Consumer Protection: Vetting Charitable Organizations
By Charlestien Harris Hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and natural disasters are a fact of nature. During these times of need, many of us want to give donations to help others navigate the difficult road to recovery. Often, nonprofits, charities, and other organizations...
October is also National Financial Planning Month
By Charlestien Harris Last week, I discussed October as Financial Exploitation Month to raise awareness about the importance of being cautious with your financial transactions and personal information. This week, I want to talk about how essential it is to have a...
October is Financial Exploitation Awareness Month
By Charlestien Harris Let me start by saying that when you work hard for your money and someone works just as hard to steal it, it’s incredibly frustrating! Financial exploitation is commonly defined as the illegal or improper use of another person’s money or...
Financial Benefits of Applying for Medicare at 65
By Charlestien Harris I am turning 65 this month, and I am excited about the benefits that come with it – Medicare being just one of them! For those who may not know, Medicare is the federal health insurance program for anyone age 65 and older, as well as for some...
Data Breaches Happen: How to Protect Your Personal Information
By Charlestien Harris With the increase in major data breaches lately, I thought it would be a great time to discuss some ways you, as a consumer, can help protect your sensitive personal information. It’s never a good day when you receive an alert that your personal...
Five Financial Moves to Make in Your Sixties
By Charlestien Harris Well, it’s about to be official! I’ll be turning 65 on my upcoming birthday – yay for me! I like to call myself a “seasoned citizen” instead of a senior citizen, mostly because it just sounds better. But there are some very important financial...
Budgeting for School Activities
By Charlestien Harris Football, basketball, track, band, tennis – you name it, your child could potentially participate in any number of extracurricular activities. As a loving and supportive parent, you may not have considered how much money you’re spending on items...
Getting a Handle on College Tuition Bills
By Charlestien Harris Whew! You’ve gotten them through high school, and now college tuition is on your horizon. If you or your child is entering college this semester, the tuition bill will arrive soon – if you haven’t received it already! Paying for your child’s...