By Jennifer Griffin, AFC^® Candidate, FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellow

I looked at a piece of paper that caused me to question everything I know about money. What is it that showed just how much of my money was not being spent on saving or investing? It was my credit card statement.

By Jessica Richard, AFC^® Candidate, FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellow

Taking control of debt can begin with acknowledging and understanding those debts. A credit card statement includes a lot of information and reading it thoroughly can offer insight into knowing where you stand.

It may already be August, but there’s still time to audit your family’s household spending to find summer savings and see how much fat you can trim from your expenses. Why? Because cutting unnecessary expenses means you can find more money to save for important things, such as emergency or retirement funds or paying off high-interest debt. And, well, it just feels good!

We’re in the middle of PCS season. Getting financially prepared for a big move can be challenging but planning ahead can help alleviate some of the stress of moving. Here are three quick and easy steps to help you prepare financially for your next PCS move. 

Debt can be a heavy weight on your finances. It can hinder your spending in the short term and cause your savings to fall far behind in the long term. Fortunately, by making a few financially savvy decisions, it’s not impossible to pay off debt while contributing regularly to your savings.