Home Economics

Here you’ll find the extra tools to sharpen your money skills. We invite you to explore our learning center, watch our educational videos, check out a case study, or dive into an article covering Home Economics, Debt Management, Money Growth, and Personal Loans. If you want more information about a topic, contact us and we’ll be happy to point you in the right direction.

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Budgeting on a Low Income? Here’s How to Make it Work: TCALoans illustration
Budgeting on a Low Income? Here’s How to Make it Work

Budgeting is easy when you have a higher income, but if your income is low, budgeting can feel impossible. However, you can, and it’s a powerful method for seeing precisely where your cash is proceeding to assist you with making changes when your pay or funds change. Peruse below for our strategies for making and […]

4 Methods to Better Manage Money in 2022: TCALoans illustration
How to Manage Money Better: 4 Steps to a Simple Financial Plan

Last updated: October 27, 2026 by the TCA Financial Editorial Team. Managing money can feel overwhelming, especially when prices keep rising and every month brings a different surprise. You do not need a complicated system to get control. A simple financial plan has four parts: know where you stand, pick a few goals, give every […]

Nine Ways to Spend Less in 2022: TCALoans illustration
9 Ways to Spend Less Money: Fast and Slow Approaches

Last updated: October 27, 2026 by the TCA Financial Editorial Team. Everybody manages spending differently. Some people want fast results and are ready for a strict month; others do better with small habits that add up. Below are nine ways to spend less, grouped by how quickly you want to move, plus a simple way […]

9 Tips to Keep Thanksgiving Meal from Breaking the Budget: TCALoans illustration
9 Tips to Keep Thanksgiving Meal from Breaking the Budget

Thanksgiving is the holiday to get together with family and friends over the perfect meal. With food costs on the rise this year, creating that perfect meal can be costly. The Farm Bureau estimates that the average Thanksgiving dinner will cost $53.31, up 14% from last year. Here are nine tips to keep your Thanksgiving […]

How to Pay for Home Improvement Projects: TCALoans illustration
How to Pay for Home Improvement Projects

Whether it’s a large project like a room addition or a minor project like a paint touch-up, home improvement projects make your home a more enjoyable place to be, as well as add to its value. One question you may have is how to pay for home improvement projects. How to pay for home improvement […]

5 Ways to Avoid Scaring Your Budget This Halloween: TCALoans illustration
5 Ways to Avoid Scaring Your Budget This Halloween

Halloween is arriving soon, and you know what that means- lots of kids will be dressing up in costumes and parading door to door, asking for candy and other goodies. While this can be a lot of fun, it can also put a big dent in your wallet if you’re not careful. Here are five […]

Personal Loans to Pay Rent: TCALoans illustration
Personal Loans to Pay Rent

Personal loans can be used to pay rent, but there may be better options. For many of us, rent is our largest monthly expense. When income is lacking, say from unemployment or underemployment, rent can be the most difficult to pay. A personal loan can be a short-term fix, but these loans can be expensive, […]

Here’s How To Save During Back To School 2021: TCALoans illustration
How to Save on Back-to-School Shopping: 8 Practical Ways

Last updated: October 27, 2026 by the TCA Financial Editorial Team. Back-to-school season can bring a long list of supplies, clothes, shoes, devices and fees, often all due in the same few weeks. With a bit of planning you can cut that bill without shortchanging your kids. Here are eight ways to save on back-to-school […]

Smart Spending Tips for Black Friday 2020: TCALoans illustration
Black Friday Shopping Tips: How to Spend Smart and Avoid Debt

Last updated: October 27, 2026 by the TCA Financial Editorial Team. Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is one of the biggest shopping days of the year; in 2026 it falls on November 27. Many retailers now start their deals days or weeks earlier and run them online through Cyber Monday. Big discounts are real, […]

12 Tips for a Budget-Friendly Thanksgiving Meal: TCALoans illustration
12 Tips for a Budget-Friendly Thanksgiving Meal

For many people, the Thanksgiving meal makes a significant dent in their monthly budget. The cost of the turkey, sides, casseroles, pies, as well as decorations can quickly spiral out of control. Thanksgiving is a period for reflection and appreciating friends and family. This year it is also an opportunity to consider how your Thanksgiving […]

