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Now that economy is picking up a bit and consumers are a little more comfortable with credit again, many credit card issuers are stepping up their signing bonus offers. Forget about getting a signing bonus worth $50. Some credit card issuers offer bonuses worth up to $250 or more. Credit card issuers are ready to …
Many consumers like the idea of using CDs for their assets. Cash is seen as fairly safe, and if you make sure your money meets the requirements for FDIC insurance, you don’t have to worry about losing your money if the bank fails. However, before you decide to put your money in CDs, here are …
The whole point of any job search is to get a job — especially if you are unemployed or underemployed. With the current job market in the United States still slow and depressing, it makes sense to do what you can to make the most of your employment situation, and if you are offered a …
Now that another tax season has come to an end, it’s a good time to take stock of your situation, and consider what you might do to improve your situation going forward. One of the best ways to do this is to plan your quarterly tax payments. Year round tax planning can save you money, …
It seems pretty obvious: If you’re spending money, you aren’t actually saving anything. However, we hear talk, all the time, of how someone “saved money” by getting a great deal on something. Even though it seems like saving is happening in this case, the reality is that it’s actually spending. It’s just spending less. While it …
Study after study indicates that many Americans aren’t ready for retirement. Many Americans wonder if they will be able to retire comfortably, and they aren’t sure where to start when it comes to saving what they need. You don’t have to be one of those without a clue. You can figure out how much you …
There are those who do well investing with large amounts of money when they see what they think will be a good deal. However, for most of us, that isn’t the best approach. Most of us have smaller amounts of money to start, and we can’t afford to lose out on an investment that requires …
One of the biggest controversies in recent years is the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, which is commonly referred to as Obamacare. The ACA requires that everyone — with a few exceptions — get insurance coverage. Those who have Medicaid or Medicare coverage, or who are covered already through other plans, don’t need to …
As counter-intuitive as it might seem, your credit card issuers might actually be able to help you pay off your debt faster. One of the tools you can use as you create a debt reduction plan is your credit card statement. Each month, your credit card issuer provides you with helpful insight into how you …
Keeping up with your credit report is an important part of making sure that your finances are in proper order. However, the cost of looking at your credit report all the time can start to add up. The good news is that you can access some of the information in your credit report for free. …
One of the ways that you can rebuild your credit is with a secured credit card. Using a secured credit card can help you establish a better financial reputation if you have made a few mistakes, or even if you don’t have enough of a credit history for an unsecured credit card. However, secured credit …
My son is 11 years old, and he’s had a savings account since he was five or so. As he grows, though, I’ve started thinking about the fact that he should probably have a checking account fairly soon. I was 12 or 13 when my mom opened a joint checking account with me, and the …
We hear a lot about high-yield CDs, and trying to beat inflation in our current interest-rate climate. One of the difficulties associated with high-yield CDs is that they aren’t exactly “high-yield” in the way they were prior to the financial crisis and recession. In fact, many of us who had CDs paying in excess of …
When it comes to your career, one of the best ways to improve your prospects is through networking. The things you do now can improve your career for years to come. Networking is one of those career-making moves that should be a part of your career strategy — no matter what stage you think you’re …
Starting this year, there is a new home office tax deduction rule that can be applied. This is a new tax deduction rule that some home business owners might find easier to use than keeping track of everything that has to do with your home office. What is the New Rule? Basically, the new office …
One of the best things you can do for your savings plan is to automate it. Too often, we view savings contributions as “optional” in our finances. We spend on everything else, and if there is something “left over”, we decide to go ahead and put money in the savings account. Unfortunately, this strategy of …
Not too long ago, an acquaintance came to me, wondering how he could set aside money for a short period of time and still potentially earn a decent return. He mused about the idea of using a Roth IRA for the money, since it’s possible to withdraw your contributions anytime without penalty. I also spoke …
Investing is an important part of building wealth for the future. It’s one of the best ways to consistency grow your retirement funds or find other ways to reach financial freedom. However, it’s sometimes tricky to make the right decisions with your investments. One of the most important things you should understand when it comes …