All posts by Michael Peterson

I Just Got My First Credit Card… Now What?

So, you recently got your first credit card. Sure, you read the fine print before signing up, but you probably still have questions about how to successfully navigate this brave new world. And there are likely a few gray areas your lender didn’t fully disclose. Here, we’ll investigate just a few of the potential surprises, so you can avoid making financial missteps with your new credit card. The minimum...

Top 3 Benefits to Frugality

Okay, it’s time to get real: Statistics show that most of us are WAY overspending. We’re either not saving enough to maintain a sufficient emergency fund or – even worse – spending more than we earn. In fact, the average American household spends 90% of its income.  At the same time, wages across most sectors are pretty stagnant. Pay fell during the Great Recession of 2008, and most of...

Keeping Your Credit Card Info Updated

When you’re moving, there are lots of, well, moving pieces. It’s a hectic time, to be sure: You need to make sure your utilities are switched over, your locks are changed, your kids’ new school registrations are complete, and your plants are surviving in their new habitat. But one of the most important pieces in this puzzle is to maintain connection with your credit card issuers. This is very...

5 Reasons to Say NO to Credit Cards

Credit cards are a great option when you don’t want to carry cash. They enable online purchases. They are abundantly available. And they offer convenience, protection, and rewards that make them handy tools in your financial arsenal. They work well when you manage them smartly by paying off your balances every month. On the flip side of the coin, credit cards can be financially devastating if you don’t consider...

4 Quick Tips to Build Up Your Emergency Fund

How’s your emergency fund? If you answered, “Very robust,” good for you. You likely have a secure financial footing, so continue what you’re doing. But if the words “your emergency fund” give you a deer-in-the-headlights pause, take heed! Financial experts agree that you should have enough savings set aside to cover several months’ worth of regular living expenses. This cushion will prove invaluable if you encounter the unexpected road...

FAQs About Debt Management Plans

A debt management plan (DMP) is an agreement between a debtor (that’s you, the person in debt) and a creditor (think: your bank or your credit card company) that tackles your outstanding debt. In a nutshell, a DMP groups your outstanding unsecured debts (like your credit cards and medical bills) into one payment and creates an affordable four- to six-year repayment plan. A debt manager will work with your...

7 Lifestyle Hacks That Save Money

What does it mean to save money? We all understand the concept: Squirrel away more than you shell out. But fewer of us understand how to do this successfully. When debts are mounting up or your job isn’t paying you what you deserve, it’s easy to fall into the mindset of living paycheck to paycheck – which means there’s no wiggle room for saving. But this doesn’t have to...

The Differences Between Debit Cards and Credit Cards

Every time you make a purchase using plastic, whether at the grocery store, retail outlet, or a gas pump, you are most likely prompted to choose whether you are using a debit or a credit card. Other than the fact that one requires a PIN (your four- to six-digit personal identification number) and the other often requires a signature, you may wonder if it even matters which one you...

Fast and Effective Ways to Pay Down Debt

Are you heavy in debt and need to get out from under the burden? Is debt limiting your options in life and you need a way out? Debt has a way of creeping up on all of us, especially when we least expect it. If this has happened to you, and you know it’s time to make a change, these are some simple strategies that can help you make...

How the 50/30/20 Rule Can Keep You on Budget

Ever heard of the “50/30/20 rule?”  This type of spending plan has been around a while, although maybe you’re not familiar with it. But if you find most financial management plans too complex to be helpful, the simple budgeting strategy within the 50/30/20 could be the key that finally unlocks your ability to get on top – and stay on top – of your financial goals. What Is the...