Planning a family vacation is one of the most rewarding ways to spend quality time together, but without a budget, it’s easy to let costs spiral out of control. Whether you’re heading to a nearby beach or flying across the country, creating a simple, effective vacation budget can help ensure a fun, stress-free experience for everyone.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to building your vacation budget and how to make your money go further.
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In today’s digitally driven world, personal checks are far from outdated. Thanks to technological innovation, they’ve become smarter, safer, and more secure than ever before. Welcome to the era of high-tech personal checks, an upgraded version of traditional checks designed for enhanced convenience and protection.
Let’s break down what high-tech personal checks are, explore their security features, and understand how they complement modern banking needs like mobile deposit checks and safety checks.
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Checks are a convenient way to pay for not only rent and bills, but also daily goods. Even as electronic payment options are on the rise, many people are rediscovering the ease of using checkbooks instead of relying on technology and cash.
Making checks your preferred payment option comes with a lot of benefits. You can always have just the right amount to pay because you simply fill it out on the spot, no need to transfer money, dig through change, or rely on electronics. You’ll also have a paper trail of exactly how much and when you spend.
In the world of everyday banking, personal checks still hold a significant role, whether you’re paying rent, gifting money, or handling other personal expenses. But what happens if a check isn’t deposited or cashed right away? Knowing how long a check remains valid can help you avoid the hassle of bounced payments or missed deposits. Let’s break down how long a personal check is good for, what you should do with old checks, and how to avoid issues with stale payments.
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Federal tax returns aren’t due until April 15th. However, you can start making a plan for your 2025 tax refund today, even if you have yet to file your return.
You might be excited about getting some cash back; however, it’s easy to blow through the funds quickly if you don’t have a plan in place. Below, we’ll walk you through this process to help you make better choices once the money gets into your hands.
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The tax filing deadline might still be a few weeks away, though it may be a good idea to get things done sooner rather than later. Whether you handle your taxes on your own or you hire a CPA, getting a head start on your taxes gives you plenty of time to gather the necessary documents and avoid any headaches or last-minute filings come April 15th.
Get started on your taxes with these tips and tricks, including updates on some of the recent changes in the tax code that you should be aware of.
As you look forward to the new year ahead, getting your finances in order is a common resolution people have. But no matter what your financial goals are for 2025, it’s important to have the right tools and record-keeping system in place to help you stay organized. This includes purchasing new checks, an essential step for establishing healthy financial habits in 2025.
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Nearly 9 out of 10 Americans have some type of financial goal for the new year, according to Bankrate. If you’re one of these money-minded individuals, you might be focused on paying down debts, improving your spending habits, or boosting your credit. Whatever your financial goals are for 2025, becoming well-versed and educated on the topic of personal finance is a must in today’s environment.
Fortunately, there are more outlets than ever to make studying the topic easy (and even enjoyable).
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For many, there’s no better time of year than the holiday season. To help yourself get into the festive spirit this year, try surrounding yourself with all things holiday-themed — including your checkbook!
Each time you go to write a check, you’ll be reminded of all the great things about this time of year — the gatherings with loved ones, bountiful feasts, gift-giving, and more. Take a look below at some of our favorite holiday-themed personal checks to place in your pocketbook as we head into the new year.
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The first iterations of modern-day checks emerged ages ago. The behind-the-scenes banking practices and legal precedence supporting check-writing have evolved over the years, though the basic concept of making a written promise of payment has remained the same.
As we close out yet another incredible year, let’s reflect back on the long and storied timeline of how we ended up with the modern version of checks we rely on today.
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