What is Your Biggest ‘Savings Win’ So Far This Year?
With the fall season in full swing, it’s only natural to take a closer look at our financial goals for this year. There are only a few short months left, after all, and those months include the busy –...
View ArticleHow Do You Calculate Credit Card Interest?
Paying interest on your credit card balance is painful enough. Figuring out how to calculate credit card interest? That’s almost as bad! The entire process is rife with complexity — and not always set...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Guaranteed Getaway: Credit Cards That Offer a Free Hotel Stay Each Year
While hotel points can go a long ways toward helping you achieve a heavily discounted trip, a free night’s stay can only sweeten the deal. Fortunately, a handful of hotel credit cards offer just that –...
View ArticleApplying for a Credit Limit Increase: What You Should Know
When a credit card issuer extends you a line of credit, they usually place a limit on the amount of money you can borrow at once. Called a “credit limit,” this numeric figure represents the total...
View ArticleHow Much Could You Save for the Holidays if You Started Right Now?
It’s mid-October, which means it’s too early to break out the Christmas lights and holiday streamers. We’ve still got Halloween to get through, right? And after our candy comas wear off, Thanksgiving...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Disney Savings Account: Is There a Better Way to Save for Your Dream...
While there’s no denying that Disney vacations are expensive, there are plenty of ways to save money on your trip. Stay in an off-site condo instead of a hotel, for example, and you can make your own...
View ArticleCan You Buy a Car with a Credit Card?
When you’re in the market for a new or used car, it’s smart to shop around. Beyond searching for the best price on the right car for your needs, however, you should also shop around for financing....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Addicted to Spending? Here’s How to Become a ‘Recovering Spender’
Imagine waking up every day with an insatiable urge to shop. The second you get a chance, you check the racks and sales, desperate for the perfect gift, the perfect blouse, or anything to make your...
View ArticleHow Do Credit Card Balance Transfer Checks Work?
If you have an unsecured credit card of any kind, you’ve probably received those nifty balance transfer checks in the mail. From a distance, these checks appear harmless, and even helpful. Just write a...
View Article401k Contribution Limits for 2016
If you work for a traditional employer, there’s a good chance you’re saving for retirement in a 401k (or some variant, such as a 403b for employees of nonprofit organizations). While this type of...
View ArticleHow to Stay Motivated When You’re Already Debt-Free
When my husband and I finally fought our way to debt freedom, it was a huge relief. Where we once had a ton of bills to pay and keep track of, we were finally down to living expenses only – things like...
View ArticleThe Dead Minivan Experiment: How We’re Trying to Become a One-Car Family
A few weeks ago, my 2007 periwinkle blue minivan lay unworkable in the driveway. With jumper cables in hand, my husband tried to bring her back, but to no avail. Most people would probably be upset if...
View ArticleWhy You Should Get Pre-Approved for a Car Loan Before You Head to the Dealership
Heading to the car dealership just to look around isn’t a bad idea if you need a new car, right? Just because you look doesn’t mean you have to buy, right? Well, if you’re not concerned with price or...
View ArticleThoughts on Layaway and Last-Minute Holiday Shopping
As a child growing up in the 80s, I still remember the layaway counter at our local Walmart. Tucked in the back of the store, the desk was often hidden by a huge line of shoppers with carts full of...
View ArticleWhy We Pay Our Credit Card Bills More than Once Per Month
Since writing about credit cards is a big component of my work, I’ve had nearly every rewards credit card at some point in my life. At any given time, my husband and I will have 20 or more credit cards...
View ArticleHow to Choose a Credit Card in Four Steps
Finding the best credit card for your wallet isn’t always easy. Not only should you consider what you want in a card, you also have to think about what your credit needs. Here’s what I mean: Certain...
View ArticleHatchimals, ‘Unicorns,’ and Other Scarcity Marketing Tactics to Avoid
Just last week, I had a conversation about leggings that blew my mind. After receiving an invite to an online LuLaRoe party, I asked the host how the whole thing worked. She said I just needed to join...
View ArticleThe Food Freeze: How We Avoided the Grocery Store for More Than Two Weeks
A few months ago, I peeked in our pantry and freezer to take stock of what we had before hitting the store. What I found shocked me. I don’t know when or why it happened, but both spots were bulging at...
View ArticleWhy I’m Not Buying My Husband a Christmas Present This Year
Now that the holiday shopping season is wrapping up, I’m happy to report I’m finally done. Done trying to come with up practical gifts my kids will like. Done with the impossible quest to find a gift...
View ArticleFive Signs You Shouldn’t Use a Credit Card
Despite the bad rap they’ve gotten over the years, credit cards really do offer benefits you can’t get with other forms of payment. While most come with zero fraud liability, others come with...
View Article