Amanda Kitch
Baton Rouge, La
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Education
Updated: Oct. 21, 2020 at 3:47 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
It’s easy to think being completely debt-free is great, but financial experts say some debt is good debt.
Updated: Oct. 20, 2020 at 3:48 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
In many cases, a health savings account (HSA)and a high deductible healthcare plan go hand-in-hand. That HSA is meant to exist as a nest egg for healthcare expenses.
Updated: Oct. 19, 2020 at 4:30 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
If healthcare options weren’t at the top of your mind before, after this year, they probably are now. It’s open enrollment season which means it’s time to sift through healthcare plans.
Updated: Oct. 16, 2020 at 1:27 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
Getting shocked by a hospital or procedure bill is never fun. When your money is tight, it’s best to budget and plan ahead. Here are a few ways to get ahead of out-of-pocket hospital expenses.
Updated: Oct. 15, 2020 at 4:25 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
Halloween is spooky and scary for more than the usual reasons this year. Trick-or-treating is a high risk situation when it comes to the threat of COVID-19, the CDC says.
Updated: Oct. 14, 2020 at 4:34 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
Windshield wipers for eyeglasses never seemed so necessary until the pandemic hit. Fogged glasses while wearing your mask were annoying at first, but now for some, it’s downright uncomfortable.
Updated: Oct. 13, 2020 at 9:36 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
Some health experts say you should treat your mask like a pair of underwear. Wash it regularly and wear a clean one every day. But happens if you get behind on laundry and wear the same mask for a week?
Updated: Oct. 12, 2020 at 4:29 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
Research by Urban Footprint found nearly 110,000 Louisiana households were unable to pay their mortgage in September.
Updated: Oct. 10, 2020 at 8:09 AM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
Many of us are used to the sound of a humming generator during hurricane season, but that doesn’t mean we should get too lax with generator safety.
Updated: Oct. 8, 2020 at 3:25 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
You’d think it was Sunday morning before a football game, but the buzzing activity in the Arlington Marketplace Rouses in the middle of the week is just a taste of hurricane preparation.
Updated: Oct. 6, 2020 at 5:35 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
There’s no stamp of approval just yet on another official coronavirus relief bill. The Democrat-led House of Representatives passed a revised version of its HEROES Act, but discussions on Capitol Hill are progressing slowly.
Updated: Oct. 5, 2020 at 5:33 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
It’s time to give your four-legged friend a little extra credit. The University of York in the UK published a recent study about pets and your mental health.
Updated: Oct. 2, 2020 at 3:23 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
Halloween parties and trick or treating will look very different this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still try to make the best of it. Kristyn Starkovich, a market manager with Red Stick Mom, shares some ideas to get you more in the mood this season.
Updated: Oct. 1, 2020 at 4:33 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
Fall home buying-season is in full swing and while it’s not usually a busy time of the year for the housing market, with good interest rates, the realtors almost can’t keep up.
Updated: Sep. 30, 2020 at 4:30 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
Typically at this time of year, you begin to see seasonal hiring posters on business doors. One Baton Rouge expert explains that seasonal hiring may take on a completely different shape this year.
Updated: Sep. 29, 2020 at 5:34 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
It can be easy to forget about a bill sometimes, and the late fees and bill collector phone calls can get overwhelming.
Updated: Sep. 28, 2020 at 4:45 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
If you’re in the market for a new ride, now might not be the best time to get a bargain. Kelley Blue Book (KBB) estimates the average transaction price of a new vehicle is at a record high of $38,000.
Updated: Sep. 25, 2020 at 4:16 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
Don’t forget your mask if you’re stepping into Tiger Stadium this weekend, but there is one thing you can leave at home, cash. That’s because the purple and gold are going without the green this season.
Updated: Sep. 24, 2020 at 4:25 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
Your travel plans may have fallen flat in 2020, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still take a trip.
Updated: Sep. 23, 2020 at 3:40 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
September is Hunger Action Month to help fight hunger in our communities, and even though the month is winding down, there’s still time to donate to your local food bank.
Updated: Sep. 22, 2020 at 3:15 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
The COVID-19 pandemic may have thrown our future financial plans off track.
Updated: Sep. 21, 2020 at 4:34 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
The hottest accessory right now may be the mask, but not all masks are created equally; some trendy ideas have popped up on the mask market world.
Updated: Sep. 18, 2020 at 2:33 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
NerdWallet found that about 3 out of 5 American homeowners have taken on a home improvement project since March 1, 2020. They also spend over $6,000 on average per project.
Updated: Sep. 17, 2020 at 5:44 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
One woman has been a regular donor since 1996 but hasn’t been able to donate through the pandemic. This week was her first day back in the chair since February.
