Travel site Kayak.com recently released its 2018 Travle Hacker Guide, offering up to the year’s top destinations according to over 1.5 billion annual searches on its site and app. Not all of the choices are bargains, but Kayak also breaks down when to travel and when to book to save money. And if you are 62 or older, check out this list of seven great travel discounts on everything from trail travel to hotels.

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Online shopping can save you from going out in the rain, snow or waiting on long lines in the mall. Cash-back online portals such as Ebates and Swagbucks help you tap into rebates as you shop. It takes seconds to sign up, and then you have access to cash rebates – some as high as 40 percent – on goods from thousands of merchants.

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Budgeting is like brushing- just a little dedication in advance goes a long way. A program like You Need a Budget ($6.99  a month after fress 34 day trial) helps you give every dollar a job, and ensures that living paycheck-to-paycheck will be a thing of the past.

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We all write fewer checks than we used to. But when you have a check what is the fastest way to deposit it on your smartphone? Download your bank’s app, locate the ”deposit check option”. Snap photos of both sides of the check and follow the app’s simple instructions.

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Cryptocurrency which includes bitcoin is a digital commodity, like electronic gold. They can be bought and sold, traded and taxed, divided or combined, or squirred away for a later date. Right now cryptocurrency can be used to purchase almost anything. The number of merchants accepting them as payment is small. Cryptocurrency are not replacing cash or credit cards, but they are making a splash as an investment. Read, Research, and Understand prior to making investments in this new area of currency.

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If financial literacy is not required at most high school levels, then it’s certainly not a focus at the middle and elementary school level. Which is a shame because that is exactly when it should be taught. According to a report by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), childhood financial attitudes, habits, and norms develop between 6-12 years old.

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After graduation every step our kids take from college through retirement will be directly influenced by their ability to manage their finances: student loans, credit cards, jobs, mortgages, savings, etc. Once they hit 18 years old, they are required, and able, to make decisions that could affect their life, often without the necessary financial knowledge and skills. The point being, understanding finance is a critical skill needed as an adult, yet it is not a mandatory high school course in most states.

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New Jersey requires financial literacy courses in middle school. Other states should consider doing the same. Although, the new law goes into effect September 2019. New Jersey has actually been ahead of the financial literacy curve for years now. Only five states received an “A” grade for their financial education efforts they are:

1. Alabama
2. Virginia
3. Tennessee
4. Utah
5. Missouri

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Get professional help if you need it. Finally, don’t be afraid to seek help getting your financial ducks in a row. Few of us every learn much about money management in our lives, and retirement planning is so critical that it’s worth tapping the services of a good professional. Ones designated as fee-only won’t  be looking to earn commissions from selling you products, and you can seek one at www.napfa.org Yes, you may pay several hundred dollars or more, but a good professional might save you much more than that.

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Don’t make Social Security decisions without reading up on the topic and weighing your options. It’s very much in your power to increase your Social Security benefits, if you strategize a little. You can make your checks bigger (or smaller) by starting to collect them earlier or later than your ”normal” (in the eyes of the Social Security Administration) retirement age. There are also other income-maximizing strategies to consider, especially if you’re married and coordinate with your spouse.

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