Free Money News December2019

December: the last Free Money Newsletter of 2019! Christmas is December 25 and Hanukkah begins the evening of December 22, yikes!

We hope that makes you at least a little excited and that your holidays will be joyful and meaningful, spent with those you love. Yet we know that for more than a few this can be a time of stress and sadness, especially where finances are concerned. It’s our goal in our monthly newsletters to help you make the most of your finances and to show how you could have have more money on hand to spend on what you need.

This month we offer plenty of tips for the season as well as updates and tips regarding your housing, your personal needs, money you need for school and also for your business or the one you’ve been dreaming of starting. Our wish is that that as a result you’ll be able to experience more wonder and joy. If you need more help check with local churches: in addition to traditional offerings many plan services specifically designed for those who have a hard time feeling merry and bright at this time of year.

Have you tried all the “traditional” sources of funding for that new business you really want to start but haven’t yet been successful getting the cash you need? Don’t give up! This is a great time for new ventures and you don’t have to miss out. If you’ve got a great idea and a good story to tell remember to try crowdfunding. This option is much more mainstream than it used to be and there are lots of people out there who are interested in investing in start-ups so give it a try. Over the years Kickstarter alone has helped fund more than 143,000 projects with funding provided by about fifteen million people. Get more tips in Fund a Startup Business.

If you’re a high school senior looking for creative ways to get help with your college tuition have you considered looking outside the United States? How about an American College in a beautiful country offering $50,000 scholarships for under-represented minorities? Their offer is for real and you can learn more in our latest update to Scholarships for High School Seniors.

Have you checked out the GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program?! It has recently been mentioned both by Forbes and by U.S.News World Report as one of the most worthwhile scholarships out there to pursue. These scholarships are for undergraduate study and can be used for a wide range of expenses related to education. Recipients receive $10,000 and that amount is renewable for as many as three years, for a total award of $40,000. You can learn more at the website of the GE Reagan Foundation, and hop on it: the deadline for applying for the 2020 program is January 3, 2020!

Have you been curious about Reverse Mortgages? A new form of Reverse Mortgage has been approved and as a result you may be getting lots and lots of unsolicited mail about this great new program. Be assured that it might be a good thing for you — but it is also complicated. If you want to consider it make sure you have a trusted professional to advise you because too many people do not fully realize all that they are agreeing to when they get this mortgage. Find out more about what’s going on in this area and, importantly, whom Customer Advocate claims you can most trust in our overview of the Reverse Mortgage.

Are you age 62 or more, low income, and in need of repairs and/or improvements to your home? You might be amazed at how many people are in the same situation. The federal government has a very reliable and in fact generous Grants and Loans program for folks just like you. This program is managed and offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The grants can be as much as $7500 and the loans have an attractive interest rate payable over 20 years. Learn more at the website of the USDA and be sure its url ends in .gov.

First, if you’re caught up in Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales and sales pitches, you might want to check back at our November newsletter — we offered lots of great tips for getting the best bargains and doing the most with whatever shopping funds you have! And of course many of those deals go on for quite a while after the initial days — seems like there are always some extensions and more special deals.

Veterans! There is some great news out there from Starbucks of all places!. Last year to honor Veterans Day they set a goal of hiring 25,000 vets and spouses. They also have a great tuition program for these employees. And this year they announced that they met their goal for 2018 and for 2019 they have pledged to do even more. Check out the details in our update to Grants for Veterans.

Do you or a loved one need help for an addiction? You are not alone — especially if that addiction is vaping, and especially Juuls. The numbers are astounding and the consequences devastating. This is no passing fad among young people, it’s a serious threat to everyone. We share the latest and review some possible ways to identify the issue and get some assistance in Help for Addiction.

Are you wishing you could buy your child or children more of the toys and games they learn to want on tv? Actually some of the very best gifts don’t have to cost you much at all if they involve something as simple as time spent together. Maybe a simple card with a certificate for something like watching a movie together, or going to the park, or making a special meal would be more precious to your kids — or your spouse — than anything that you could buy… And you might get some more ideas if you take a look at our article about Grants for Kids. It combines information about actual grants for young people with helpful tips for single moms and widows with children.

Wishing you the happiest of holidays and a prosperous New Year!