Updated: Sep. 16, 2020 at 4:30 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
Price gouging is not unusual during times of crisis, like the pandemic and natural disasters, but it is still illegal. On huge marketplace websites, it’s hard to know if you’re actually getting a fair deal or not sometimes.
Updated: Sep. 15, 2020 at 4:28 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
Amid COVID-19 closures and recent storm prep, some Baton Rouge storefronts are struggling to stay alive, but a new startup has opened in Perkins Rowe despite all of that.
Updated: Sep. 11, 2020 at 5:28 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
Your primary care clinic is the center piece for your medical care. However, it may not be the center piece for a weight loss journey, especially in lower income communities.
Updated: Sep. 10, 2020 at 3:30 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
It might seem too early to start talking about the holidays, but think about how much you spend in November and December. Between the gifts and family dinners, it really adds up.
Ochsner’s COVID-19 study shows which types of workplaces may be at higher risk for coronavirus cases
Updated: Sep. 9, 2020 at 3:23 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
Months into the pandemic, we know our homes are the safest shelters from catching or spreading coronavirus, but Ochsner’s recent study shows the office isn’t that scary of a space either.
Updated: Sep. 8, 2020 at 4:29 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
Red across the board… that’s how your portfolio may look right now, especially if you have a piece of a big name technology company.
Updated: Sep. 4, 2020 at 3:25 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
It’s not too early to start shopping for holiday gifts. Labor Day weekend is an opportunity to get deep discounts on items you want or need right now.
Updated: Sep. 3, 2020 at 9:25 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
The Lost Wages Assistance program has stirred up some confusion when it comes to additional unemployment benefits.
Updated: Sep. 2, 2020 at 4:33 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
Pelican State Credit Union says customers reach out with lots of questions about credit scores, so director of financial outreach, Jessica Sharon, talked with WAFB to breakdown the dos and don’ts of getting your score on the right track.
Updated: Sep. 1, 2020 at 4:28 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
A historic laptop demand is making it more difficult to find a new computer or even a refurbished one.
Updated: Aug. 28, 2020 at 4:28 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
Scammers will prey on your fear and desperation to take your money, especially after a natural disaster. Posing as a charity is one way they may try to get you.
Updated: Aug. 27, 2020 at 10:37 AM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
Officials say first responders from East Baton Rouge Parish are heading to the Lake Charles area to assist the State of Louisiana with search and rescue operations in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura.
Updated: Aug. 25, 2020 at 3:34 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
In a time of need, we often reach out to those we trust for help and shelter. But while coronavirus concerns are still out there, your family’s evacuation plans may be more challenging.
Updated: Aug. 24, 2020 at 4:30 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
Preparing for a disaster may be easier if you have lots of money, but what if you don’t?
Updated: Aug. 21, 2020 at 3:30 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
Have you ever looked at your monthly expenses and thought, ‘How did all of this add up so quickly?’ Then it’s time to negotiate your bills.
Updated: Aug. 20, 2020 at 3:26 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
Turns out, working from home isn’t all that comfortable.
Updated: Aug. 19, 2020 at 4:24 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
For some of you, going door-to-door at businesses to find new work might not be an option right now. Luckily, there are many online resources to point you in the right direction for rejoining the workforce.
Updated: Aug. 18, 2020 at 4:32 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
Job-hunting can already be a hassle, but keeping the kids on track with distance learning adds to the challenge.
Updated: Aug. 17, 2020 at 4:29 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
For many people, investing in the stock market is as easy as looking at the palm of their hand.
Updated: Aug. 14, 2020 at 4:22 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
Congress is working to bridge the gap between two different proposed plans: the $3 trillion HEREOS Act and the $1 trillion HEALS Act.
Updated: Aug. 13, 2020 at 3:35 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
The Louisiana Department of Education has developed a new set of resources to support students participating in virtual learning.
Updated: Aug. 11, 2020 at 4:34 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
Two weeks in and 12,000 businesses have submitted an application for the state’s Main Street Recovery Program.
Updated: Aug. 10, 2020 at 5:40 AM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
Even in a more normal school year, it can be tough to keep your kids and their assignments organized. Here are a few free online resources and apps that may help keep your student on track.
Updated: Aug. 6, 2020 at 4:23 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
Parents have many questions about the school year and their children’s well-being. Anxiety in kids is one of those concerns.
Updated: Aug. 5, 2020 at 3:48 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
Sitting at a desk all day can be uncomfortable. Many of us know those aches and pains from a hunched posture all too well.
Updated: Aug. 4, 2020 at 3:42 PM CDT
|By Amanda Kitch
Many of us are being careful about our external health, like wearing masks and social distancing, but a Baton Rouge area dietitian says our internal health, what we put inside our bodies, can make a big difference in fighting off illness.
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