When it comes to central Illinois weather, if there is one thing you can count on, it’s that it is unpredictable. Throughout the winter months, snow, ice, and freezing temperatures are a constant threat. In the spring, severe thunderstorms, flooding, and even tornados can occur without much warning. Whatever the season, the bottom line is […]
Consumer Tips
Tips for Sticking to Your Holiday Budget
The new year is just around the corner, and we’d all like to start out the year on the right foot. The problem for many of us is that Christmas comes first, and often our holiday spending breaks our budget before it’s even officially in place. A popular strategy for Christmas spending has become making […]
Maintain Financial Stability Even During a Pandemic
We are only a little more than halfway through 2020, but what a year it has been! Nobody planned for the events we’ve experienced this year. Moreover, there are few people willing to predict what lies ahead. However, even in the uncertainty of the times, many of the tried and true principles of financial stability […]
Are You Spending Too Much on Subscription Services?
By Tom Cleary As the new year continues, we wanted to offer a word of advice regarding your budgeting. Convenience can be costly, and specifically, subscription services can end up costing you a lot more than you intended. Today, you can have a subscription service for everything from music, TV, movies, video games, groceries, gourmet […]
How is Your Credit Score Calculated?
It’s no secret – your credit score (also known as a FICO score) can have a huge impact on your financial future. A poor credit score may affect your ability to secure financing, increase the interest rate on loans you do qualify for, or limit your access to services, such as cell phone contracts, apartment […]
Pros and Cons of Getting a Department Store Credit Card
By Tom Cleary We are about to enter the busiest shopping season of the year. Many of us will spend more time in department stores during the Christmas season as we try to find the perfect gift for every person on our list. That means that we will also be confronted more often with the […]
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