Take Charge of Your Gift Cards

Do you have a sock drawer full of unused gift cards from the holidays? If so, you're definitely not alone.

Some experts believe that consumers leave over $5 billion on gift cards each year. That's a lot of unused dough! However, thanks to a new Seattle-based startup, TangoCard.com, you'll no longer have an excuse to let another penny go unspent.

Updated by Joshua Heckathorn on Sun, 2011-01-09 16:00

2010 Online E-Commerce Sales Skyrocket during Holiday Season

January 6th, 2011 by Logan Abbott

The decline of credit card use this year was apparent in stores, but U.S. holiday spending statistics show 2010 was the year of the online shopper. ComScore reports during the 49 days of the holiday season (November 1st - December 19th), e-commerce spending on holiday gift items increased to over $28 billion in U.S. sales, which is a 12 percent increase compared to corresponding statistics from 2009. Most notably, online shopping holidays like Cyber Monday, Green Monday and Free Shipping Day each saw spending top $900 million in e-commerce retail - statistics that would have seemed unfathomable in our declining economy a year ago.

Discover More: 0% Interest Plus No Balance Transfer Fee!

January 4th, 2011 by Joshua Heckathorn

Every now and then a really great offer comes on the market for consumers looking to finally get rid of their high-interest credit card debt. This is one of those offers folks! Why is it so great? Well, one of the easiest ways to pay off nagging credit card debt that you just can't make headway on is to transfer the balance to a no interest credit card and devise your own plan to pay it off during the promotional period.

Put Your Social Security Tax Cut to Work

If you pay social security taxes, your withholding rate just dropped from 6.2% to 4.2% beginning January 1st. This tax cut, dubbed the 2011 Payroll Tax Holiday, was actually passed by Congress late last year as a replacement to the expiring "Making Work Pay" tax credit.

Updated by Joshua Heckathorn on Sun, 2011-01-02 16:00

Best Travel Rewards Credit Card of 2010

December 31st, 2010 by Joshua Heckathorn

Travel rewards programs suffered major cutbacks in 2010 as credit issuers faced a slew of new federal regulations, lower profits, and customers who were reigning in credit card spending. As a result, many cardholders, including myself, began ditching their travel rewards cards for those that offered cash back at a fixed percentage. And while I certainly love getting a fat cash rebate check at the end of the year, there's just something extra special about hopping on a flight to the other side of the world for free. It makes vacationing all the better! I miss that, and I'm sure others do too.

5 Credit Card New Year's Resolutions

December 29th, 2010 by Logan Abbott

It's that time of year again: the time to buckle down and - for real, this time - conquer any credit conundrums plaguing your personal finances. No matter the quality of your credit score, there is always room for improvement. Once the new year hits, dedicate yourself to a future of great credit and great financial rewards. Here's how.

Set Your Financial Goals for 2011!

The excitement of Christmas has come and gone, but there's still one week left in 2010. In fact, this is the perfect time to not only reflect upon the previous year, but to also look ahead and set some personal financial goals for 2011.

Do you still have lingering credit card debt? Are your credit scores down in the dumps? Do you have a child that will be heading off to college in just a few years, or are just you not saving enough for retirement?

Updated by Joshua Heckathorn on Mon, 2010-12-27 16:00

Ask Creditnet: How Student Credit Cards Affect Credit Scores

December 22nd, 2010 by Joshua Heckathorn

Dear Creditnet: I have nine years of credit-history and while my credit is "good", it's not "excellent". I'm currently interested in applying for a top-notch rewards credit card, but my chances of getting approved seem to be much higher if I apply for the student version of the card. So my question is will a student credit card have the same effect as a regular credit card on my credit score? And what about rebuilding my credit-history? Will a student credit card help improve my credit just as much as any other credit card?

Don't Fall for the In-Store Credit Card Spiel

A recent survey by myFICO, creator of the almighty FICO credit score, reports that 1 in 10 shoppers will sign up for an in-store credit card when offered a discount at the cash register.

Updated by Joshua Heckathorn on Mon, 2010-12-20 16:00

How Credit Cards Protect Purchases

December 20th, 2010 by Logan Abbott

You already know about bonus travel miles and cash back rewards, but some credit card benefits stretch well beyond instant savings on a vacation getaway. Many credit cards include purchasing safeguards that protect against anything from rental car insurance to extended warranties. If you can't find your credit card policy or if you're confused by the jargon, call your bank or credit card provider to ask about the benefits you're entitled to. Taking the time to understand your credit card protection plan might determine when you use credit or cash on your next big purchase.