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Credit Cards: Are You Using or Abusing Them?
There’s no denying that credit cards are super-convenient: With a single swipe, you can pay for everything from a tank of gas to your morning coffee. You can use them to pay bills and earn reward points. And when you use them responsibly, they can help you boost your credit score. In other words, when it comes to easy payments, it’s really hard to beat a credit card. Unless,... -
Break Free From Your Money Rut
Stuck in a Money Rut? Here’s How to Break Free Ever feel like your money is just sort of . . . going nowhere? It’s a feeling that can creep in when nothing’s really off track, finance-wise, but at the same time, you’re not really making progress toward any significant goals. You’re not saving or paying down debt. Your budget needs some adjustment. You know you could probably be... -
7 Rules for Safe, Secure Mobile Banking
7 Rules for Safe, Secure Mobile Banking If you have a smartphone, chances are good that you use a mobile app to do some of your banking – and with good reason. Mobile banking makes it super-easy to stay on top of your finances from anywhere, and at any time. But when you take your finances mobile, it’s important to make sure that you aren’t sacrificing security for the... -
Financial Spring Cleaning
Get Organized with a Financial Spring Cleaning If you’re like me, you probably associate spring with the traditional “spring cleaning.” As the weather warms up, it just seems to make sense to open the windows, let in the fresh air, and spend a day or two tidying up and getting organized. But why limit spring cleaning to your home? I think spring is the perfect time to take a... -
What to do When Your APR Goes Up
I’ve written a great deal about credit cards over the years, from credit card security to disputing charges to what to look for in a credit card. I recently realized, though, that I haven’t said much about APRs (Annual Percentage Rates = interest rates) and what you can do when they go up. And chances are, at some point your APR will go up. Fortunately, though, credit card companies... -
How To Improve Your Finances in Just 20 Days
Looking for a way to get your finances in order? Want to set some goals, revisit your budget, or lower your monthly bills? Who doesn’t? Most of us want to save more, spend less, and build financial security – but things like budgeting and shopping for better interest rates can take time. But if you just take things day by day, a step at a time, it’s not so... -
Building a Better Online Banking Password
Building a Better Online Banking Password Most of my readers know that I’m a pretty big fan of technology, especially where money is concerned. Online and mobile banking options make it easier than ever to save money, pay bills, and track your spending habits. Of course, this doesn’t mean that online banking is perfect: While it provides a super-convenient way to manage your finances, it also creates new opportunities... -
Protect Your Money from Hackers, Dumpster Divers, and Skimmers
If you’ve watched the news lately, you probably know that Home Depot is currently investigating a potential security breach that could leave an unknown number of customers at risk for credit card fraud. Last year, just before the Christmas holiday, Target made headlines after some 40 million of its customers’ credit card numbers were stolen by hackers. Around the same time, a variety of other retailers – including Neiman... -
Five Must-Know Personal Finance Basics
You probably have distinct memories of learning to drive a car. Maybe you learned from your parents or an older sibling. Or maybe you took a driver’s ed class at your high school or community center. However you learned, chances are pretty good that someone showed you the ropes and made you practice – a lot – before handing you the keys to the family automobile. This isn’t... -
Expect To Change Your Approach to Finances As You Age
For most people, the exercise and nutrition habits that work best for them in their 20s can change during middle age and again during the retirement years. This pattern holds true for personal finances, too. The things we should be doing in our 20s to stay financially healthy aren’t necessarily the same later in life. With that idea in mind, I’ve listed a few guidelines — an age-appropriate do-to...