Make a New Year’s resolution to rid stress from your life…

It’s simple, get your finances in order--you won’t believe how good it feels to be money smart.

Tips for making the list:

BE POSITIVE.

Sometimes this is easier said than done. To keep in the mindset, try wording your goals positively, such as “we’re going to spend money only on things we truly value.” If you stray from your goals, don’t beat yourself up or dwell on your mistakes. It will only serve to make you feel worse and keep off track. Just jump right back on that horse and promise yourself to stay on the path.

Keep your resolutions attainable.

Check in with your goals at least once a month. Set a reminder for yourself. For instance, decide that every time you make a payment on that credit card bill, you’ll revisit your financial resolutions; this will help you track how far you’ve come. Remember that if you’ve made it this far, you can reach your goal!

Be specific.

Make instructions for yourself for just how exactly you plan to attain your goals. Instead of saying you will save more, write a budget up. This will help keep you on point.

Make a contract with yourself.

With your resolutions set, document all your goals. You could even include reasons for committing to them. At www.FutureMe.org, email this to your future self a month, two months, six or 12 months in advance, or print out the letter and place it on the fridge, so you can be reminded of why these goals are important, especially when other crises seem to get in the way.

What our in-house experts recommend you put on the list:

Review your insurance.

Your policies may be outdated and not suited for your current needs. Review what you have: homeowners, life, even auto may be insufficient relative to your present financial situation.

Check your credit score.

Be aware of where your credit stands and take steps to repair any negative aspects. You get three free credit reports each year, there is no excuse for not reviewing what is one of your most important financial reports, especially since errors in these reports are not uncommon. www.annualcreditreport.com

Invest what you can.

Even if it’s just a little, invest in yourself and family. It could be as simple as paying yourself first by contributing to your savings each month, or it could be a retirement fund, an education fund, or making extra mortgage payments. Consider these things as investing in yourself and your future.

Taking care of these will allow you to enjoy a happier, more prosperous and stress-free new year.

Written by: Sarah Cornwall, Marketing Resources, at Family Services, Inc.

Making Ends Meet: Budgeting made easy!

Forget penny-pinching, unless you enjoy that. We like to make budgeting fun. Making minor adjustments to your financial behavior can make a world of difference.

• Start with a WARM-UP. No one ever begins an exercise routine with a marathon. Pledge a few minutes a day for a week to get organized. Gather those bills and sort them into piles. Maybe even create a calendar with bill due dates. If you are “techy,” try a Google calendar with reminder emails.

• Time to ASSESS. The next week, use that same few minutes a day to check in on your financial health. Look up your credit score on annualcreditreport.com (nowhere else, please!), check your bank account balances, and review your retirement plan.

• Now... PLAN with a purpose! Choose a goal that would change your life in the short-term. Maybe you want to switch careers, go back to school, maybe BUY A HOUSE?!

• STRATEGIZE. Break that goal into smaller pieces. Once you accomplish it,
move on to the next goal!

And, if you decide that buying a home may be one of your upcoming life goals, be sure to contact us!We can assist you in credit improvement, budgeting, debt management, and homebuyer education.


Call to learn more or to schedule an appointment at 843.735.7862 or email info@fsisc.org.


Written by: Jenna Johnson, Marketing and Development Director at Family Services, Inc.

Consumers Remain Committed to Using Credit Cards

National Foundation for Credit Counseling Poll Reveals Top Financial Resolutions

Washington, DC – According to the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) December online poll, consumers remain very connected to their credit cards. When asked to rank their 2012 financial resolutions, only six percent of more than 2,300 respondents indicated that decreasing dependence on credit cards was their number one goal.

“At first glance, that statistic could appear to be a warning sign of future trouble. However, credit is not the problem. Instead, it is the misuse of credit that leads people into financial distress,” said Gail Cunningham, spokesperson for the NFCC.

Balancing the continuing reliance upon credit, an encouraging statistic from the poll is that the overwhelming majority, 62 percent, selected decreasing debt as their focus for 2012. “If consumers are able to decrease their debt load, continuing to use credit responsibly will help them meet the goal selected by 24 percent of respondents, that of increasing their credit score,” continued Cunningham.

While decreasing debt is always a positive, consumers should not neglect savings, yet that is exactly what respondents appear to be doing. Only eight percent of those weighing in ranked saving as their most important resolution. Without the security of a well-funded emergency savings account, consumers are living without a financial safety net, as unplanned expenses will occur, usually at the worst possible time.

The poll also revealed some interesting trending from 2010 when the identical question was posed. Showing the largest percentage difference between the years, the 2010 poll noted 69 percent of respondents were most interested in decreasing debt, compared to 62 percent in 2011.

The second largest year-over-year difference involved improving the credit score, with that category posting a six percent increase. In 2010, 18 percent of consumers chose increasing their credit score as their main goal, while in 2011, 24 percent selected that category as most important in the New Year. This increase indicates that consumers understand the relationship between the credit score and obtaining credit, confirming their interest in continuing to have access to credit.

“The poll suggests that consumers have recognized the importance of achieving financial stability, and intend to action. Nonetheless, even though paying down debt and improving the credit score are positive steps, the low priority placed on savings is disturbing,” said Cunningham.

The actual poll question and answers are as follows:

My #1 financial New Year’s resolution for 2012 is to:

A. Decrease debt 62% (December 2010 poll = 69%)

B. Increase savings 8% (December 2010 poll = 7%)

C. Improve my credit score 24% (December 2010 poll = 18%)

D. Decrease my dependence on credit cards 6% (December 2010 poll = 7%)

Note: The NFCC’s December Financial Literacy Opinion Index was conducted via the homepage of the NFCC Web site (www.DebtAdvice.org) from December 1 - 31, 2011 and was answered by 2,319 individuals.