School is behind you and you've been lucky enough to land a decent job, but cutting monthly rent checks is getting old fast. Is it time to bite the bullet and finally buy a place of your own?...
Weekly Money Management Tips
Weekly Money Management Tips
-
Pay Off Student Loans or Save for Down Payment?
Aug 08, 2017
-
How to Avoid Credit Card Tipping Scams
Sep 26, 2016Dishonest restaurant servers know how easy it is to overlook an extra 50 cents on a dinner bill, which is why one of the most common credit card scams involves waiters adding just a little extra tip...
-
Looking for a Loan? Think Small and Local
Jul 15, 2016The "too-big-to-fail" banks have received billions in taxpayer bailouts, yet purse strings often remain tight. Whether you're looking for a new home loan, auto loan, student loan,...
-
Time to Ditch the Debit Card When Shopping Online
Jun 30, 2016There are still way too many consumers out there that use debit cards to shop online. If you're one of them, listen up. It's time to finally ditch the old debit card and make sure you're protecting...
-
Weekly Tip: Use an app to help you manage your finances.
Jul 02, 2014Although it’s easy to swipe your credit card for everything you need, it is important to monitor your spending habits. And what better way to do that then using your smartphone. In the past...
-
Register for Small Business Saturday and Get $25 from Amex
Nov 17, 2011Small Business Saturday 2011 is just one week away, so don't forget to register your American Express card this week! Trust us, you don't want to miss out on this opportunity. After registering, all...
-
Online Holiday Shopping: 5 Tips for Bargain Hunters
Nov 13, 2011Black Friday ignites a sense of unbridled excitement in many holiday shopaholics. For the rest of us, it's cause for nothing more than another good reason to stay close to home, sit by the fire and...
-
Paying Taxes on Credit Card Rewards
Sep 28, 2011Expecting a big check this year from your cash back credit card? We hope so. If you are, you may also be wondering if this is considered income and taxable by the IRS. While it's no secret that...
-
ATM Cards vs. Debit Cards vs. Credit Cards
Aug 22, 2011These 3 types of plastic may look alike, but they have very different uses. For example, ATM cards can generally only be used to withdraw cash from an ATM. Debit cards, on the other hand, double as...
-
Make Good Use of Your Tax Refund
May 19, 2011The average American taxpayer received around a $3,000 check from Uncle Sam this year. If you're still sitting on your cash trying to decide how to spend it, here's what you should do: 1.) Pay...
-
Good Credit Saves Big Money
May 11, 2011Everyone loves finding new ways to save money. Some people obsess over cutting the little things from their daily routine, like lunches out with friends and $4 lattes. And while there's nothing...
-
Get Your Free Federal Tax Receipt
May 05, 2011There's a good chance your largest expense in 2010 was the taxes you paid to Uncle Sam. But do you know exactly where your money went? Probably not. ThirdWay, a think-tank based in Washington D.C...
-
What is a 1099-C?
Apr 11, 2011If you went through a foreclosure, sold your home short, or had credit card debt forgiven in 2010, then you probably received a 1099-C in the mail early this year. Hopefully you didn't ignore it and...
-
Say No to Credit Card Protection Plans
Mar 29, 2011Recent studies show that credit card protection plans, often advertised as a way to guard against unexpected events such as unemployment or illness, are not only expensive but also provide little in...
-
Prepare and e-File Your Tax Return for Free
Feb 15, 2011Tax season is upon us yet again! But before you head out to purchase the latest tax software, did you know that you might be able to get it for free? In fact, if your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)...
-
Take Charge of Your Gift Cards
Jan 09, 2011Do you have a sock drawer full of unused gift cards from the holidays? If so, you're definitely not alone. Some experts believe that consumers leave over $5 billion on gift cards each year. That...
-
Set Your Financial Goals for 2011!
Dec 27, 2010The excitement of Christmas has come and gone, but there's still one week left in 2010. In fact, this is the perfect time to not only reflect upon the previous year, but to also look ahead and set...
-
Check Your Credit Card's Return Protection Policy
Dec 12, 2010Americans love to return things. It's part of our shopping culture. Try buying something in Asia and then returning it a few weeks later because you decided the color just wasn't right. They'll...
-
Make a List and Check it Twice
Dec 06, 2010If you're interested in staying within your holiday shopping budget this year, take some advice from the big guy in the red suit—make a list. And after it's made, check it twice before you hit the...
-
Check Your Credit Card Rewards Bonuses Before Holiday Shopping
Nov 29, 2010The holiday shopping season is in full swing, which means retailers and credit card companies are working overtime to win your business. So what do the retailers have up their sleeves this year?...
