Eagles predicted to land impact offensive star early in 2025 NFL Draft | Sporting NewsNEW YORK (AP) — With the end of 2024 around the corner, you might be reflecting on financial goals for 2025. Whether you're saving to move out of your parents' house or pay off student loan debt, financial resolutions can help you stay motivated, said Courtney Alev, consumer advocate for Credit Karma. “Entering a new year doesn’t erase all our financial challenges from the prior year," Alev said. “But it can really help to bring a fresh-start mentality to how you’re managing your finances.” If you’re planning to make financial resolutions for the new year, experts recommend that you start by evaluating the state of your finances in 2024. Then, set specific goals and make sure they're attainable for your lifestyle. Here are some tips from experts: Think about how you currently deal with finances — what's good, what's bad, and what can improve. “Let this be the year you change your relationship with money,” said Ashley Lapato, personal finance educator for YNAB, a budgeting app. If you feel like money is a chore, that there's shame surrounding the topic of money, or like you were born being “bad at money,” it's time to change that mentality, Lapato said. To adjust your approach, Lapato recommends viewing money goals as an opportunity to imagine your desired lifestyle in the future. She recommends asking questions like, “What do my 30s look like? What do my 40s look like?” and using money as a means to get there. Liz Young Thomas, head of SoFi Investment Strategy, added that it’s key you forgive yourself for past mistakes in order to move into the new year with motivation. When setting your financial resolutions for 2025, it's important to establish the “why” of each, said Matt Watson, CEO of Origin, a financial tracking app. “If you can attach the financial goal to a bigger life goal, it’s much more motivating and more likely you’ll continue on that path,” Watson said. Whether you're saving to buy a house, pay off credit card debt or take a summer vacation, being clear about the goal can keep you motivated. Watson also recommends using a tool to help you keep track of your finances, such as an app, spreadsheet, or website. “After three years of inflation, your pay increases are likely still playing catch up to your monthly expenses, leaving you wondering where all the money is going," said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate. "Make that monthly budget for 2025 and resolve to track your spending against it throughout the year." McBride said that you may need to make adjustments during the year as certain expenses increase, which would require cutting back in other areas. “Calibrate your spending with your income, and any month you spend less than budgeted, transfer the difference into your savings account, ideally a high-yield savings account,” he said. “Interest rates aren’t likely to come down very fast, so you’re still going to have to put in the hard work of paying down debt, especially high-cost credit card debt, and do so with urgency,” McBride said. Start by taking stock of how much debt you have now relative to the beginning of the year. Hopefully you’ve made steady progress on paying it down, but, if you’ve gone in the other direction, McBride encourages making a game plan. That includes looking into 0% balance transfer offers. “You have more power over credit card interest rates than you think you do," said Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst at LendingTree. “Wielding that power is one of the best moves you can make in 2025.” A 0% balance transfer credit card is “a good weapon” in the fight against high card APRs, or annual percentage rates, he said. A low-interest personal loan is an option as well. You may simply be able to pick up the phone and ask for a lower interest rate. LendingTree found that a majority of people who did that in 2024 were successful, and the average reduction was more than 6 points. When planning for your financial resolutions, it’s important to consider how you’re going to make your goals sustainable for your lifestyle, said Credit Karma's Alev. “It really is a marathon, not a sprint,” Alev said. Alev recommends setting realistic, practical goals to make it easier to stick with them. For example, instead of planning to save thousands of dollars by the end of the year, start by saving $20 a paycheck. Even when your plans are achievable, there are times you'll get derailed. Maybe it’s an unexpected medical bill or an extraordinary life event. When these situations happen, Alev recommends trying not to feel defeated and working to get back on track without feeling guilty. “You can't manage what you can't see, so set a New Year’s resolution to check your credit score monthly in 2025," said Rikard Bandebo, chief economist at VantageScore. “Be sure to pay more than the minimum on your credit accounts, as that's one of the best ways to boost your credit score.” Bandebo also advises student loan borrowers to make all payments on time, as servicers will begin to report late payments starting in January, and missed payments will affect borrowers' credit scores. Automated changes, like increasing workplace 401(k) plan contributions, setting up direct deposits from paychecks into dedicated savings accounts, and arranging for monthly transfers into an IRA and/or 529 college savings accounts all add up quickly, McBride said. Your