Give the gift of financial relief, financial security or financial education. Sometimes the most practical and pragmatic gifts turn out being the best gifts. We’ve come up with a few ways for you to give the gift of financial relief.

GIFT CARDS – Instead of giving cash, give a gift card to the recipient’s favorite store or a Visa, Mastercard or American Express branded gift card that they can use anywhere. Gift Cards to Target, Walmart and Amazon are also great. And restaurant gift cards including food delivery platforms are also available. Gift cards can often be purchased online and delivered electronically so shopping only takes a few clicks and a few minutes.

BOOKS – A little learning never hurt anyone. We’ve selected three books for people of all ages and financial situations. Three great books by three great authors.

Need extra cash this time of year? Have extra time on your hands? Are expenses piling up? Several companies are gearing up for the holidays and looking for hardworking people like you.

Here are 17 companies that are hiring seasonal workers. Check out Seasonal Jobs at Glassdoor:

• H&M
• Talbots
• FedEx
• Amazon
• Gap
• Crate & Barrel
• Burlington Stores
• Old Navy
• Nordstrom
• Whole Foods
• Macy’s
• Apple
• Best Buy
• Lowe’s
• Ulta Beauty
• UPS
• Target

When you need a little cash to help you through this time of year, CashMax can help:

1. Get pre-approved for a cash advance up to $2,000 or title loan up to $5,000 over the phone from one of our knowledgeable associates.
2. You can start the process of getting a cash advance or title loan online.
3. CashMax has 38 convenient locations in Texas to serve you:

• 1414 E. Tyler Street, Athens, TX 75751
• 635 W. Pioneer Parkway, Arlington, TX 76010
• 12209 Lake June Road, Balch Springs, TX 75180
• 4105 State Hwy 121, Bedford, TX 76021
• 2019 N. Center Street, Bonham, TX 75418
• 1420 S. Bridge Street, Brady, TX 76825
• 551 W. Commerce Street, Brownwood, TX 76801
• 750 Hurst Street, Center, TX 75935
• 1907 Ave. F NW, Childress, TX 79201
• 617 W. Henderson Street, Cleburne, TX 76033
• 2001 Texas Avenue, College Station, TX 77840
• 2127 East Highway 190, Copperas Cove, TX 76522
• 5200 Lemmon Ave., Dallas, TX 75209
• 1845 South FM 51, Decatur, TX 76234
• 411 W. University, Denton, TX 76201
• 615 E. Camp Wisdom Road, Duncanville, TX 75116
• 308 E. Ennis Ave., Ennis, TX 75119
• 5732 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107
• 2516 NE 28th Street, Fort Worth, TX 76106
• 1714 N. Culberson Street, Gainsville, TX 76240
• 3354 Broadway Blvd., Garland, TX 75043
• 2115 State Highway 16 South, Graham, TX 76450
• 928 N. Belt Line Road, Grand Prairie, TX 75050
• 1319 S. Jackson Street, Jacksonville, TX 75766
• 610 E. Lantrip Street, Kilgore, TX 75662
• 2501 South WS Young Drive, Killeen, TX 76541
• 207 A Hwy 183 North, Leander, TX 78641
• 1288 W. Main Street, Lewisville, TX 75067
• 508 E. Loop 281, Longview, TX 75605
• 300 S. Chestnut, Lufkin, TX 75901
• 1809 US Hwy 281, Marble Falls, TX 78654
• 2500 North Street, Nacogdoches, TX 75965
• 2102 Crockett Road, Palestine, TX 75801
• 147 N. Collegiate Drive, Paris, TX 75460
• 1827 Texoma Parkway, Sherman, TX 75090
• 406 S. Southwest Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75702
• 915 Hillcrest Drive, Vernon, TX 76384
• 3117 Kemp Blvd., Wichita Falls, TX 76308

November means it’s time to plan. This is planning season. A time when you need to plan for Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Cyber Monay, plan menus, guests lists, Christmas and holiday gifts. You may be planning for your kids to be home more often or planning a short trip. And it’s never too early to plan for 2021. November is a busy month and it can be stressful on your finances, so planning your budget is important. The better your plan, the easier it may be to be prepared and avoid stress.

Here are some of the most common things we spend money on in November.

• Home improvements
• Getting ready for winter – clothes and household items
• Thanksgiving meals and baking supplies
• Black Friday
• Cyber Monday
• Early Christmas shopping
• Activities for kids
• And did you know that November is the best month to buy a new TV.

This is an expensive time of year, so create a budget and most importantly prioritize what you need and when you can afford to buy it. Many people are intimidated by the thought of creating a budget but don’t let it scare you. It will probably relive stress in the long run.

It’s car buying season. Well, it’s Fall which means it’s football, Halloween and Thanksgiving season but it’s also car buying season. So, when is the best time to buy a car and what are some of the tricks to buying your new treat?

There are a lot of useful answers here so let’s identify 2 categories – Ends and Months.

THE ENDS

The average family spends over $200 per month on cable. Let’s compare that to streaming services and can you really save money when you cut the cord without sacrificing getting the programming you want.

