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(Jessica) Welcome to Money Matters on the Southern Bank Financial Wellness Network. I’m Jessica.

(John) And I’m John.

(Jessica) And today we’re talking about what to do if ends just aren’t meeting. John, what should we do if it feels like we’re drowning in debt?

(John) Well, first, Jessica, call your lender. Often, they’re willing to work with you to find a solution and figure out a payment plan. 

(Jessica) You never know what the answer will be until you ask! And asking for help shows you’re serious about ...

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(Jessica) Welcome to Money Matters on the Southern Bank Financial Wellness Network. I’m Jessica.

(John) And I’m John.

(Jessica) And today we’re talking about where to keep your emergency fund instead of a traditional savings account.

(John) A high-yield savings account can offer an interest rate of 1-2% per year, although you will likely be limited in how many withdrawals you can make per month.

(Jessica) A money market account is similar but may offer a higher interest rate and require a minimum balance.

(John) A third option is a certificate ...

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(Jessica) Welcome to Money Matters on the Southern Bank Financial Wellness Network. I’m Jessica.

(John) And I’m John.

(Jessica) And today we’re talking about whether or not you should buy life insurance if you’re in your 20s.

(John) Yeah, essentially, life insurance is helpful if there is a person or people in your life who would be financially impacted by your passing. This could be someone such as a spouse, kids, or other family members.

(Jessica) Policies generally fall into two categories: term life insurance and permanent life ...

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(Jessica) Welcome to Money Matters on the Southern Bank Financial Wellness Network. I’m Jessica.

(John) And I’m John.

(Jessica) And today we’re talking about whether or not to reduce saving for retirement in the face of a recession.

(John) Yeah, Jessica, you know, when money’s tight, it might be tempting to hit pause on saving for retirement. I mean that’s so far in the future, right? However, it’s important to keep the long-term view in mind: The more you put in now, the more your money will ...

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(Jessica) Welcome to Money Matters on the Southern Bank Financial Wellness Network. I’m Jessica.

(John) And I’m John.

(Jessica) And today we’re talking about whether or not it’s a good idea to have a credit card available as an emergency fund.

(John) Yeah, and the short answer is no. But there’s a few reasons why.

(Jessica) Such as?

(John) Such as high interest that adds up quickly over time. Potential damage to your credit if you can’t immediately pay it off. Limiting or maxing out your available credit limit. And, on ...

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(Jessica) Welcome to Money Matters on the Southern Bank Financial Wellness Network. I’m Jessica.

(John) And I’m John. (Jessica) And today we’re talking about resetting your finances.

(John) That’s right, Jessica. You know, this is a great habit to get into. A financial reset is a regular appointment where you sit down and check in on how your budget is working for you.

(Jessica) What should you look at during these check-ins?

(John) Well, essentially, you want to see where you’re meeting or exceeding your goals. Are you spending more ...

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(Jessica) Welcome to Money Matters on the Southern Bank Financial Wellness Network. I’m Jessica.

(John) And I’m John.

(Jessica) And today we’re talking about dealing with finances after a natural disaster strikes.

(John) That’s right, Jessica. You know there are a few key steps that you will want to take as quickly as possible. The first is to replace any important documents that may have been lost and ensure your identity is protected from theft.

(Jessica) Next, file with insurance. Make sure to record your claim number, date the ...

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(Jessica) Welcome to Money Matters on the Southern Bank Financial Wellness Network. I’m Jessica

(John) And I’m John!

(Jessica) And today we’re talking about the all-important emergency fund.

(John) Isn’t that the truth! As you may know, an emergency fund is just that – money you’ve stashed away for a rainy day. But how much should you actually have saved in case of an emergency?

(Jessica) At the minimum, it’s a good idea to set aside $1,000 as a place to start.

(John) Once you ...

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(Jessica) Welcome to Money Matters on the Southern Bank Financial Wellness Network. I’m Jessica.

(John) And I’m John.

(Jessica) And today we’re talking about how to prepare your finances for a recession.

(John) Yeah, you know there are four important steps to help you prepare. Step one, don’t panic. Be aware of possibilities, but focus on the things you can control.

(Jessica) That’s right. Step two, dig into where your finances stand. Review any investments, savings, your emergency fund, income, and any debt.

(John) That’s right. Now, step three is you ...

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(Jessica) Welcome to Money Matters on the Southern Bank Financial Wellness Network. I’m Jessica.

(John) And I’m John!

(Jessica) And today we’re talking about budgets and how to survive a busted budget.

(John) Jessica, the best way to survive a busted budget is to be prepared.

(Jessica) What if there’s a spike in gas prices or your car needs major repairs?

(John) Exactly. Those are things you have no control over. They just happen, and you have to adjust quickly.

(Jessica) How do we do that?

(John) Two words, Jessica: emergency fund. If you can ...