financial goals can encompass more than just managing your money better — they can also be about keeping your money safe from scams . A golden rule to protect yourself from scams is to “slow down,” said Johan Gerber, executive vice president of security solutions at Mastercard. “You have to slow down and talk to other people if you’re not sure (whether or not) it’s scam,” said Gerber, who recommends building an accountability system with family to keep yourself and your loved ones secure. Scammers use urgency to make people fall for their tricks, so taking your time to make any financial decision can keep you from losing money. Your financial goals don’t always have to be rooted in a dollar amount — they can also be about well-being. Finances are deeply connected with our mental health, and, to take care of our money, we also need to take care of ourselves. “I think that now more than any other year, your financial wellness should be a resolution," said Alejandra Rojas, personal finance expert and founder of The Money Mindset Hub, a mentoring platform for women entrepreneurs. "Your mental health with money should be a resolution.” To focus on your financial wellness, you can set one or two goals focusing on your relationship with money. For example, you could find ways to address and resolve financial trauma, or you could set a goal to talk more openly with loved ones about money, Rojas said. —— The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.
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Photo: The Canadian Press A lone killer whale breaks the water in a Comox, B.C., harbour on Tuesday July 31, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jen Osborne A family of killer whales has made a rare trip into waters off downtown Vancouver for what an expert says was likely a "grocery shopping" hunt for harbour seals. Video shared on social media by False Creek Ferries shows the whales cruising past highrise towers at the entrance to False Creek on Sunday. Andrew Trites, director of the University of British Columbia's marine mammal research unit, has identified the whales as a family group of transient orcas consisting of a mother and her three offspring. He says it's the first time the 26-year-old mother, known as T35A, has shown up in downtown Vancouver with her children aged six, 11 and 14. Trites says the well documented family has previously been seen by marine researchers from Alaska to the Strait of Juan de Fuca south of Vancouver Island. He attributes the pod's surprising downtown appearance to seals also changing their habits as they hide from orcas, forcing killer whales to hunt in backwater areas like False Creek. Trites says the video shows the whales moving quietly like "ghosts" to avoid alerting their prey. Killer whales have previously been spotted in False Creek, including in 2019, and in 2010 a grey whale swam all the way to the end of the inlet, near Science World.Shaq Barrett goes unclaimed on waivers, can now sign and play with any team
10 tips from experts to help you change your relationship with money in 2025
None10 tips from experts to help you change your relationship with money in 2025
Databricks closes in on $55 bln valuation after latest fundraise, source saysThe Federal Government, on Tuesday, commended one of Africa’s fastest-growing financial institution, Moniepoint Inc., for its significant contributions to the financial technology sector, its commitment to advancing financial inclusion, and its partnerships with law enforcement agencies to combat financial fraud. It lauded their innovative use of technology to tackle financial challenges and their efforts in empowering small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) across Nigeria. The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, disclosed this in Abuja, while receiving the Moniepoint’s leadership team led by its Chief Executive Officer, Tosin Eniolorunda, on a courtesy visit. Vice President described Moniepoint’s team as a “kaleidoscope of colors,” reflecting Nigeria’s rich multicultural identity, and applauded the company’s workforce of over 3,000 employees, including strong representation of women in leadership roles, as a model of inclusion and diversity. He was pleased with the inclusion of individuals from various regions and backgrounds, including a notable representation of women in leadership and operational roles. While celebrating their success, the Vice President emphasized the need for stringent auditing measures to prevent misuse of the platform by fraudsters and criminal elements. READ ALSO: Empowering MSMEs Through Innovation: Payaza FinTech Hackathon 3.0 Wrap-Up He urged Moniepoint to remain proactive in addressing these challenges, reaffirming the government’s support for its operations and global expansion plans. The Vice President encouraged Moniepoint to continue expanding its global footprint, referencing his ongoing support for similar initiatives such as Amal Hassan’s Outsource to Nigeria project. In his remarks, the CEO, Moniepoint Inc, Tosin Eniolorunda, expressed gratitude to the Vice President for recognizing Moniepoint’s efforts, highlighting their commitment to building a robust digital ecosystem. In a statement, Eniolorunda emphasized Moniepoint’s commitment to Nigeria’s financial ecosystem, stating that the fintech giant has grown into Africa’s latest unicorn this year, a testament to its resilience and innovation.
