Timko Financial

08/24/2026

Back-to-school season is bringing higher costs for many families.

A new analysis found that a typical basket of school items, including notebooks, lunch boxes, and index cards, is up nearly 8% compared with last year.

School lunches are also more expensive, with the cost of a typical packed lunch up 11%.

The analysis estimates families may spend roughly $4,000 per student on school supplies and lunches this year, including about $175 on school items and $3,800 on packed lunches.

Some items have seen especially sharp increases. Lunch boxes are up 27%, one-subject notebooks are up 23%, and index cards are up 22%.

Higher tariffs, imported school supplies, food prices, and energy costs are all contributing to the increase.

For families, back-to-school shopping is a reminder that seasonal expenses can add up quickly, especially when everyday costs are already stretching household budgets.


Source:

U.S. households will spend roughly $4,000 per student on school supplies and lunches this year, a new analysis found.

06/23/2026

There are so many reasons to create a will this month, but here are three big ones to consider:

Direct Your Property: Creating a will tells the courts how you want your property distributed. Without a will, state laws will determine how your estate is divided, which may not align with your intentions.

Provide instructions to the probate court: A will can help manage the probate process, providing instructions to the court.

Designate Guardianship for Minor Children: If you have minor children, a will allows you to appoint a guardian to care for them. This crucial step directs that your children are raised by someone you trust, rather than leaving the decision to the courts.

04/23/2026

A common online security tool is now being used in a new type of scam.

Cybercriminals are increasingly using fake CAPTCHA prompts — the familiar “I’m not a robot” checks — to trick users into taking actions that can compromise their devices.

Instead of a simple verification, these prompts may ask users to click “Allow,” enable notifications, or follow additional steps that can lead to persistent pop-ups, phishing attempts, or unwanted software.

These scams often appear through ads, suspicious links, or redirected web pages, making them harder to spot at first glance.

Security experts note that legitimate CAPTCHA tests do not require enabling notifications, downloading files, or entering system commands — making those requests a potential red flag.

As these tactics evolve, staying cautious when interacting with unexpected prompts can help reduce exposure to online threats.


Source:

Cybercriminals are increasingly using fake CAPTCHA prompts to trick users into enabling malware and scam notifications Security experts warn the ta

04/14/2026

Here’s something people don’t talk about enough:
A good financial reset should lower your stress, not raise it.

If your new budget feels strict…
If your goals feel overwhelming…
If your plan feels like pressure…

It won’t last. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s clarity.
Spring is a beautiful time to refresh, but the most powerful resets are steady, simple steps that quietly build momentum over time.

If you’re ready for a reset that feels calm and clear, and not chaotic

04/07/2026

Motivation feels great… until life gets busy.
The reason most financial resets don’t last isn’t lack of effort; it’s lack of design.

If your new system only works when you have extra time and energy, it won’t survive a hectic month.

Instead, build a reset around real life:
✔️ Automate savings
✔️ Set a simple monthly 20-minute check-in
✔️ Focus on just 1–2 priorities

A sustainable plan should work on your busiest weeks, not just your best ones.

If you want help designing something that actually sticks, let’s talk.

03/31/2026

Spring cleaning works because you remove clutter before bringing in something new.

Your finances deserve the same approach.
Before opening another account or setting aggressive new goals, ask:

• Are there subscriptions you don’t use anymore?
• Could any accounts be consolidated?
• Are there goals that simply don’t matter like they used to?

Financial clarity often comes from subtraction, not addition.

If you’re feeling that “get my life together” energy this season, start by clearing what’s outdated. The rest gets much easier from there.

03/24/2026

There’s something about spring that makes us want to reset everything. Closets. Calendars. Routines. Finances.

But here’s what we see all the time: the big, dramatic financial reset rarely lasts.

Instead of rebuilding your entire budget or setting five new money goals at once, try going smaller. Yes, smaller than what feels impressive.
✔️ Review just one month of spending
✔️ Increase savings by 1%
✔️ Pick ONE financial priority for the next 30 days

Small changes are easier to stick with, and consistency always beats intensity. Spring resets don’t have to be loud to be powerful. 🌼

02/20/2026

April Fools' Day is here again, and it's not only about pranks and practical jokes. It's a good time for a person to reflect on times when they might have felt a bit foolish. Maybe they made a decision that didn't turn out well, or a mistake that left them feeling low. The good news is that feeling like a "fool" is almost always a temporary situation if one can learn from the experience. Give yourself room to think and grow, and you might even learn to laugh at it all, in hindsight.

02/13/2026

When your plan feels manageable and easy to understand, you’re more likely to stick with it through every season of life.

Simplicity builds consistency, and consistency is what turns good intentions into long-term success.