Money Management

Money Management

Pay Off Student Loans or Save for Down Payment?

School is behind you and you've been lucky enough to land a decent job, but cutting monthly rent checks is getting old fast. Is it time to bite the bullet and finally buy a place of your own?

The decision would be a lot easier to make if it weren't for those big student loans hanging over your head. So, should you pay off the student loans faster or put more of your hard-earned money towards a larger down payment?

Updated by Joshua Heckathorn on Tue, 2017-08-08 16:18

How to Avoid Credit Card Tipping Scams

Dishonest restaurant servers know how easy it is to overlook an extra 50 cents on a dinner bill, which is why one of the most common credit card scams involves waiters adding just a little extra tip for themselves. To protect yourself from this annoying occurrence, try devising a simple method that will make it easier to check restaurant charges for accuracy when reviewing your credit card statements.

Updated by Joshua Heckathorn on Mon, 2016-09-26 00:01

Looking for a Loan? Think Small and Local

The "too-big-to-fail" banks have received billions in taxpayer bailouts, yet purse strings often remain tight.

Updated by Joshua Heckathorn on Fri, 2016-07-15 17:34

Time to Ditch the Debit Card When Shopping Online

There are still way too many consumers out there that use debit cards to shop online. If you're one of them, listen up. It's time to finally ditch the old debit card and make sure you're protecting yourself by using a credit card instead!

Updated by Joshua Heckathorn on Thu, 2016-06-30 14:58

Weekly Tip: Use an app to help you manage your finances.

Although it’s easy to swipe your credit card for everything you need, it is important to monitor your spending habits. And what better way to do that then using your smartphone. In the past, people used to spend hours going through bills, expenses, and calculating their budget on paper. Many used to pay accountants or money managers to save themselves the trouble. 
 
Updated by Alice Bryant on Wed, 2014-07-02 10:58

There's No Such Thing as a Prepaid Credit Card

There are many different types of plastic to choose from out there. We have credit cards, debit cards, prepaid cards, and gift cards, but there's actually no such thing as a "prepaid credit card".

Updated by Joshua Heckathorn on Mon, 2012-06-11 17:00

Notify Your Credit Card Company Before Traveling Overseas

If you're getting ready to head out of the country on vacation, don't forget to call your credit issuer and let them know when and where you're traveling. It can be a huge inconvenience when you're in a foreign country and all of sudden your credit card is declined when making a purchase, so a quick phone call before you leave is most definitely worth the effort.

Updated by Joshua Heckathorn on Tue, 2012-05-01 17:00

56% of Americans Don't Have a Personal Budget

It's April, which means Financial Literacy Month is here once again! And as usual, the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) recently released the much-anticipated results of its 2012 Consumer Financial Literacy Survey.

Updated by Joshua Heckathorn on Wed, 2012-04-18 17:00

Don't Blow Your Tax Refund

It's easy to think of tax refunds as a free windfall of money that you can blow however you please. In truth, a tax refund isn't free money at all.

It's actually money that should've been in your bank account all along, but you chose to lend it to the government for free instead. That means that while Uncle Same held onto your cash for the past year, you missed out on the opportunity to put it to work for you by paying down debt, earning interest in savings accounts, or investing for retirement.

Updated by Joshua Heckathorn on Mon, 2012-03-05 16:00

Always Keep a Backup Credit Card Handy

One credit card may seem like more than enough to manage your personal expenses, but the fact is it's just not a good idea to limit yourself to one card. Why is that?

Well, what if your credit issuer decides to cut your credit limit in half? You may still have enough available credit to cover your monthly expenses, but the credit limit decrease itself could have a serious negative effect on your credit scores.

Updated by Joshua Heckathorn on Wed, 2012-02-08 16:00

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