After a brutal winter, many of us are ready to embrace spring with open arms. The arrival of spring also signals seasonal cleaning duties. However, before you break out the flip flops don’t forget to include your personal finances in your spring cleaning “to do” list. Spring is the perfect time to tackle financial clutter–from… Read More
8 Things to Consider When Choosing a Checking Account (As reported by AJ Smith of credit.com)
Most people need a checking account to help manage their finances. They help you pay bills, provide a place to store your cash and keep your paycheck safe. Since they are so common, there are a dizzying number of options to choose from. It may seem confusing or intimidating, but it’s important to consider your… Read More
7 Signs You’re Living Beyond Your Means (As reported by Stephanie Taylor Christensen of mint.com)
Need some motivation to start saving? Sit down and add up how much money you make each month. Then, multiply that amount by six. Assuming you have a stable job, that’s the minimum balance you should have stashed away in an interest bearing, according to Henk Pieters, president of Investus Financial Planning. He believes people… Read More
How to Create a Budget for 2015 (As reported by Jack Ryder of simplethriftyliving.com)
Having difficulties sticking to your budget this year? It might be time to consider a new approach. Monthly and weekly budgets are helpful, but don’t take into account the many changes in expenses and income that occur during the year. After all, most usually think of their salary as an annual figure. By considering your… Read More
10 Best Ways to Save For Retirement (As reported on simplethriftyliving.com)
Retirement is something we should all be planning for. If we live long enough, we’ll all get to the point where we’ll be ready to stop working and start settling into a more relaxed life. However these days, it’s becoming more and more difficult to depend on pensions and Social Security to help you sustain… Read More
6 Reasons You Can Be Rejected With An Excellent Credit Score (As reported by Nick Clements of forbes.com)
These days, credit scores are everywhere. Many banks now print credit scores on your monthly credit card statement, and companies and online sites like CreditKarma.com give credit scores for free. Americans increasingly understand how their score is calculated and how to improve it. However, just because you have a good credit score doesn’t mean you… Read More
Top 10 Reasons People Go Bankrupt (As reported on huffingtonpost.com)
In today’s economic climate, personal bankruptcy has escalated at an alarming rate. According to U.S. bankruptcy statistics, more than 1.5 million people file for bankruptcy every year. Most significantly, nearly 97 percent of bankruptcy filings are made by individuals, not by businesses. While bankruptcy can provide a sensible debt solution for some people, others have… Read More
Student Loan Default Rates (as reported by Libby Nelson on www.vox.com)
Libby Nelson, reporting for Vox, brings us an intriguing look at student debt. It turns out that there is a strange bit of data that shows quite clearly that students with less debt are more likely to default than students with more debt. The total outstanding debt a student has at the time they leave… Read More
Paycheck Explanation (as reported by Mandi Woodruff on finance.yahoo.com)
Getting a pay check feels good. But have you ever taken the time to read through every detail on there and really understand what it all means? It can be difficult if you don’t know what you’re looking at. This article from Yahoo Finance tries to help. It details every line item you’re likely to… Read More
5 Ways You Can Start Being Frugal — Pronto! (as reported by Brandhyze Stanley of huffingtonpost.com)
Ever find yourself thinking, “If only I made more money, all my financial woes would be over”? Well, you are totally not alone in feeling that way — not even close. But along with that realization comes another somewhat harsh one: The truth is, if you were to continue your same spending habits past today,… Read More