-
Best Apps and Websites for Budgeting and Saving
It’s easy to spend money online – too easy, really. It’s near-impossible to surf the web without being bombarded by advertisements and sales emails targeted to your exact preferences and interests. With a few clicks, you can find yourself spending money you don’t have on things you don’t really need. But that’s only part of the story. When it comes to your finances, there’s more to the Internet than... -
Building Great Credit? 7 is the Magic Number
Here’s something that might surprise you: While it’s absolutely true that responsible credit use is a must for establishing a good credit score and a strong credit history, time is also a factor. Simply having a few years of established credit is a step in the right direction. Sometimes, the key to a higher score is simply waiting a few years. So if you’re working on building great credit,... -
A Quick Guide to Dealing With Debt Collectors
Debt is stressful, but falling behind on loan or credit card payments can open the doors to an entirely new level of stress – and a near-endless stream of calls from debt collectors. You’ve probably heard a story or two about debt collectors using scare tactics and less-than-legal tactics to contact people and collect past due debts. And, unfortunately, these tactics often work because folks are scared and unsure... -
Friending and Spending Social Media and Money
There’s more to social sharing sites than witty status updates, silly memes, and cat photos. Social media can influence our behavior in all kinds of ways, including our spending habits. This makes sense, if you think about it: There’s the friend whose Instagram feed is an endless stream of perfectly filtered shots of gourmet meals. And the cousin whose Facebook feed seems to be completely composed of pricy home... -
Purchases you should NEVER Make with Your Credit Card
I’ve written several blogs about how to use credit cards the right way – paying off your balance in full; not applying for too many accounts; not treating credit cards like an emergency fund or a source of supplementary income. But credit card use isn’t just about behavior and spending habits. It’s also about knowing what you should and (perhaps more importantly) shouldn’t buy with a credit card. Part... -
Curb Impulse Buying to Stop Overspending
If you want to save more money, pay down debt, and become all-around more financially responsible, all you have to do is stop spending money on stuff you don’t need. Sure, that sounds easy. Just stop spending. End of story. But if changing your spending behavior were as simple as flipping a switch, there wouldn’t be people out there struggling with budget problems and credit card debt. Nobody would... -
6 Surprising Things That Can Affect Your Credit Score
Six Surprising Things That Can Affect Your Credit Score Ask most people what kinds of things can bring down your credit score, and you’ll likely hear the expected responses: Paying your credit card bills late. Maxing out your credit lines. Having a high debt-to-income ratio. Opening too many credit cards. Closing a credit card once you pay it off. You don’t have to have an extensive background in credit... -
You Asked, We Answered: Credit Card FAQs
What’s the deal with “soft” vs. “hard” inquiries? How does a secured card work? How many credit cards is too many? As someone who has made a career out helping people with debt and credit card problems, I answer a lot of questions, and with good reason. Credit cards are complicated, and there’s a lot of information – and misinformation – out there, and it’s not always easy to... -
7 Tactics for a Financially Sound Year
It’s official: The New Year is here. What better time to give your finances a fresh start? Maybe you’d like to make this year the year you pay off that high-interest credit card debt or the year that you finally buy a home or bulk up your emergency fund. Maybe you’d just like create a better budget or get your finances a little more organized. Whatever your goal, you... -
5 Not-So-Rewarding Credit Card Rewards
Five Not-So-Rewarding Credit Card “Rewards” Have you shopped around for a credit card recently? If you have, you probably noticed that there’s a mind-boggling selection of cards out there, each offering a unique combination of terms, interest rates, and – of course – extra perks. Credit card companies know you’ve got tons of options to choose from – especially if you’ve got a solid credit history and a decent...