Keeping Up or Cutting Back Financially

Sometimes, life and the cost of living may seem to overtake our paychecks, or income has dropped, or there are unexpected expenses.  Getting a handle on finances and financial stress can feel daunting, or even embarrassing.  But financial stress is a common stress, and many people find themselves needing assistance at one point or another. Financial stress can make us feel like we need to keep it a secret or hide it from friends or family.  Talking about our stress to the people who care about us can help us feel better (financial stress is normal and more common than we think!), give us a sounding board, and can help us come up with some creative solutions.

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Planning Frugally . . .

Planning Frugally by Heather Quackenboss, Human Development and Relationships Educator, Extension La Crosse County Stress in America, a recent report from the American Psychological Association, indicated that 72% of adults surveyed reported that they felt stressed about money in the previous month. For many, saving money often means to start budgeting or being more frugal. […]

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Check your free credit report to build financial security

Federal law gives everyone the right to request three free credit reports each year—one each from the three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. There are three ways to order your free credit report: through the mail, by phone toll free, or at the official website AnnualCreditReport.com.

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What to do when you can’t pay your medical bill

About a quarter (26 percent) of U.S. adults say they or someone in their household has had problems paying medical bills in the past 12 months, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. That means one in four people struggle to pay for healthcare services.

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