ex…
Do you struggle with financial discipline? If so, you’re not alone. It’s not because you’re lazy or bad with money. It’s because temptations to spend are built into everyday life. If you’re like many people, you want to learn how to avoid impulse spend…
Waking up with debt hanging over your head can feel like carrying an invisible, heavy backpack everywhere you go. If you are stressed about bills, you are definitely not alone, and it is important to realize that learning how to get out of debt is a jo…
Managing multiple debts at once can get messy fast. Different balances, interest rates, and due dates make it harder to track progress and easier to miss payments. In these cases, one of the most popular solutions is debt consolidation. Debt consolidat…
When your take-home pay varies significantly from month to month, traditional budgeting advice can be difficult to apply. Many budgeting systems assume you earn the same amount every pay period, which isn’t always realistic for freelancers, commission …
Raising a child with autism can bring many rewarding moments, but it can also affect your family’s finances. Therapy appointments, medical evaluations, specialized childcare, and assistive tools often increase monthly expenses significantly. Fort…