Finex Blog

If you’re like most people, you want to improve your lifestyle whenever possible and can appreciate helpful life hacks that can make things a little bit better or easier on a daily basis. Although these tips may seem like small things to consider, they can make a big difference on a day-to-day basis to make you more productive, happy, and efficient.  

Add some of these helpful life hacks to your list of resolutions and goals to have the best year ever in 2023.

Online checking accounts are fast and easy to set up. You can apply for one in the comfort of your own home, and start enjoying the convenience of a debit card and checks without much delay. Yet as you start looking for the best online checking account, you'll quickly discover that they have many different features. How can you choose the right one? Here are 10 features to look at that will help you find the best checking accounts.

The average American has an inadequate amount of savings. According to the Federal Reserve’s last Survey of Consumer Finances, people 65 to 74 possessed the largest savings at an average of $60,410. Those between 35 and 44 years have approximately $27,910. And the safety net for growing families under 35 years old hovers around $11,250. 

As hard-working families aim to build their emergency savings fund to cover a full six months of expenses, or if they receive a holiday bonus or come into additional savings, they are often unsure what to do with extra money. Keeping the return on investment and term length of various solutions in mind, determining where the extra money should be stored can prove overwhelming. Here are some savings options to consider. 

We all love making New Year’s resolutions. Being hopeful, optimistic, and setting a goal can help boost our motivation to achieve what we set out to accomplish. According to a 2021 CBS News Poll, 20% of those polled chose “improving finances” as their New Year’s resolution. This made it the second most popular resolution after losing weight and improving health.

Those who wished to improve their finances wanted to do one or more of the following:

Thinking about starting fresh with a second-chance checking account? You probably have some big questions, so read on to learn the five things you need to know before getting a second chance checking account.

Second-chance banking is a group of financial rebuilding opportunities offered by certain banks and credit unions. If you've had some monetary missteps in the past and would like to get your finances in order again, a second-chance banking product might be just what you need. Keep reading to find out more about second-chance banking and how it could help you reach your financial goals.

In January, we typically start thinking about New Year’s resolutions. For some, this might mean making goals to eat healthier, stop smoking, read more books, or lose weight. For others, it’s all about building an emergency fund by saving some extra money.

Although some people may feel that starting and keeping new habits works best at the beginning of the year, the 52 Week Money Challenge will encourage you to save an additional $1,378 over the next 52 weeks no matter when you decide to start!

If you find yourself racking your brain to come up with last-minute gift ideas before the holidays, it may help to know that you're not alone. Surveys indicate that upwards of 79% of gift buyers shop up until the last possible day. The reasons include being overwhelmed with work and family, inability to find the perfect gift, or simply procrastination. Whatever the reason you find yourself pressed for time, here are eight last-minute gift ideas worth considering.

The holidays are a time of joy, happiness, and celebrations when families and friends gather from near and far to spend time together. The season is certainly a special time of year. Yet all the celebrations, the travel, the entertaining, the gift giving, and the food and drink that are associated with the festive season come at a sometimes-hefty price tag.

 In fact, according to MarketWatch, 36% of American shoppers incurred holiday debt in 2021, and they owe $1,249. These days the holiday spending period seems to grow longer with each new year, with holiday shopping and decorating beginning before Halloween is even a distant memory. For some, the thought of the upcoming holiday season can bring stress and worry rather than happiness and excitement.

The good news is, weathering the holiday shopping spree and staying sane doesn't have to be an impossible task. Taking some time out now to plan, make a budget, and ensure that you have the right credit card at your side, you can save money, worry, and time as the season approaches, freeing you up to fully enjoy the best parts of the holiday time with your loved ones. The more you do before the madness kicks in, the better off you'll be. Follow these 5 steps to help create a budget and get set up for stress-free holiday shopping.