The Los Angeles Times found that the average person pays for or subscribes to four streaming services. Note which ones you pay for each month here...

Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Disney+, YouTube TV, Apple TV, Peacock, HBO Max, Sling and more on the way.

Let’s take a financial challenge. Do you think you could save more than $1,000 in four hours? We think you can save more than $2,000 year if you really dig in. There is no better time than now to negotiate and try some new habits. Try to schedule a financial check-up at least 3 times per year – January, April and August.

We’ve put together 5 Ways for a Fall Financial Check-up.

1. Cars – On average, it costs over $700 per month to own a car. Many people are working from home and may be for the foreseeable future. Kids are e-learning or hybrid learning with fewer extracurricular activities. Have these factors changed your driving habits? Take a look at your situation and determine if you can sell a second car or if you need a car at all.
2. Subscriptions – Subscription services can be great and convenient but over time you may not be getting the full value. At first, it was Netflix then you added Spotify, and Disney+ which added on Hulu and ESPN+ then YouTube TV, and the gym membership and food delivery service and on and on. The $4.99 here and $6.99 there and this and that. Suddenly you are paying hundreds of dollars a month for the convenience of watered-down subscription service you do not use. Take a few minutes to evaluate subscription services you are paying for then decide which ones you love, which ones you can consolidate and which ones you can cancel.
3. Insurance – Have you seen all of the car insurance commercials. Feels like I should be saving a lot more. In Texas, the average person pays $117 per month per car. Insurance is competitive so at least once a year compare rates. There are several websites and apps that will show you competitive rates and it only takes a few minutes and switching insurance is not complicated.
4. Bank Fees – The average checking account costs almost $15 per month plus ATM fees. Several banks offer free check but is it really free and what are the requirements to get free checking. Do you need a high minimum balance and direct deposit? There are several free checking account options with full features like debit cards, free ATM usage and refund out of network fees, provide checks, online bill pay, and mobile banking apps. A few minutes could save you more than $100.
5. Credit Card Debt – This one is uncomfortable and stressful. We often don’t want to look at our debt but could save hundreds of dollars. The average American carries over $6,000 of credit card debt with an interest rate over 18%. That means you are paying over $1,100 per year in interest alone. Remember, credit cards are revolving debt so will always owe money, but it you get a loan to consolidate these debts, you could pay it off and be debt free.

When you need a little help to get from where you are now to where you need to be, CashMax can help:

Back-to-school shopping can be stressful. First, it can be very expensive. School supplies, backpacks, clothes, sneakers, electronics and technology can add up to nearly $700 per child. There never seems to be enough time, supplies and selections can be limited, and shipping may be delayed. Add in pre-teens, tweens and teens to the mix and you can have an anxious couple of weeks.

Here are 5 ways you can improve back to school shopping:

1. Start Early – Some are better than others and luckily many schools are starting later this year so use this time wisely. 2-3 weeks should be enough time for you to prepare list and your kids wants, create a budget, search for deals, then shop. Most importantly, don’t procrastinate like my son on his American History project.
2. Make a List – Organization is key to reducing back-to-school shopping stress. It also allows you to create a budget, compare prices, find deals and shop on your time.
3. Create a Budget – There is a lot of uncertainty right now about how school will go in the COVID-19 fall semester and a lot of challenges facing moms and dads. On average standard classroom supplies cost $117, new sneakers cost $136, computers and electronics around $200, and fall fashions nearly $240. That’s almost $700 per child which does not include the need for more technology this year, added expense of increased utilities for e-learning or “school” lunches.
4. Search for Deals – There are several ways to save on back-to-school necessities. First, take inventory at your home. Most of us have drawers, cabinets, and boxes full of useful school supplies. Search online for more expensive items and coupons or promo codes. There are also swapping sites. ABC News created a great link to help you find “Digital Ways to Save”
5. Start Online, Finish Retail – And finally, start the process by shopping online first then as you make runs to the store pick up items as you go. Of course, many of us will wait until the last minute like we did in school cramming for that chemistry test so the late-night dash to the big box store is in many of our futures.

When you need a little help to on the extra cost of back-to-school shopping, CashMax can help:

Working from home is hardly new, but with COVID-19 it is quickly becoming the new norm. Many professionals are now having to set up makeshift home offices and with that comes quite a few challenges.

Here are 5 ways you can improve your work from home space today.

1. Find a Dedicated Space – Even if you don’t have a separate room to set up an office, finding a space in your home that you can dedicate to your workspace is crucial. Make sure the space is well lit with natural light if possible and will give you privacy, even if that means setting up a room divider. Since you are working from home, your work needs to stay in your WORK space.
2. Make it Welcoming – Create an environment that you want to work in. Add a plant, light a candle, surround yourself with beautiful pictures. Amazon has great office space knickknacks that can turn your little nook into a private oasis you look forward to working in every day.
3. Invest in a Desk – You can create a desk from just about anything. It doesn’t have to be expensive but having a desk gives your space (however big or small) a work environment feel that can help keep you focused.
4. Get a Good Chair – No office space is complete without a comfortable chair. It’s hard to stay productive if you aren’t comfortable and without a good chair you could be facing back and neck problems.
5. Use good Tech Tools – You are probably used to having certain tools available to you while at the office. Make sure that you get the tools that you need for your own home office space. A few key tech tools that can make a difference are noise cancelling headphones, a good keyboard with a wrist pad, webcam for video conferencing, microphone, surge protectors, printer, scanner and don’t forget the coffee maker!

