Paul Folger

Dec 5, 2024 | kstp.com | Cory Knudsen |Paul Folger

Money Minute: 3 paycheck monthsIf you get paid biweekly, that’s 26 paychecks a year. That means that twice a year, you’ll get three paychecks a month. Nicole Middendorf of Prosperwell Financial says to really think about it. “There’s three opportunities for me to get a check this month. What am I going to do with that money?” Middendorf said. Make sure you have three to six months in cash for emergencies. Then, consider any high-interest credit card balances you have.

Nov 21, 2024 | kstp.com | Cory Knudsen |Paul Folger

Money Minute: Spare changeIf you need a little extra cash for the holidays or you want to beef up your emergency fund, the money could be right at your fingertips. Go to your closet and pull out all of the change you’ve been keeping. Take it to your bank and find out what you can do with it. “You can put it in our machine and then take it to the counter and they will give you cash,” said Theresa Peterson, Blaze Credit Union branch manager.

Oct 31, 2024 | kstp.com | Cory Knudsen |Paul Folger

Money Minute: Credit card debtI’m sure you’d agree costs have gone up, but does it seem like folks are still spending money as much as ever? In today’s Money Minute, the reason may be as simple as what people are pulling out of their wallets. “Over the last three months, we are seeing people coming in with large amounts of debt,” said Shannon Doyle with LSS Financial Counseling. A few months ago, Doyle said that when clients came in, their debt was often over $10,000.

Oct 24, 2024 | kstp.com | Cory Knudsen |Paul Folger

If you are a recent graduate and looking for work, here’s a warning: Job scammers are looking for you right now. “You graduate from college, you’re looking for work,” said Shannon Doyle with LSS Financial Counseling. As you fill out the online applications and job search sites, beware that fake jobs are out there. So much so that in April, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) put out a warning about these scams.

Oct 17, 2024 | kstp.com | Cory Knudsen |Paul Folger

Money Minute: Home rebatesWe are approaching the end of the year and you may be leaving money on the table if you need home improvements. If you’ve been waiting to pull the trigger on a home improvement, now’s the time to do it before the end of the year. “Think about what energy-efficient product makes sense for your home,” said Steven Warren, a CPA with Schechter Dokken Kanter. If you need an electric water heater, you could save around $400 with a rebate from Xcel Energy.