Entries by Anita Schmaltz

What Could a DMP Do for You #1

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While not the perfect solution to all financial problems, a DMP or Debt Management Program can be a real lifeline for consumers that are drowning in debt and struggling to make the minimum payments on their monthly bills. That’s certainly true for this month’s example family. Not all debt can be included in a DMP. […]

1 in 4 Americans Don’t Have $400 in Emergency Savings

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According to a 2018 Federal Reserve study, 1 in 4 Americans don’t have $400 in emergency savings. That means if they had an unexpected expense such as a medical emergency or car repair, they would have to turn to debt to cover the cost. The additional debt just leads to more financial instability as struggling […]

Budget Tip #1 – How to Budget for Periodic Expenses

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How do you budget for those expenses that you know are coming, but that don’t show up every month? You know, like insurance payments, birthday and holiday gifts, or car maintenance? We call those periodic expenses and they can wreak havoc with your paycheck if you don’t plan for them. What happens if you didn’t […]

A New Homeownership and Financial Wellness Powerhouse

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Graceworks Lutheran Services’ Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) has offered consumer finance education,  credit counseling, and debt management programs since 1980. County Corp’s The HomeOwnership Center provides homeownership counseling, down payment assistance programs, foreclosure prevention programs, and personal finance education. So, what would happen if you were to combine these two resources for the Dayton […]