Debt And Coronavirus: Alternatives To Consider If You Can’t Pay Your Bills: TCALoans illustration
Can’t Pay Your Bills? What to Do, Step by Step

Last updated: October 27, 2026 by the TCA Financial Editorial Team. This guide was first written during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic; the pandemic-era relief programs it described have ended, so it has been updated for anyone who cannot pay their bills after a job loss, illness or other hardship. Losing income, a medical emergency or […]

Improve Your Financial Health in Stressful Times: TCALoans illustration
Improve Your Financial Health in Stressful Times

We know this is an unpleasant time for the TCA Financial community and the world at large. We are living in unprecedented and agitating times; our day by day schedules, exercises, connections, and funds have been influenced drastically by the novel coronavirus. With so many stories of data on the most proficient methods to protect […]

How To Cook 5-Star Meals When You’re on a Budget: TCALoans illustration
How To Cook 5-Star Meals When You’re on a Budget

When you’re on a strict budget, shopping for and preparing meals can be a challenge. When you’re on a strict budget and have foodie tendencies, it’s even trickier. Here are our best tips for cooking 5-star quality meals on a cash strapped budget. Make a shopping list and stick to it Know just how many […]

Wondering How The Stock Market Plunge Will Affect You?: TCALoans illustration
Wondering How The Stock Market Plunge Will Affect You?

Are you wondering how the recent plunge in the stock market will affect you? What effect will the fall have on your finances? Here are the answers. The worldwide coronavirus outbreak and the sinking oil prices are significant factors in the recent stock market plunge. Oil prices have dropped 10%, a percentage loss we haven’t […]

5 Side Hustles You Can Work From Home: TCALoans illustration
5 Side Hustles You Can Work From Home

As an ever-increasing number of businesses close and social distancing requirements continue due to the coronavirus, you might encounter an interruption in income. A side hustle you can work from home can help you gain an additional stream of income in these unpredictable times. A 2019 Bankrate survey reports that 48% of millennials work a […]

Stock Up for Coronavirus Without Overspending: TCALoans illustration
How to Stock Up on Food and Supplies Without Overspending

Last updated: October 27, 2026 by the TCA Financial Editorial Team. This guide was first written during the 2020 coronavirus outbreak and has been updated into a general guide to stocking up for storms, illness or tight months without overspending. Having a few weeks of food and household basics at home is useful when a […]

4 Steps to Prepare For an Income Interruption: TCALoans illustration
4 Steps to Prepare For an Income Interruption

As the coronavirus outbreak spreads, experts say there is a developing probability that it could influence your salary, regardless of whether you catch the virus. On Tuesday, the country’s most significant private business, Walmart, declared it was authorizing a crisis leave program for employees diagnosed or exposed to the coronavirus (COVID-19). Another major company, Starbucks, […]

How to Financially Prepare for the Coronavirus: TCALoans illustration
How to Financially Prepare for an Emergency or Pandemic

Last updated: October 27, 2026 by the TCA Financial Editorial Team. This guide was first written during the 2020 coronavirus outbreak and has been updated into a general guide for any health emergency, disaster or sudden loss of income. A pandemic, a storm, a layoff or a long illness can all hit your finances at […]

This Easy Formula Makes Planning Simple For Anyone: TCALoans illustration
This Easy Formula Makes Planning Simple For Anyone

Adhering to your financial plan every month can mean the distinction between achieving your greatest cash objectives—like satisfying obligation and putting something aside for the future—and, well, not meeting them. Be that as it may, it’s not in every case simple to realize where, to begin with, regards to making an extraordinary cash plan. On […]

Money Saving for Pet Owners: TCALoans illustration
Money Saving for Pet Owners

Having a pet is fun. Lots of fun. But the fun comes with responsibilities; yes lots of responsibilities. Food, healthcare, toys along with everything your pet needs will cost you money. In some cases, we’re talking about lots of money. Let’s see how we can save money as a pet owner: Adopt We understand some people […]

How Much Should You Spend on an Engagement Ring?: TCALoans illustration
How Much Should You Spend on an Engagement Ring?

