SoFi Blog

Do you remember your 2019 New Year’s resolutions? How did those turn out for you?

It’s a circumstance so common it’s basically a meme: every year, we all start out on January 1st with the very best intentions, only to find ourselves lapsing into old habits before Valentine’s Day has passed.

And after the ubiquitous promises to eat better and exercise more often, financial resolutions typically top the list of well-meant (but quickly forgotten) New Year’s goals.

Even when we know getting our finances in order could make for much smoother sailing down the line, it’s all too easy to get overzealous while making our annual lists of oaths.

What’s more, we frequently forget one of the most important parts of setting a goal you can actually get to: making it specific.

Social media makes it easy for us to share our lives with friends and family. Your dog is looking particularly cute today? Snap a pic and add it to your Instagram story. Selling a few items before a big move? Share the news on Facebook so your friends have first dibs on the goods.

While social media seems like a fun addition to your day to day activity, it can come with some unexpected dangers. Even if you don’t think you’re sharing impactful details, it’s important to think of how to keep information secure on the internet.

With tuition costs on the rise at private primary and secondary schools, as well as private universities, parents often have to make choices about how much money they can spend on their child’s education—and when to spend it.

If education costs are going to be a struggle, should they invest their money early on in a private school that lays a solid foundation for the future? Or should they save their dollars for college tuition and give their child a head start on life without the burden of student debt?

Many parents, of course, will find ways to pay for everything. They might sacrifice their retirement savings, downsize their lifestyle (maybe with a less-expensive home or fewer vacations), or borrow to help pay for student costs.

But is a private school education really worth it?

‘Tis the season for sitting by the fire with a cup of cocoa, a warm, fuzzy blanket, and your 2020 budget.

What’s that? Getting your money right wasn’t in the plans this holiday? No worries!

We’ve put together some tips to help you ring in the New Year a bit more mindfully when it comes to your finances.

From creating realistic spending targets to budgeting tips for couples, we’re here to help turn your 2020 into 20money. So pull up a chair, grab another snickerdoodle, and enjoy our collection of festive videos below.

Giving back during the holiday season can feel really great. When you donate a portion of your hard-earned money to charitable causes such as homelessness, wildlife preservation, hunger relief, or many others, you could potentially make a positive impact on someone’s life or even the world as a whole.

In theory, the internet makes it extremely easy to donate to these causes. However, there are many organizations and individuals who prey on others’ generosity via false and/or unsecure websites.

These swindlers aim to con people into handing over funds to fake charities for personal gain. If you fall for one of these donation scams, you could run the risk of not only losing your money but also compromising your personal information.

There are many honest and reputable charities out there doing great work, but how can you tell the difference between the real and the fake? The following seven guidelines could help you identify and avoid charity scams this holiday so you can better protect your money while still giving back.