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Expecting a Tax Refund? Here are Six Smart Ways to Spend it
What would you do if you had a million dollars? Or if you won the lottery? Or if — in a twist of fate straight out of a Dickens novel — you inherited a small fortune courtesy of a wealthy, long-lost relative or anonymous benefactor? Okay, so the likelihood of a multimillion-dollar inheritance or a winning lottery ticket is pretty slim – but it’s fun to think about. ... -
Breaking Bad Habits: Five Money Behaviors to Change
Let’s face it. We all have a few habits we’d like to break. Some people spend way too much time glued to their smartphones. Others bite their fingernails or eat too much junk food. And still others watch more TV or play more video games than they probably should. These are typical things that we think of when we hear people talk about “bad habits.” But what about... -
Got Debt? Seven Repayment Strategies
Few things in life can be as stressful as living with credit card debt. High-interest debt can make it difficult to do things you want to do, like build up retirement savings or an emergency fund; take vacations; or even buy a house. If you’ve ever tried to pay down a large credit card balance, you know that it’s not easy. But it’s also not impossible. Want to... -
Want to Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck? Seven Ways to Break the Cycle
Living paycheck to paycheck is the opposite of secure. You never know when an unexpected expense will tap into the money you intended to use for rent, groceries, or bills. You want to save, but no matter how hard you try, there’s never any extra money to save for emergencies, debt repayment, or even that family vacation you’d like to take. Even positive events, like anniversaries or birthday celebrations,... -
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...