First aid kit? Check. Smartphone charger? Check. Quart-size bag of liquids? Check. If you’re like us, you put a lot of thought into preparing for your trip. Loading your phone with a few key apps can ensure you have all the tools you need to get the

OCCU is partnering with St. Vincent de Paul, the Salem Keizer Education Foundation and Wilsonville Community Sharing for Backpacks for Back to School, an event that helps provide over 3,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to local kids in need.

Summer heat waves often kindle dreams of owning a boat. When temperatures creep toward triple digits, nothing sounds more refreshing than cruising on the water and feeling the wind on your face. Is it time to make that dream a reality? As fun as

We all have ways of protecting ourselves when we travel. Buying travel-sized hand sanitizer. Studying the hotel evacuation map. Calling your financial institution to make sure your debit card will work. Still, things happen. Travel insurance can

Traveling is all about experiences, seeing new places, trying new foods, meeting new people. But there are some experiences you can do without — like getting your identity stolen.

Scholarships. Work study. Federal loans. Scrounging under the couch cushions for change. Paying for college often means scraping together funds from multiple sources. Although 85 percent of undergrads receive financial aid, it only goes so far. When

We all know heat can drain your energy. But it also drains your budget. Hotter temperatures mean the AC has to work harder and fans stay on longer (if not 24/7), which means energy bills go up faster than the thermometer. While it’s important to stay

Buying a home comes with some big questions. How much can I qualify for? Will the seller accept my offer? What will the home inspection find? Can I lock in my interest rate before it goes up? That last question can have a big impact on your home’s

Does buying a home seem like a far-off dream to you? If so, you’re not alone. In Oregon, a shortage of homes for sale has caused prices to climb and fueled intense competition in many areas, dissuading would-be buyers from entering the market. But

These days, toting hundreds or even thousands of dollars worth of electronics around the globe is the new norm. But traveling with expensive gear does come with risks, like thieves looking to profit from unsuspecting tourists.