-
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Will it Help?
Nov 17, 2010The recent economic crisis highlighted serious problems within financial sectors of nations across the globe. In the US, these problems have hit home particularly hard, leaving American families with...
-
When to Pay Extra on Your Mortgage
Aug 08, 2010Everyone's personal financial plan should include a strategy to pay down existing debt. The big question is which debt should be paid down first? In many households the single largest amount of...
-
Beware of Overdraft Fees in Closed Accounts
Jul 25, 2010Credit card users often choose to autopay their monthly credit card bills from a checking or online savings account . While this is a great way to make sure you never miss an on-time payment, it's...
-
Payroll Withholding: Time for a Mid-Year Assessment
Jul 05, 2010We're halfway through the year, which means this is the perfect time to reassess how much you're withholding from your paycheck each month. Did you get a big tax refund last year? If so, shame on...
-
CD Laddering: How it Works
Apr 18, 2010If you're like many consumers these days, you're spending less and saving more. And while high-yield online savings accounts certainly make a great place to stash your savings, their interest rates...
-
Put Your Tax Refund to Good Use
Mar 07, 2010If you aren't getting a tax refund this year, congrats—you successfully avoided giving the government an interest-free loan. On the other hand, if you happen to be one of the millions...
-
Say No to Instant Tax Refunds
Feb 07, 2010RALs, or refund anticipation loans, won't be as heavily advertised this tax season in an effort to avoid bad press. However, most major tax preparation chains will still be promoting these "instant...
-
Pay the First Bill of 2010 to Yourself
Dec 28, 2009Holiday cards from friends and family probably filled your mailbox in December. Unfortunately, something a lot less enjoyable and amusing to read may take their spot in January—the dreaded post-...
-
Conduct a Year-End Credit Card Inventory
Dec 21, 2009Did 2009 bring some unwanted changes to your credit cards' terms and conditions? If not, consider yourself lucky. Skyrocketing interest rates, reduced credit limits, increased minimum payments,...
-
Do I Qualify for the Homebuyers Tax Credit?
Nov 08, 2009If you didn't qualify before, your chances just got much better. The first-time homebuyers tax credit, which was scheduled to lapse on December 1, will now live on until at least June 30, 2010. And...
-
Give Your Holiday Budget a Boost
Nov 01, 2009If there's any time of year when we could all use a few extra bucks in our budget, it's the holiday season. Let's face it, all those gifts, parties, expensive dinners and extra travel to visit...
-
Beware of POS Overdraft Fees
Oct 25, 2009Many consumers, in an effort to avoid ATM fees, take cash withdrawals during point-of-sale transactions at grocery stores or other retail establishments. While this may be a savvy way to avoid...
-
Online Savings Accounts: Top 3 Questions to Ask When Weighing Your Options
Jul 16, 2009A soaring personal savings rate among American consumers confirms that the era of conspicuous consumption is out and frugality is in. So, where's the best place to stash your newfound cash as you...
-
Auto-pay Credit Cards from Online Savings Accounts
Jul 08, 2009Did you know you can set up automatic payments for many of your credit cards directly from an online savings account? This can be an excellent way to earn the highest interest rate possible on your...
-
moneyStrands Helps Put Your Financial House in Order
May 25, 2009Our personal financial lives can quickly become complex and difficult to track. In fact, if you're like most people, you may already have several online bank accounts, a mortgage, HELOC, savings...
-
Should I Pay My Taxes With Plastic?
Apr 12, 2009Tax week is here again! And in a last-ditch effort to boost future e-payment numbers, the IRS recently announced that some taxpayers will now be allowed to deduct the convenience fees card companies...
-
Avoid Credit Card Late Fees: Pay More Often!
Apr 05, 2009The average credit card late fee hovers around $40, which is triple what it was just a decade ago. And it's not just the 40 bucks that will hurt you each time you miss a payment deadline. Punitive...
-
The Right Time to Buy a Car?
Dec 21, 2008The violent winds of the current economy seem to be stirring up the perfect storm for great deals on a new car. Auto manufacturers and dealers are obviously hurting and under pressure to find a way...
-
Times are Tough, but Basic Rules Remain Unchanged
Oct 04, 2008The economy is hurting and credit markets are in the tank. In fact, it's easy to understand why all the media hype concerning the credit crunch has consumers scared about what the future will hold...
-
How to Save 15-75% on Meals
Jun 26, 2008If your busy life forces you to eat out often, then you should know just how painful it can be on the pocketbook. In fact, eating out is by far the biggest variable expense most families have each...
- 1 of 2
- next ›
Stay Connected
