Make one of your New Year’s Resolutions this year to make 2014 your best financial year ever. And to help you accomplish that, Kimberly Palmer has put together this article listing 25 ways to improve your finances in the New Year. It starts by having the right attitude about money and setting your financial roadmap… Read More
When to Buy Insurance (as reported by Kevin on 20smoney.com)
The best laid plans don’t guarantee financial success. That’s because life is unpredictable. But you can be prepared for the unexpected if you buy the right kind of insurance. Everyone should look into the following types of insurance, depending on where they are in life: Life Insurance, Travel Insurance, Renters Insurance, Health Insurance, Car Insurance,… Read More
The Rise in Workplace Loans (as reported by Andrew Johnson on finance.yahoo.com)
Over the last couple of years, while the big banks are tightening up their standards, a new type of loan has gained popularity. These loans are commonly referred to as workplace loans, and they allow employees to borrow up to $500, with most choosing to pay it back directly from their paycheck. The workplace loan… Read More
Emergency Funds (as reported by Miranda Marquit on moolanomy.com)
Emergency funds are exactly what they sound like, money that you have saved in case of an emergency. Such an emergency might present itself in the form of a job loss or an illness, but no matter what happens your emergency fund is what you’ll rely on when there is no more money coming in…. Read More
Retirement Calculation Question Marks (as reported by Mandi Woodruff on finance.yahoo.com)
A recent study by Morningstar Investment Research suggests that many Americans may be targeting a number that is too high when planning for retirement. That’s because some of the common assumptions that retirement calculators use don’t necessarily match the reality of retirement. For example, when calculating how much money someone needs to retire, financial planners… Read More
Never Miss a Payment (as reported by John Ulzheimer on mint.com)
One of the many myths about credit scores, and a dangerous one, is that missing just one payment won’t hurt you. When you miss a payment deadline, even for the first time, you risk a lower credit score. The best thing you can do is never miss a payment. But when that is not possible,… Read More
College Credit Tips (as reported by AJ Smith on finance.yahoo.com)
The old cliché practice makes perfect applies to healthy personal financial habits. And building credit, as well as understanding it, is no exception. College presents a great time for young adults and teens to start working towards a working knowledge of credit cards and the right ways to use them. AJ Smith, in this article,… Read More
Simple Savings Tips (as reported by Vincent King on moneyning.com)
Are you spending money on things you don’t need to? Even you answered no; you may want to double check. We all spend money on things without even knowing we’re doing it. Vincent King, on his post for Moneyning.com, calls these our personal finance leaks. And at the top of his list is that outdated… Read More
Beware of Retail Cards (as reported by Blake Ellis on money.cnn.com)
Many retailers offer their own credit cards for frequent shoppers, but often times these cards are not all they seem to be. Many of them offer an introductory period during which you don’t get charged interest. This is to entice you to sign up and use them but after that introductory period is over, they… Read More
Microcredit helping to ease poverty in American cities (as reported by Shaila Dewan with the New York Times)
The concept of microlending is an idea that many of us have only a passing knowledge of. Perhaps you or someone you know has established an account with an organization like Kiva to lend funds to aspiring entrepreneurs in a developing country. These days micro lending is no longer focused on just the developing world…. Read More