Debit Cards

Life Without Credit Cards: The Pros and Cons

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, it’s hard to imagine life without credit cards. Used responsibly, credit cards can help us build strong financial foundations and give us easier access to homes, transportation, job opportunities, and more. But used irresponsibly, credit cards can do damage that can take years – even decades – to reverse. For most people, the benefits of credit cards outweigh the potential drawbacks, and most of...

Holiday Scams and How to Avoid Them

The holidays are a time filled with fun, friends, and family gatherings. A time for shopping and gift exchanges. A time of joy, cheer, good food, and new beginnings. Unfortunately, they are also a time when scammers, thieves, and fraudsters come out of the woodwork in search of ways to steal your gifts, hard-earned money, or personal information. The good news, though, is that with a little awareness and...

Five 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...

Not-So-Frugal Mistakes that Frugal People Make

Not-So-Frugal Mistakes that Frugal People Make A new year is just around the corner, and for a lot of folks that means a fresh start on finances: A chance to pay down credit card debt, save money, and create a budget. And if you’re planning on making 2016 the year of living frugally it’s important to make sure that your attempts to save money and scale back spending don’t...

Credit Card Theft- What to do if it Happens to You

I’ve posted quite a few articles about preventive credit card security – how to guard against hacking and skimming; how to keep your credit card information safe during the holidays, and how to protect your online identity with solid passwords. But what happens if, despite your best efforts, your credit card information falls into the wrong hands?  What if your wallet is stolen?  What if there’s a security breach...

Careful With That PIN: Five Ways Debit Cards can Deflate Your Bank Account

It’s happened to most debit card users at least once:  You use your card for something little and stupid, like coffee – something that, if you’d really felt like it, you could have paid for with the quarters you scrounged from your car’s ashtray. But you don’t have time to go digging for cash.  You swipe your card, enter your PIN, and you’re done. Simple, right?  And convenient. And...