Sarita Harbour

Your credit score ranges tell lenders what type of borrower you are. Credit scores are calculated with a formula that uses five variables: payment history, amounts owed, length of credit history, credit mix, and new credit.
Your credit score range may affect the interest rate you pay to a lender and even make the difference between a loan being approved or declined. Learn more about credit score ranges and what they mean.
Key Takeaways
Credit score ranges help lenders determine the risk of le...

Are You Ready To Retire?
If you're considering retiring early, you'll forego not only the headaches of working but also the additional earnings that could have made your retirement even more comfortable. Make sure you're truly ready before you leave.
Key Takeaways
Start debt-free, with a solid retirement account that will support your extra years not working.
Make sure you can withdraw some money from your retirement accounts without penalty.
Plan to pay for your own health care coverage unti...

With fast-evolving technology, new generations of employees, diverse business models, and ever-changing competitors, how can a business not just stay afloat, but thrive, in a time of continuous change?
Whether you're leading an organization with hundreds of employees or running your small, family-owned business, the key to continued success lies in future-proofing your business.
Here are five ways businesses can prepare today to help successfully navigate tomorrow's business environment.
1. B...

There’s been a recent noticeable resurgence in home canning, a method of preserving food that was once a staple in American households. This renewed interest is particularly strong among individuals who’ve never tried canning but like gaining self-sufficiency skills and control over their food supply. From young urbanites to rural families, people across the United States are turning to this traditional practice to preserve and connect meaningfully with their food.

Hands-on hobbies and vintage skills are making a comeback. Today, more people turn to sourdough baking, canning, gardening and fermenting, driven by a growing interest in self-sufficiency and a simpler way of life. Here’s how old-time practices find new life in kitchens and backyards across the United States.
The rise of old-time skills and their modern appeal
Whether sparked by a desire to reconnect with the past or fueled by modern-day concerns, a renewed interest in traditional crafts and ...

Every fourth Thursday of February, America warms up to National Chili Day, celebrating one of the country’s most beloved comfort foods. Whether served at family dinners, chili cook-offs or casual gatherings, chili holds a special place in the hearts of many. With its rich history, regional diversity and cultural significance, chili continues to unite food lovers nationwide.
Tracing chili’s origins
Chili’s story began in the American Southwest, where its origins are rooted in a blend of Native...

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Thirteen beers that Americans once enjoyed are now gone, but they're not forgotten. Over the years, many of these beers accompanied lively chats in crowded bars and quiet gatherings at home, and although people loved these brews, they've now vanished. No matter how hard you search, you won't find cans or bottles of these discontinued beer brands on store shelves or in local pubs.
Why did these beer brands disappe...

COVID-19 has devastated many businesses over the last six months, including a bakery in Aylmer, Ontario - Grandma’s Oven. Martha Zacharias, a Meridian Credit Union customer and business owner, established this bakery in 2008 with her mother, Anna Hiebert, who has since retired. The pandemic effectively wiped out both Grandma’s Oven’s weekend event business and the busy in-store foot traffic they’d enjoyed for years. “We were doing 12 to 15 weddings a weekend,” says Martha. “With COVID, that’s...

Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks and celebrate abundance, yet it can also mean excess waste. This year, make simple, eco-friendly changes to reduce environmental impact while enjoying a festive celebration. Whether you’re new to sustainability or already making eco-conscious choices, use these practical tips to ensure your Thanksgiving is meaningful and mindful.
Eco-friendly food prep
Thanksgiving feasts generate a lot of food and, with that, much waste. Plan to make your food prep more ...

By Sarita Harbour
When Christina Daves broke her foot in 2010, she discovered the opportunity for a new business among the inconvenience and pain of a broken bone.
“I had recently sold out of my retail store and had officially ‘retired’ when a freak accident left me with a broken foot and an awful, big, clunky medical boot,” she says. “I was headed to New York City the following day and thought to myself, ‘I cannot go to the fashion capital of the world in this boot.’”
Dismayed at the look of...

By Sarita Harbour | The Associated Press
Hands-on hobbies and vintage skills are making a comeback. Today, more people turn to sourdough baking, canning, gardening and fermenting, driven by a growing interest in self-sufficiency and a simpler way of life. Here’s how old-time practices find new life in kitchens and backyards across the United States.
The rise of old-time skills and their modern appeal
Whether sparked by a desire to reconnect with the past or fueled by modern-day concerns, a re...

Your great-grandparents were on to something. Growing budget-friendly ingredients is a smart way to save money and enjoy fresh produce right from your home. Recent rapidly rising grocery prices suggest that now might be the time to follow their lead.
But before you start digging, review these tips and tricks for growing the right plants with the best yields.
Start seeds indoors
Start seeds indoors to get a head start on gardening. Make sure you have the proper setup. Invest in trays, good qua...

As winter approaches, you may feel more down and out than usual. This could be due to a condition known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
SAD is a type of depression. It occurs at the same time each year, often during the fall and winter seasons when there’s less natural sunlight.
Seasonal affective disorder impacts up to 3% of the general population. And as Johns Hopkins Medicine reports, it can increase with age.
According to Johns Hopkins, while research hasn’t identified a direct caus...