Very often, people think that they are so extended that they don’t have enough money to save. Before you make that statement about your finances, look at the seven suggestions below on ways to find an extra $50 or more in your budget that you can use for saving or investing. Track your miscellaneous spending – Many people don’t realize how much frivolous spending that they do like buying $4 to $5 coffees daily, or purchases from the value menu at fast food restaurants or eve

Well, the ball has dropped, the decorations are packed away for most of us and the holidays have passed on. We are halfway through January and the fruit of holiday spending is coming in the form of credit card bills and added debt. It’s a new year and new you, but what do you do about the old spending from years past? In other words, what’s your plan to balance your finances going into this new financial year? In figuring out your plan, ask yourself some honest questi

As we are 17 days away from another spectacular Christmas holiday, many of us head out to shop til’ we drop for our loved ones. The holidays are supposed to represent happy and joyous times with family and friends. However, after reading this November 30th, 2017 article from Business Wire (New Survey Finds Relationship Tension and Anxiety are Hidden Costs of Debt), It makes us wonder how wonderful this time of year really is? A Harris poll of over 1,000 Americans commissione

As the holiday season begins to crank up in earnest this week, many people may feel tis’ the season to rack up credit card debt. In our research on financial issues, we came across this CNBC article (Here's what happens if you don’t pay off your credit card debt) that details what happens as you fall further into default status. According to the Federal Reserve’s report, the United States has more credit card debt than at any time in our country’s history through the 3rd q

Getting married can be both an exciting and stressful time in your life. Couples are concerned with planning the wedding, the reception, the honeymoon and how all of it is going to be financed. There are many discussions that couples should have prior to walking down the aisle like career plans, children, and deciding where you are going to live as you build your life as a couple. Things that are rarely discussed prior to marriage include combining the financial obligations

In our constant research of trending financial information, we came across this article from the Michigan Chronicle last week: (Michigan #1 for discretionary income in the United States and Detroit ranks as #5 city). The Trove Technology study that the article is based on covers the Metro Detroit region, and by doing so, offers a contrast to some of the census data and other things we have seen previously. If the information in this report (Official Name: The Trove Discre

In our research of local financial issues, we found The Detroit News had a well written article by Christine MacDonald and Nicquel Terry last week detailing the first rise of median income (Average family income) in the city of Detroit since the turn of the century (Census: Detroit Incomes Up For First Time Since 2000). It sounded like good news on the surface as there also was a decrease in the city’s poverty level (Defined at $24,563.00 for a family of four). However, a d

It is human nature to have regrets about things in your life. Thoughts about those what might have been moments and the “What ifs”. Now narrow that focus to money not well spent and well, that’s even more bothersome. We recently came across an article in our weekly research about financial regrets and shared it, but after talking the other day about things we would have spent money on differently if we knew then what we know now, this subject deserves a closer look. Accord

Often times, people believe that wealth is an unreachable goal based on their current financial situation. I am here to tell you that is not the case. If you can set a specific aim to become wealthy, I guarantee it can happen for you. Let’s examine making a specific aim. If you want to meet the financial goals you have set out for yourself, you have to be intentional with all of your financial decisions. Many people give up their wealth for what is in their driveway, in t

The definition of a millionaire is having a net worth greater than 1 million U.S. dollars. Do you know what your net worth is? Net worth is the amount by which your assets exceed your liabilities. Before you can start your wealth building journey, you have to know where you are currently financially. I would like to challenge you to take the time to calculate your net worth. Net worth is calculated by adding up all of your assets and subtracting all of your liabilities. Ne

In a June 8th, 2016 Detroit News Editorial called “Detroit Needs Financial Literacy”, it was noted that according to Moneywatch, four of the bottom ten cities average cumulative credit scores are from the state of Michigan. Detroit, Inkster, Flint and Benton Harbor are the communities in question, all cities with urban sensibilities, where the standard and value for learning how to manage your money has not received the attention that is needed and deserved. The definition

The Challenge: Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF's) vs Sufficient Wealth Funds (SWF's). Are you losing your wealth to bank fees? According to CNN Money, three of the big banks: JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo and Bank of America made $1.1 billion in ATM fees, 2.3 billion in maintenance fees and 5.4 billion in overdraft fees in 2016. These are alarming numbers. Are you giving up your wealth to bank fees? If you are, your challenge is to STOP THE DEVOURER. There was a time when bank

I came across this post on Facebook where a young man had made the following observation: “White children are allowed to live at home, go to college, make mistakes and learn, fall down and get back on their feet with the support of their parents… Meanwhile while a black child has to be an asset financially in order to remain in the household otherwise you are deemed useless, so instead of being able to get ahead you are stuck doing jobs and things you don’t want JUST to supp

Understanding your financial behaviors relative to money is the first step to learning how to manage and control your finances. Behaviors can be influenced by how you grew up, where you work and even who you associate with. Once you become aware of your behaviors, you can then make quality financial decisions. Money is a tool to work for your benefit, and when this is realized, you can make money instead of it making you. DNA Financial Services conducts a financial behavior a

A great strategy for establishing Wealth is getting out of debt. Having a lot of debt erodes your Net Worth. Debt enslaves you and keeps you from living the life of your dreams in peace. Living a debt free lifestyle allows you the freedom to do the things that you really want to do in life. You are not enslaved to a creditor! Debt is a distraction that keeps us from the passion that we were placed on earth to do. This is why Jesus’s death is referred to as his passion, b