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If our calendar year could be compared to a basketball game, we're at about half time. For those of you who don't know anything about basketball, the game is broken into two halves with half time in the middle. During halftime both teams retreat to their locker rooms.

So, right now, we're in our half time. We're in the locker room taking a quick breather from running up and down the court like athletes trying to score as many points as we can. It's time to huddle up and make sure we are doing things right.

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Pay back your best friend for lunch?  Easy.

Transfer money to your sister for your parent’s anniversary gift?  Easy-peasy. 

Unsuspectingly transfer money to a scammer.  Yes, all too easy. 

Peer-to-peer (P2P) apps, such as Zelle, PayPal, Venmo, and Square have increased in popularity and earned a spot as an efficient means of transferring money quickly to other parties.  This method of transferring funds is not only a plus for consumers, but fraudsters as well who are always on the prowl for new ways of scamming their victims. 

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You’re ready to buy a home, and this may or may not be your first rodeo.  You’ve gone through the mental process of figuring out when the right time is, conducted research on the home-buying process, and put aside money for a down payment.  Just as there are a number of reasons why you decided to buy a home, there are many ways of reaching that goal.  In a typical home-buying situation, receiving keys to your new home starts when you get qualified for a home loan.  A traditional mortgage may be the loan option that comes to mind first.  With its fixed loan rate and steady payment amount for terms up to 30 years, this mortgage option is popular; however, in a one-size-does-not-fit-all world, there may be a better option for your situation.  Putting aside time for researching additional home loan options is worth it, given the investment you’re making. 

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While most people realize monetary savings are important, more than half of adults in America reported having less than $1,000 squirreled away in 2017. As many as 39 percent -- that's over a third -- said they had nothing saved. The economic climate for many people hasn't led to extreme savings, but putting aside just a little for that inevitable rainy day can make a huge difference in your stress level and future monetary woes. Here's a look at why you should start saving and how to get into the habit.

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