Southern Blog
What Happens If I Can’t Pay My Bills
By Charlestien Harris When managing finances, the number one priority is to keep current with your mortgage or rent, as well as your monthly household bills. There are many factors that can affect your ability to stay current with bills such as death, job loss,...
Recognizing Roadblocks to Financial Success
By Charlestien Harris Hello, my financial fitness trainees! This week, I decided it was time to help you recognize some obstacles that might hinder you from moving forward with getting your finances in order once we move past this health crisis. Whatever they are,...
Consider All Your Options before Making Long Term Financial Decisions
Filing Bankruptcy: The Facts By Charlestien Harris This is a particularly tough time for millions of Americans, and a lot of people are wondering what the next step should be when this pandemic is over. As a credit/housing counselor, I see many cases where...
Meet ALICE
By Janie Ginocchio You might be thinking, “I only know one person named ALICE and she’s my 86-year-old great aunt.” That’s surely true, but what’s true, too, is that ALICE is your waitress at your favorite diner, the lovely people who help you get your groceries to...
Learning How to Get Through the Month
By Charlestien Harris As difficult as it can be to make ends meet, it’s getting even tougher during this pandemic. Now is the time to develop strategies that will guide your finances well beyond this health crisis. Understanding your cash flow will help...
Economic Impact Payments: How a Digital Economic System Can Leave the Unbanked Behind
By James Owen Cutting checks to 171 million Americans is no easy logistical undertaking. It gets harder when you don’t have direct deposit information for as many as 110 million.[1] That challenge is why you’ve probably tried to check the status of your refund on the...
Customer Alert: COVID-19 Online Shopping Scams
Face masks, toilet paper, and other essential items are in high demand right now. Be careful of deals that seem too good to be true. The Federal Trade Commission gives tips on how to shop online responsibly: Check out the company or product by typing its name in a...
Talking about Poverty: Chained CPI
Editor’s note: This is one in a series of blog posts to critically examine how poverty is defined, measured, and talked about, and how those conversations influence public policy. The economic ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic have brought how the U.S....
Keeping Your Credit Strong during a Pandemic
By Charlestien Harris Hello again my financial fitness trainees! As you know, we’ve been discussing the importance of lowering expenses and prioritizing bills. Being able to stay current on bills can become increasingly challenging as the COVID-19 crisis...
Don’t Let High Bill Payments Weigh You Down
Hello everyone! I am Charlestien Harris, certified housing and credit counselor, and I’m back again to talk about finances. The coronavirus has destroyed many budgets and affected the normal flow of income for a number of households. Previously, I talked about bill...