Jamie Carragher highlights the 'weakness' in Ruben Amorim's tactical approach after new Man United boss was held to a draw against Ipswich on debut Amorim claimed a point against Ipswich in his first match in charge on Sunday Carragher has since offered his evaluation of the United boss' tactical set-up SOCCER A-Z: Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, or watch on YouTube. New episodes every Wednesday and Friday By JAMES COHEN Published: 16:51 EST, 25 November 2024 | Updated: 16:55 EST, 25 November 2024 e-mail View comments Jamie Carragher has revealed what he believes to be are the 'weaknesses' of Ruben Amorim's tactical set-up at Manchester United . Amorim got his first taste of English football on Sunday away to Ipswich Town, where a new-look United in a 3-4-3 system were held to a 1-1 draw. Marcus Rashford's early opening strike inside two minutes gave Amorim the perfect start to his reign, only for Ipswich to force themselves back into proceedings with Omari Hutchinson scoring a stunning long-range effort before half-time . During Sky Sports' Monday Night Football show, Carragher took the opportunity to dissect Amorim's tactical set-up and revealed what he believes is their downfall. He said: ' I hear a lot of managers including Ruben Amorim saying systems don't matter too much. I believe that they do, no matter how many times managers tell me they don't because, well why do you play a different system? Different systems give you different things in different areas. 'For me, the weaknesses are in these spaces here, either side of the two central midfield players. The reason why is, when you play a conventional back four, your wide man can tuck in and help. Ruben Amorim was held to a draw against Ipswich in his first game as Man United manager Jamie Carragher has since offered his opinion on United's tactical set-up under Amorim 'But because you play a back three, when they get the ball they naturally go wider and wing backs go wider and higher. It means there's a lot more space around these two central midfield players, especially if the two attacking 10s don't drop back. There were the same issues on the Ipswich side as well. 'The big problem is - is it a midfielder who should drop in to fill that space or should a centre-back step in with someone? 'We listened to Ruben Amorim after the game and he spoke a lot about Jonny Evans not making that jump into the space to pick up a man. Because they played the same system, it almost became a man-to-man game. Football has become that.' Shared spoils helped United climb to 12th in the league standings and while it was a mixed showing, Amorim's preferred 3-4-3 system did get some joy against Ipswich. The attacking formation is new for United's stars and will take time to adjust to - as Amorim admitted - with the former Sporting Lisbon boss only afforded a couple of days training to work with his squad before his first game in charge. Amorim praised his players for trying to understand his vision after such a short period of time together. Speaking after the match, Amorim said: 'Bruno Fernandes, I think he improved his game by playing nearer the ball, feeling the ball, so he can give us sometimes the long pass. 'But you can not put him there all the time because he wants the long pass all the time. So we try to find things about the players, we will need a lot of time to work out these things. The former Sporting Lisbon boss only afforded a couple of days training to work with his squad before his first game in charge The Red Devils started well against Ipswich after scoring early but quickly began to fade 'Sometimes people talk about the 3-4-3, that is not the concern, the system is the system but the understanding of the game is what we have to improve a lot in this area.' Meanwhile, Diogo Dalot hailed the immediate impact of 'big personality' Amorim , claiming the new boss is exactly what Manchester United need to get back on top. 'It's gone really well,' Dalot said. 'He made an impact straight away, in terms of his philosophy and the way he wants us to play. 'It suits the standards of the club. High intensity football and working hard for the team. We just need to put it into practice now.' Ipswich Town Marcus Rashford Jamie Carragher Share or comment on this article: Jamie Carragher highlights the 'weakness' in Ruben Amorim's tactical approach after new Man United boss was held to a draw against Ipswich on debut e-mail Add comment