Weekly Tips

Weekly Tips

Keep your credit cards off public computers

There aren't a ton of us who use public computers; you know, the ones you find at libraries and ... well, libraries. But to some degree even the computer you use at work is a semi-public computer, and odds are it's got a ton of your personal information on it.

Updated by Jason Bushey on Fri, 2013-04-19 08:39

Can I ask my credit card company to lower my interest?

Sometimes it's the most obvious questions that provide the best answers. If you're racking your brain on how to pay down your credit card debt despite high interest, it might have occurred to you to simply ask your credit card company for a lower interest rate.

It's a simple idea; almost too simple, which is why you probably shrugged it off without giving it a second thought.

Updated by Jason Bushey on Thu, 2013-04-11 13:12

What is Chip and PIN technology? (And when does it come in handy?)

You may have heard the term "Chip and PIN" technology before, maybe on our site or elsewhere while skimming the morning news. Odds are, you had no idea what that was, and you may have just overlooked the whole term entirely. We don't blame you, but we are here to help.

Updated by Jason Bushey on Tue, 2013-04-02 16:17

Can a credit card save you $100 on one purchase?

There are credit cards out there - particularly those offering a $100 cash back bonus when you spend $500 within the first three months - that can save you at least $100 on just one purchase. Granted, you generally need good-to-excellent credit to get approved for such a card, but if you can there's an opportunity to put a big dent in the cost of that big-ticket item you've been saving up for.

Updated by Jason Bushey on Thu, 2013-03-21 16:50

ALWAYS put authorization charges on your credit card

Depending on what kind of plastic you use, authorization charges can be either an invisible you charge that's gone before you notice, or an impressive pain that will have you scrambling for a reverse charge.

Updated by Jason Bushey on Wed, 2013-03-13 08:10

Should you sign up for a "theme" credit card?

Theme credit cards are credit cards attached to household brand names and interests that mostly serve a niche audience; Disney, the NFL, Williams-Sonoma, things like that.

Updated by Jason Bushey on Thu, 2013-03-07 09:46

Why prepaid cards are the best kinds of plastic to send your kids on a trip with

Prepaid cards serve multiple purposes, the most important of which include  consolidating your cash and teaching your kids how to use plastic wisely. 

Updated by Jason Bushey on Mon, 2013-02-25 13:55

What to pay down first: your credit card, or your car loan?

Determining which of your debts to pay off first can be tricky. Sure, it might seem like paying off your car loan and finally owning that car, paid-in-full, is the right idea. But the answer really depends on what your interest rates look like.

Updated by Jason Bushey on Fri, 2013-02-15 16:47

Don't ask a potential love interest what their credit score is … not on the first date, anyways

Back in December, the New York Times published an article detailing the sharp rise in interest when it comes to a possible love connection's credit score.

Updated by Jason Bushey on Fri, 2013-02-08 12:45

Checking your own score? Don't worry - it won't hurt your credit

We've touched on this in the past, but a common question we get from our values users is, "Does it hurt my credit when I check my own score?"

The answer is No. And her's why...

Pulling your own score is considered a 'soft pull'; another soft pull occurs when an existing creditor reviews your report. Soft pulls do not hurt your credit score. In fact, they have no effect on your credit score at all. (So they won't help you, either.) 

Updated by Jason Bushey on Thu, 2013-01-31 14:00

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