You may have heard the two or three months’ salary rules. The truth is, these rules are outdated. Two or three months’ salary would buy a beautiful ring but for many people, spending this much is just too much. It’s easy to spend too much

How to Finance an Engagement Ring with Bad Credit: TCALoans illustration
How to Finance an Engagement Ring with Bad Credit

A low credit score shouldn’t keep you from proposing to the person you want to spend the rest of your life with. The engagement ring is one of the more significant purchases many people make in their lifetimes. While it’s best to pay cash, sometimes

How to Get Your Children Started on Money Management: TCALoans illustration
How to Get Your Children Started on Money Management

If you want your child to understand the importance of money, teach him or her early on how to manage money. Many parents encourage their children to start a piggy bank. This is a fun way for children to get started on money management.

Manage Your Budget with the Envelope Budget System: TCALoans illustration
Manage Your Budget with the Envelope Budget System

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where at any given time you aren’t actually sure of your finances? Have you ever seen your bank balance and thought to yourself: “Where did all my money go?” Managing a budget is never easy, especially if …

Home Upgrades That Pay For Themselves: TCALoans illustration
Home Upgrades That Pay For Themselves

When most of us hear home upgrades, we think of costly projects that are likely to break the budget. For those of us unable to afford a large-scale remodel or renovation, there are smaller, simpler home upgrades that we can invest in that will pay

Simple Ways to Save Money on Food: TCALoans illustration
Simple Ways to Save Money on Food

The majority of Americans spend most of their money on three things: rent/mortgage, transportation, and food. When you’re trying to save money, cutting your food costs may be an excellent place to start. You don’t have to spend hours cutting out

6 Types of Car Insurance Coverage Explained: TCALoans illustration
6 Types of Car Insurance Coverage Explained

When searching for car insurance or making changes to your current policy, you’ll need to have an understanding of the various types of coverage to tailor your auto policy to meet your needs. Coverage requirements can differ between states.

Simple Ways To Slash Gas Expenses: TCALoans illustration
Simple Ways To Slash Gas Expenses

There’s a good chance you own a car. Most of us do. The cost to buy and maintain a car is one of the highest household expenses for most people. One method to lower overall car costs is to decrease the amount you spend on gas. Here are our favorite

Affordable Last Minute Valentine's Date Ideas: TCALoans illustration
Affordable Last Minute Valentine’s Date Ideas

Has Valentine’s Day snuck up on you? Perhaps you’ve been procrastinating making plans. Maybe you’ve just been too busy to make plans or you’ve been putting it off because you’re on a budget. It happens. Don’t stress, it might be last minute

Sweet Ways to Save This Valentine's Day: TCALoans illustration
Sweet Ways to Save This Valentine’s Day

Saving is sexy. With Valentine’s Day celebrations just around the corner, you’ll want to spoil your valentine and have a romantic day. It’s easy to overspend when you’re spending on someone you love. To help you maximize your savings

Gift an Unforgettable Experience this Valentine’s Day: TCALoans illustration
Gift an Unforgettable Experience this Valentine’s Day

Before you head out to shop for the perfect bouquet of roses, chocolates, the latest smartphone, or whatever thing you’ve been conditioned to believe you need to make your loved ones happy this Valentine’s Day, consider this; researchers from

Save Money - Build, Fix or Remodel for Less: TCALoans illustration
Save Money – Build, Fix or Remodel for Less

When it comes to building, fixing, and remodeling your home, it’s easy to quickly max out your budget. Many fear not having the budget to finish and no one wants to have to pause projects. In this post we offer tips to help you save yourself from

Save Money - Squeeze the Kilowatts: TCALoans illustration
Save Money – Squeeze the Kilowatts

Ready to take on a little “value engineering” this winter? Just as lean-and-mean corporations constantly look for ways to cut their cost of production, we’ve looked at expenditures big and small to come up with good ideas that will