We’ve compiled an Amazon Idea list for everything you need to create your dream home office workspace here.

This is the time of year when utility bills can be the highest which can cause a financial strain. The stress of monitoring your thermostat, keeping doors closed and turning off the lights, just to keep your electric bill in check. Here are a few ways to help lower your electric bill in the summer, and maybe throughout the year.

1. Energy Ogre – This is a service that searches multiple utility providers to find the best rates and savings programs in your area. Use this special link to see their savings calculator: https://www.energyogre.com/savings/?ref=11SFG
2. Get a programmable thermostat that monitors and adjusts based on the activity in your home.
3. Keep doors, windows and curtain closed. Keep heat out and the cool air in.

When bills get out of control and you need a little help to get you through summer expenses, CashMax can help:

1. Get pre-approved for a cash advance up to $2,000 or title loan up to $5,000 over the phone from one of our knowledgeable associates.
2. You can start the process of getting a cash advance or title loan online.
3. CashMax has 38 convenient locations in Texas to serve you:

• 1414 E. Tyler Street, Athens, TX 75751
• 635 W. Pioneer Parkway, Arlington, TX 76010
• 12209 Lake June Road, Balch Springs, TX 75180
• 4105 State Hwy 121, Bedford, TX 76021
• 2019 N. Center Street, Bonham, TX 75418
• 1420 S. Bridge Street, Brady, TX 76825
• 551 W. Commerce Street, Brownwood, TX 76801
• 750 Hurst Street, Center, TX 75935
• 1907 Ave. F NW, Childress, TX 79201
• 617 W. Henderson Street, Cleburne, TX 76033
• 2001 Texas Avenue, College Station, TX 77840
• 2127 East Highway 190, Copperas Cove, TX 76522
• 5200 Lemmon Ave., Dallas, TX 75209
• 1845 South FM 51, Decatur, TX 76234
• 411 W. University, Denton, TX 76201
• 615 E. Camp Wisdom Road, Duncanville, TX 75116
• 308 E. Ennis Ave., Ennis, TX 75119
• 5732 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107
• 2516 NE 28th Street, Fort Worth, TX 76106
• 1714 N. Culberson Street, Gainsville, TX 76240
• 3354 Broadway Blvd., Garland, TX 75043
• 2115 State Highway 16 South, Graham, TX 76450
• 928 N. Belt Line Road, Grand Prairie, TX 75050
• 1319 S. Jackson Street, Jacksonville, TX 75766
• 610 E. Lantrip Street, Kilgore, TX 75662
• 2501 South WS Young Drive, Killeen, TX 76541
• 207 A Hwy 183 North, Leander, TX 78641
• 1288 W. Main Street, Lewisville, TX 75067
• 508 E. Loop 281, Longview, TX 75605
• 300 S. Chestnut, Lufkin, TX 75901
• 1809 US Hwy 281, Marble Falls, TX 78654
• 2500 North Street, Nacogdoches, TX 75965
• 2102 Crockett Road, Palestine, TX 75801
• 147 N. Collegiate Drive, Paris, TX 75460
• 1827 Texoma Parkway, Sherman, TX 75090
• 406 S. Southwest Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75702
• 915 Hillcrest Drive, Vernon, TX 76384
• 3117 Kemp Blvd., Wichita Falls, TX 76308

Balancing your everyday financial needs is challenging and it is important to have complete access and control of your finances. There are several apps that help you save, manage, budget and control your money, as hard as it can be. We’ve put together a short list of apps for you to investigate.

1. Stash – Stash is an app for banking, saving, learning and investing. Stash a little bit at a time and watch it grow. “Stashers”, as they call their clients, can track their spending, use free educational tools, and invest or stash a to build an emergency fund. Use our click our partner link to get $20.
2. PocketGuard – PocketGuard is great because it helps you manage your spending. It is a money managing app that syncs all of your accounts so you can track them in one place, which helps with visualizing your spending. Seeing your expenses in one place can also help you catch unexpected charges and reoccurring expenses that have been forgotten. Another great feature of PocketGuard is that is features a list of services that its users can pay less for, given users options to lower their spending costs.
3. Acorns - Are you looking for an app to help you save without having to do ANYTHING? Not only does Acorns help you find extra cash to save, it automatically invests it for you. The Acorns app can round up your everyday purchases and automatically invest them. For example, if your weekly grocery bill is $52.45, Acorns will draw $0.55 from your account and invest it. You can choose the stock portfolio that fits your preference, but don’t worry Acorns will give you suggestion curated by experts that align with your preferred level of risk. You can also partner with other businesses and Acorns will add the extra cash to your investment account…kind of like a cash back program.

Planning for the near and long-term future is important, but when you need cash today, here’s 3 ways CashMax can help: