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Sidestepping Overdraft Fees: Five Ways to Avoid Bank Fees
It’s never a pleasant moment: That realization that your checking account is overdrawn and your account is getting hit with multiple $35 overdraft fees. Ultimately, we’re responsible for our own financial missteps – but we all make mistakes. And if you’ve ever felt the sting of a huge overdraft fee for one small error like an overlooked debit card transaction, you know firsthand just how costly those mistakes... -
Finding Your Financial Happy Place: 10 Habits That Will Help
Sometimes we look at getting our finances right as one of those things on our to-do list. It tends to be one of those goals we never quite get to – despite the best of intentions — like organizing the garage or signing up for a class we’ve been meaning to take. But the fact is, achieving financial well-being is more about your lifestyle choices than a one-time... -
Doing Your Taxes? Avoid These Six Common Errors
Are you ready for tax time? Are you sure? Every year, millions of Americans file their tax returns – and millions of them make mistakes ranging from small and inconvenient (misspellings, missing numbers, and so on) to large and costly ones (like improperly entering retirement-related income or even filing late). And while it’s true that convenient options like income tax software have helped make it easier for... -
Credit Card Grace Periods: A Quick Guide
If you’re like most people, you’ve heard of a credit card grace period – but you might not be totally sure about how grace periods work and how they can potentially save you money. That’s why I decided to dedicate this week’s post to the grace period – what it is, how it works, and how you can qualify. First Things First: What is a Grace Period?... -
Busting Debt Myths: Seven Common Misconceptions
Is it possible to “inherit” debt? What happens to your credit score if you pay off a decades-old debt? Are debt collectors obligated to listen when you ask them to stop calling you? Debt is a complicated topic, and there’s a ton of information – and misinformation – out there related to debt, credit, and debt collection practices. But how do you separate the real facts from the half-truths?... -
Six Ways Stores Get You to Overspend
You went to the local big-box retailer to pick up a couple of very specific essentials. It should have been a quick – and relatively inexpensive — trip. Once you got to the store, though, that “quick” trip turned into something else entirely: You got what you came for — but you also bought six bargain-priced DVDs; two industrial-sized bottles of shampoo; and, for reasons you don’t fully...