Greatvest Tools

Most people don't keep very good track of all their finances. While you may not know your credit score off the top of your head or have your bank account number memorized, the assumption is that you know what really counts: your everyday expenses.  Yet the evidence suggests that when it comes to their budgets. Americans tend to play it by ear more often than they plan it out. A 2018 study found that 35 percent of people report missing a bill simply because they forgot about it. In a world of automatic bill-pay and banking apps, many don't feel it's necessary to keep a close eye on their money until they don't have enough - which, for many, can be too late.  To find out just how much Americans know about their own spending habits, we asked 1,500 people if they knew how much they'd spent in the previous month and how they felt about it, discovering: 65 percent of Americans said they don't know how much they spent last month. Gen Z is the least likely generation to...

Smart homes are growing in popularity as new gadgets and tech hit the market every year, making smart devices more affordable and refined than ever. Most of us have seen robotic vacuums, but fewer of us have embraced things like smart beds, which send your sleep data to your phone, where you can also adjust your mattress's temperature. Upgrading your home with smart devices can be costly upfront, but a little budgeting can help you build the high-tech home of your dreams. Plus, most devices will save you more than you spend within a few years. For example, LED smart lights can be as inexpensive as $6 each and they use 75 percent less energy and last three times longer than incandescent bulbs. From home maintenance to security, there are plenty of ways to make your home smarter and save time, energy, and cash. Read up on some of the best devices on the market. Smart Home Appliances Smart devices are designed to improve your quality of life by reducing the time spent on chores and ho...

A question you might be experiencing these last few months is how to make sure to pay your bills in a way that aligns with what's most important to you. Which monthly expenses do you want to choose to pay first, which can save you money and which could be managed differently? These are questions that many people are facing, especially those who have lost income or are motivated to review their expenses to better their situation. To understand how to pay your bills by priority, start with reviewing any changes in your financial life. An unexpected change to income, for instance, can feel overwhelming and make keeping up with your current expenses a challenge. This time can be an opportunity to realign your expenses with your values. If there have been changes in total household income, perhaps a family member is furloughed or laid off, the monthly outflow of expenses will be impacted, and having a plan will be important. Planning in a Time of Crisis The coronavirus pandem...