Credit Counseling

Two Personal Financial Apps that Changed our Finances

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When my wife and I began carefully budgeting four years ago, we sat down and developed a budget and a system for tracking our spending. In the old days, we may have handwritten a list to track our purchases or put cash in envelopes to use throughout the month, but this is 2022, and there are now more options available than ever for tracking your finances.

The Racial Wealth Gap – Turning Shortage into Abundance

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History tells us that differences in wealth exist between varying ethnic or racial groups and the racial wealth gap has been looming over us for centuries.  The term "racial wealth gap" refers to the difference in assets owned by various racial or ethnic groups, which results from a range of factors that affect the overall economic well-being of these different groups.

An Affordable Valentine’s Day: Romance on a Budget

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If improving your financial health is one of your goals for 2022, traditional Valentine’s Day festivities, such as romantic dinners or extravagant gifts might make your heart beat faster - and not in the “falling in love” kind of way.…

Financial Success amidst the Holiday Season

We have entered the most financially stressful time of the year; the Holiday season. Regardless of what holiday your family celebrates, there are an abundance of gifts being exchanged during the month of December and the expense of all that…

Strategies for Meaningful Holiday Gifts on a Budget

The parking lots at the shopping plazas have started to reach chaos status on the weekends.  Some people are window shopping in anticipation of Black Friday deals and others are getting a jump on their gift purchases.  Gift giving at the holidays…

Lifestyle Choices to Ensure Long-Term Financial Security

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Building financial security is all about finding that balance between planning for the future and living a comfortable lifestyle today. It’s never too late to turn your financial health around and the more committed to a healthy financial…

Why Join a Workshop or Webinar with CCCSMD?

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At CCCSMD, our goal is to help you overcome financial hurdles by teaching you how to manage income, credit, and debt. By teaching our clients how to do this on their own, we know you’ll prosper independently with the skills you need to succeed. With…

Budgeting for Travel in Retirement

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Retirement means entering a phase of life where you get to do things you love and have longed to do, like travel. Retirement means an end to the 9-5 grind, but it’s also an end to steady paychecks. This means relying on your savings, pension,…

Lifestyle Choices to Ensure Long-Term Financial Security

Building financial security is all about finding that balance between planning for the future and living a comfortable lifestyle today. It’s never too late to turn your financial health around and the more committed to a healthy financial…
Budgeting for Savings

Savings Part 1: Budgeting for Savings

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Budgeting for Savings There’s a line item in my budget that I’ve always struggled with – savings.  This should be the easiest line item because it’s my money that I am putting away for myself. But I can’t tell you how many times…

Savings Part 2: Enjoying the Savings Journey

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Enjoying the Savings Journey, One Dollar at a Time I used to get very discouraged with my savings account. As soon as I managed to save $100, some emergency would come up that depleted the balance to zero again.  I knew I wanted to save 3-6…

Savings Part 3: Savings made simple

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Having some money stored away is one of the best feelings I have ever had.  I don’t crave being rich but I do crave feeling secure. Having a savings account buys me that security and makes me ready to face whatever challenges are thrown my…

Take Control of Your Debt

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Debt Management Plans vs. Bankruptcy vs. Debt Consolidation vs. Debt Settlement When you carry high levels of consumer debt, it takes an emotional toll on your life.  The worry that looms over you about your ability to pay your creditors…
CCCSMD. Keys to Budgeting Part 3. Setting up a budget

Keys to Budgeting – Part 3 Setting up a Budget

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I remember being really anxious when I would make a purchase with my debit card and the machine would ask if the charge amount was OK. Even as I touched YES, I didn’t always know if that was true. Before I started budgeting, I would often…
CCCSMD Keys to Budgeting - Part 2. Income.

Keys to Budgeting – Part 2 Income

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With two young children, my tolerance for things being out of control is constantly challenged. There are messes and clutter in every room of the house. The dresser drawers lose their organization just minutes after I put away clean clothes.…