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Kickstart Your Savings or Debt Repayment Plan with a 30-Day Spending Freeze
Trying to pay down credit card debt? Want to beef up your vacation savings or your emergency fund? A month-long spending freeze is a great way to jumpstart any savings or debt repayment plan. Basically, a one-month “spending freeze” works like this: For one month, you only spend money on things you actually need, such as food, rent or mortgage, and utilities. You cover your basic needs, and... -
Got Debt? Here are Seven Ways to Reduce Your Debt by $100 This Week
Looking for a way to put a serious dent in your credit card debt? It would be nice to wipe that high-interest headache away in one payment – but if you’re carrying a large-ish balance, that may not be possible. That said, there’s no reason to settle for just making the minimum payments, either. With a little creativity, you can start taking good-sized chunks out of your balance –... -
How Peer Pressure Can Wreck Your Finances
When you think “peer pressure,” you probably think of kids: High school students pushing each other to make dumb decisions, or catty junior high cliques making fun of classmates who don’t have the “right” clothing, interests, looks, and so on. The good news is, most of us have matured a bit since high school. As adults, we’re more secure in who we are and what we believe in, and,... -
Five Money-Smart Vacation Tips
Summer is right around the corner – and for many folks, that means that it’s time to start planning a vacation. But remember: Just because you’re taking a holiday from your day-to-day life, you shouldn’t abandon your financial responsibilities. Want to make sure that your finances don’t get away from you during your getaway? Here are five tips to help you preserve your credit score (and your... -
The “Skimming” Scam: Technology, Thieves, and ATM Machines
The “Skimming” Scam: Technology, Thieves, and ATM Machines Imagine this: Right now, there’s a band of tech-savvy crooks prowling the city, outfitting ATM machines (and, in some cases, gas station pumps, and retail point-of-sale readers) with sophisticated gadgets designed to steal debit card numbers, PINs, and – of course – your money. These guys are highly organized, and they’re armed with nearly undetectable spy cameras, Bluetooth devices, and fake... -
Five Fantastic Apps for Managing Your Money
Staying on top of your finances doesn’t have to be difficult in the digital age. There are a variety of apps people with smart phones and tablet computers can use to help with debt consolidation, reporting expenses, paying bills, and more. If you’re ready to change the way you manage your money, consider downloading a few of these apps. Mint Keeping track of all of your money... -
Putting Your Bills on Autopilot: The Pros and Cons
With the click of a single button, you can ensure that all of your bills are paid on time. You don’t have to keep track of paper bills. You don’t need stamps. You don’t have to worry about your check getting lost in the mail. You never have to wonder if your payment will reach its destination on time. Sounds pretty great, right? Well, it is. Sort of. Autopay... -
Credit, Debt, and Taxes: What You Should Know
The official IRS deadline is nearly here (it’s April 15 – unless you’re planning to file for an extension), but it’s never too late to talk about some of the ways that income taxes can affect your life – and your credit. For example, did you know that certain types of credit card rewards are considered taxable income? Or that paying your taxes late can hurt your credit... -
Compound Interest: Making Money (or Debt) Grow
You’ve probably heard the term “compound interest” before. But is it good, or bad? Do you want it, or should you steer clear? Well, that depends on whether you’ve got compound interest working for you, or against you. Wealthy investors all over the world have long known how to make compound interest their friend. But your credit company also knows the secret. And if you’re carrying a lot... -
Get Ready for Income Taxes – Here’s How
Still waiting to file your 2012 income taxes? The deadline to file is April 15, so you’ve got time – but not much. Sure, there are probably lots of things you’d rather do than sit down with a year’s worth of paperwork – but if you do a little prep work beforehand, you can take a lot of the stress out of the process. Want to ensure a...