10 Steps to Home Ownership

June 6th, 2011 by Logan Abbott

First-time homebuyers face an uphill battle when applying for a mortgage in today's real estate environment. The days of no-credit and no-money-down loans are definitely over—at least for now. There are, however, a number of steps every first-time buyer should follow in order to make the homebuying process as smooth as possible. Here are 10 steps to guide you into homeownership:

Should You Add an Authorized User?

Are you thinking about adding an authorized user to one of your credit cards? If so, here are a few things to keep in mind before pulling the trigger.

Make sure you choose the person you add very carefully. While an authorized user can make purchases with your card, they are not ultimately responsible for the charges. You're the only one that will get stuck with the bill if unwanted charges are racked up behind your back.

Updated by Joshua Heckathorn on Thu, 2011-06-02 17:00

Citi ThankYou Premier Card Still Makes Me Smile

June 2nd, 2011 by Joshua Heckathorn

Citi ThankYou Premier Card A few years ago I wrote about how the Citi PremierPass Elite card makes me smile every time I use it. Well, unfortunately I was forced to stop using it since my beloved card no longer exists. It must have been too good because Citi scrapped it! However, I am happy to report that Citibank recently replaced my card with one that still makes me smile for many reasons. So here's why the Citi ThankYou Premier Card remains a top choice in my wallet:

Top 5 Movies About Money

May 30th, 2011 by Logan Abbott

Who doesn’t love money? We think about it constantly, we envy those who have more of it than we do, and our entire society is dictated by the almighty dollar bill. Hollywood caught onto this notion a long time ago and has made countless movies about money. Some have glorified the lifestyle of the rich and famous while others have attempted to highlight the personal misery inherent in greed and corruption. Whatever the angle, each film tells a story of how money affects us and how we use it to interact with the world. A select few have made their way to the forefront of popular culture and have heavily influenced the way we think about money, be it a glamorous stack of $100 bills or easy credit cards. Below are the best movies about money that we have come to know and love.

Keep Your Bluetooth Secure

You're probably lugging around a lot of Bluetooth-enabled devices these days. And while it may be hard to leave home without them, smartphones, laptops, netbooks, iPads and Bluetooth headsets have unfortunately made us all sitting ducks for identity theft.

Those nasty hackers love using Bluetooth to steal your personal information, install malicious software on your devices, and possibly even record your private calls. The NERVE! But you don't have to make yourself an easy target.

Updated by Joshua Heckathorn on Thu, 2011-05-26 17:00

Why Business Credit Cards Pose More Risk

May 24th, 2011 by Logan Abbott

Many individuals fail to recognize the major differences between business cards and consumer cards when searching the web for the best credit card offers. Unfortunately, due to this lack of understanding, households may find themselves at greater risk to higher fees and penalties when they choose business card offers over those marketed only for consumer use. This is because the Credit Card Act of 2009 does not apply to business credit cards at all. And since one in ten card offers sent out by credit issuers each month are for business cards, this means that many of the credit card offers landing in your mailbox will not protect you from undue risk.

How to Maximize your Airline Miles

May 23rd, 2011 by Logan Abbott

Yowza! Have you looked at airfares lately? It turns out that the gas crisis doesn't hurt consumers just at the gas station; the airport has also become a place of despair for cost-conscious travelers. With airlines having to pay more and more on jet fuel, they have graciously handed the bill over to passengers to defray the costs. With these sky-high airfares, there never has been a better time to use your airline miles to fly you from point A to B.

Make Good Use of Your Tax Refund

The average American taxpayer received around a $3,000 check from Uncle Sam this year. If you're still sitting on your cash trying to decide how to spend it, here's what you should do:

1.) Pay Down Debt: This is always the first option. Want to earn yourself more than a 20% return on your money? Pay off those credit card balances!

2.) Pad Your Savings: If you don't have any high interest debt to worry about, pad your emergency savings or fund an IRA to make sure you're maximizing retirement savings.

Updated by Joshua Heckathorn on Thu, 2011-05-19 17:00

5 Common Financial Scams and How to Avoid Them

May 19th, 2011 by Logan Abbott

Our sensitive financial information is transferred on a daily basis. Whether it’s making a purchase online or checking our bank account, it’s no wonder that thousands fall victim to financial scams each year. Millions of dollars are lost annually by unsuspecting consumers who don’t manage to catch the signs of a financial predator looking to take whatever they’ve got. Whether you use personal checks or secured credit cards, you need to be aware of financial threats so you can stay vigilant. Here are five common scams with tips on how to protect yourself.

How Young Is Too Young for Credit Cards?

May 18th, 2011 by Logan Abbott

Kids these days grow up so darn fast! When I was younger, I didn’t have a care in the world. I would run around outside for hours, playing games and hanging out with friends. The only time I needed money was if I had a hankering for a Slurpee from 7Eleven. In 2011, it’s different for most adolescents. Online games, iTunes, and $0.99 apps are everywhere, and they all require a credit card. Even those activities of the past cost money now. A child making payments, especially with a credit card, seems somewhat laughable, but it’s a reality.