Money Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make in 2015

January 9th, 2015 by Yael Kent

It is tradition for many people to view the start of a new year as a time to reset their goals in life. Often called resolutions, these goals usually involve personal health and fitness, work related issues, and financial goals.

Financial goals are often hard to attain if they are not approached in the right manner. Just setting a goal to “get out of debt in 2015,” or “save for retirement” is not enough. It is important to know what to do, and what not to do, to achieve these financial goals.

How to Organize Your Finances for the New Year

December 19th, 2014 by Alice Bryant

A new year is imminent, and well-planned individuals are now considering their new year’s resolutions for 2015. All over the country, consumers will quickly be signing up for gym memberships, purchasing self-help books and swearing off their wicked behaviors.

Oil Prices Continue to Drop

by Yael Kent on December 19, 2014

Have you noticed the lower-than-normal gas prices as of late? We’re sure you’re probably thankful for them, especially when prices were up to nearly five dollars a gallon not too long ago. The good news is that these gas prices will continue to fall, given that the price of crude oil is still dropping. In fact, since July the price of crude oil has dropped 40%, leaving everyone sort of befuddled with the plummeting prices. Lower gas prices means saving more at the pump, which in turn means that consumers will have more in their pocket to spend during the holiday season.

What’s New in the Credit Card Industry?

December 16th, 2014 by Yael Kent

Before the 2008 financial collapse, credit card issuers were extremely lax about the approval criteria for card applicants. They offered long introductory periods with zero-percent APR, tons of cash-back bonuses and easy balance transfer options, and they approved people with low credit scores who probably shouldn't have had unsecured credit cards. After the collapse, credit card companies cut back on their extravagant offers and started getting a lot pickier about the applicants they approved.

Fed Proposes New Rules for Big Banks

by Alice Bryant on December 12, 2014

The Fed is doing all they can to make sure that big banks don’t end up in the same predicament as when the market crashed back in 2008. One step in their prevention clause is to require big banks to ensure they have enough capital put aside.

How Much Should You Save for Retirement?

December 11th, 2014 by Alice Bryant

Anyone that has begun to consider their options for retirement has no doubt asked themselves when they can retire and how much they will need to save up. These are two tricky questions for a variety of reasons, including the fact that the future is always unpredictable. Any number of twists can take place ranging from a dramatic shift in the economy to a serious illness, but this does not mean planning is not essential.

Black Friday Sales Drop in 2014

by Yael Kent on December 5, 2014

Once again, we’ve survived another Black Friday. From the crowds to discounts on anything and everything, Black Friday came and went without a hitch. Surprisingly enough, there were only a few scuffles throughout the stores as crazed consumers grappled over TVs, toys, and everything else, braving the long register lines for these heavily discounted items. Consumers, however, spent less during Thanksgiving and Black Friday weekend than last year.

How Will You Manage Your Money in the Future?

December 5th, 2014 by Alice Bryant

It doesn't take a financial analyst to see that the checkbook is virtually useless anymore. In fact, card readers are also on their way out. Consumers are not to worry if they're still afraid of using ATM machines or being charged outrageous fees associated with transferring money. It's forecasted that by 2020, these problems will be a thing of the past and the way people use and handle money will be vastly different. Some of the forecasted changes are already under way.

Do You Have an Emergency Fund?

December 4th, 2014 by Alice Bryant

The emergency fund is a crucial part of anyone’s financial portfolio. It exists to cushion you from a heavy financial blow from something like a hospital bill. Because of this weight, many of us want to take a large sum and invest it into something that will produce more returns than a regular savings account. However, doing so could greatly endanger your emergency savings. After all, the greater the yield, the higher the risk involved.

Weekly Tip: Be careful of online scams on Cyber Monday.

Today is Cyber Monday, and that means lots of people will be buying online. And while there might be plenty of good deals, there are also a lot of online scams. So before you buy just anything, it is important to make sure you are not falling victim to a crime.

Here are some tips to help you shop best:

Updated by Yael Kent on Mon, 2014-12-01 16:57