Weekly Tips

Weekly Tips

Weekly Tip: Preparing Your Credit Card for Holiday Travels

With the holiday break coming up, many people are travelling. Whether you are going overseas for a fun vacation or just returning home for the holidays, there are certain things you should do to get your credit card ready before you leave.

·Call your credit card company ahead of time. If you don’t travel much, don’t use your credit card much, or are going out of the country, make sure to alert your credit card company. If they are unaware and see your card being used in a different location, they may think it is suspicious activity and deactivate your card.

Updated by Alice Bryant on Tue, 2013-12-10 14:48

Weekly Tip: Use credit, not debit, when shopping online

With the holiday season in full swing, shopping is at its peak. But if you’re ordering things on the web, by phone, or mail order, be sure to use a credit card.

Updated by Alice Bryant on Wed, 2013-12-04 10:50

Tips for Smart Shopping on Black Friday

With Black Friday coming up and millions of consumers waiting to shop, here are some tips to help you get the most (and spend the least) in your Black Friday experience.

1. There’s no need to splurge.  Black Friday can bring out the shopaholic in everyone with the great deals and prices.  Coupons and low prices may tempt you into buying things you don’t need.  Why not get that $10 toaster? It’s only $10. But ask yourself if you actually need it.  If you don’t need it, don’t buy it.

Updated by Alice Bryant on Thu, 2013-11-28 14:50

Ignorance isn't Bliss: Why Checking Your Credit Report is a Must

We've all seen the commercials with the hip, lip-syncing bands spitting rhymes about how cool it is to check your credit score. I along with a lot of other people sat there not thinking twice about it. I pay my credit card in full every month, I rent my apartment and my car is paid off. What could possibly be wrong with my credit score?

Updated by Alice Bryant on Thu, 2013-10-03 12:56

Mythbusting: Building your credit with debit

One thing that's prevalent through the minds of plenty, especially in the youth, is that prepaid debit and checking account debit cards are ways to build credit. Well I'm here to tell you to consider that myth busted.

Updated by Alice Bryant on Wed, 2013-09-25 12:44

Weekly Tip: Don't lose those hard-earned rewards points

You worked hard to get good credit, which in turn means you’ve worked hard for that high rewards credit card. You’ve also worked really hard to get those points/miles/cash back that come with your rewards credit card. So why on earth would you let them out of your grasp? Thanks to Jason Steele of Credit.com, here are some tips for keeping a hold of those precious points.

Updated by Alice Bryant on Mon, 2013-09-16 16:58

Weekly Tip: How To Keep From Splurging

Sometimes when you have a problem, the best way to eliminated is to do just that, eliminate it. But if your problem is you use too much of your credit limit every month and have a hard time paying it back, eliminating your credit isn’t the best option.
 
If you ask your bank to lower your credit limit thinking that it will be a good deterrent from going buck wild with that magic free-money card, just take a step back and think about the consequences that action might have on your credit.
 
Updated by Alice Bryant on Fri, 2013-09-06 14:24

Weekly Tip: How to stay financially safe on vacation

With the long Labor Day weekend coming up, here are some tips for keeping your financial information, including credit cards, safe during your travels.
 
1) Take inventory
Just like packing your suitcase, packing your wallet is a strategic step to take on your way to paradise. Here’s a checklist:
Updated by Alice Bryant on Thu, 2013-08-29 12:40

Credit Card Fees and How to Avoid Them

Here's how to avoid credit card fees without too much hassle.

Banks like money, fees make money, banks like fees. That's what makes the world turn, but if you can be vigilant and avoid these fees, you'll need to get a bigger mattress to stuff all this extra cash under. Here's a list of the different ways banks try to drain you dry and different ways to avoid them.

Updated by Jason Bushey on Thu, 2013-08-22 10:47

Keep your old credit cards open

If you’ve recently thought to yourself, “Should I close this old credit card?”, picture this:
 
You slide your hand into your mailbox. It’s cold to the touch, but it’s not the aluminum mail container that’s sending a chill down your spine, it’s your credit card statement.
 
Updated by Alice Bryant on Wed, 2013-08-14 12:48

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