Are you normal?

By: Laura Walton AFC® Well, let’s see. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks consumer spending each year. We have numbers for 2017 – see how you stack up. On average, U.S. households spent an average of $60,060. Using the chart below, we offer the following percentages: Housing: 33% Includes mortgage payments or rent, property…

Tough Love

By: Laura Walton AFC® Some would say that’s what Dave Ramsey dispenses. He doesn’t hold back. “Credit cards? Stupid! Car payments? Stupid on steroids! Borrowing money on your house to put in granite countertops? SOMEBODY OUGHTA SMACK YOU! That’s just stupid!” Dave Ramsey has been ranting for 30 years. According to Kristen Bahler’s recent article,…

In the news…again!

Scripps Media, a national broadcasting company, recently came to Tucson to film one of our 3rd Decade™ classes. While here, they interviewed Bob Swift and several class participants. The spot, titled “Unique class pays young adults to learn money management,” showed in 50+ television markets nationwide. Its 5:30 p.m. and most of the 20 and…

11 is a lucky number

By: Laura Walton AFC® It’s Financial Literacy month! In this blog you’ll find a link to a 17 question financial literacy quiz. Annamarie Lusardi, the Academic Director of the Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center at George Washington University and one of the authors of the quiz and academic paper “Five Steps to Planning Success,” says…