Self-Help Articles

When you don’t make a lot of money, credit card spending can quickly turn into a never-ending — and costly — cycle: You don’t have money, so you have to use your credit card to cover gaps between paychecks or unexpected expenses. As a result, your balance goes up, with interest. Of course, because you […]

How to plan for large, unpredictable expenses: Large expenses can be difficult to manage, and it’s all too easy to simply rely on credit cards to get you through tough times. But with a little planning, you can ensure that you don’t throw your finances (and your credit score) for a complete loop if you

Your bank can be a valuable tool to help you track your budget, pay your bills on time, and save money. But if you’re making any of these common banking mistakes, your bank can also be a source of frustration. We’ve rounded up a list of the most common missteps people make with their bank

If you’re struggling with high-interest credit card debt, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Debt is stressful. And once you’ve been in debt long enough, it can be hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The good news is, while you can’t simply wish your debt away, there are things you can

Tips for better grocery shopping: You went to the grocery store to pick up milk, eggs, and bread. You spent $50 and came home with four bags of random impulse purchases. You still don’t know what to make for dinner. When it comes to spending, food can be a tricky category: On one hand, everyone

When was the last time you shopped around for a checking account? When you opened your checking account, did you compare several options? Or did you simply open an account based on some kind of “convenience factor” (such as a bank that was closest to home or work, or a bank where you currently have

Money is one of the top issues that can cause friction in a relationship: Conflicts over spending, saving, and goal-setting can be major stumbling blocks to a happy, healthy romance. And things can get even hairier when your credit scores are wildly different: When one partner has bad credit (or no credit at all), it

When you’re swimming in several different lines of credit and multiple monthly payments, you may find yourself on the brink of drowning or, at the very least, gasping for air each month until your next payday comes round. I get it. Many of us find ourselves in this situation. Lingering student loans. Two or three

Savvy financial operators utilize a variety of tools to ensure their money is being spent responsibly. One tactic is monthly money monitoring, and there are several ways to do it. But before we delve into the details, let’s talk about why monitoring or tracking your spending for a month might be an eye-opening and, ultimately,

Finances might not make a marriage, but they sure can break one. Consider this: According to the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysis, 22 percent of all divorces are a result of money issues, making it among the top three reasons people cite as their reason to split. What’s more, when talking to married couples about

When it comes to financial services such as savings accounts, personal loans, checking accounts, money market accounts, certificates of deposits and more, all your needs can be met using a credit union or a bank, or both. But how do you choose? To figure it out, it’s important to understand the differences between the two

You might be asking yourself, Is there really a list of the best things to buy to build credit… The answer is a definite YES. Have you checked your credit score lately? Is it a little low for your liking? Are you trying to build a solid credit history after years of going cash-only? There

If you’re facing a mountain of debt, you might welcome an avalanche to bring it all down. You’ve likely heard of the “Snowball Method” of debt repayment — but have you heard about the “Avalanche Method”? Here’s how the avalanche method works: You start by listing all your debts, including what you owe and the

$40 can feed you all week. Here’s How: When you think of $40 budget items, what does your mind usually turn to? A tank of gas? Perhaps, your monthly haircut? Maybe $40 means your weekly entertainment allotment, such as a dinner out or a night at the movies. All these options are fine, but what

For better or worse, your credit score can have a wide-ranging impact on many aspects of your life, even those not obviously related to credit, such as your cable or cell phone bills. Many of our past articles have discussed how to raise your credit score, which ensures that you can secure loans at the

Thinking of a Payday Loan? Don’t! If you’re a regular reader of this blog, and I sincerely hope you are, you’ll know I’ve talked often about avoiding high-interest rates at all costs, be it when considering a new credit card, a personal loan or a mortgage, and taking steps to ensure you get the best

In honor of the new year, let’s talk about easy ways to revamp your monthly budget by lowering some of your regular expenses. Truth be told, it’s always a good time to reevaluate how much money is going out versus how much is coming in, but I figure I’d capitalize on the fact that some

When it comes to putting your finances in place, creating and sticking to a budget is pretty basic advice, and for good reason. A budget can help you track and manage your spending, create an emergency fund, swiftly pay off debt or reach your savings goals all while making sure your regular, monthly expenses are

In this day and age, we’re all vulnerable to internet hackers finding a way to access our private, personal information. We’ve all heard the various media reports of big-name companies and even governmental entities’ computer systems being breached, and when it comes to personal finances, Equifax, a consumer credit reporting agency, is one of the

Fun Facts and weird things about your cash. Let’s face it, thinking about money, or in particular the lack thereof, can be a source of stress for many folks, especially around the holidays. But as it happens, there’s much more to money than its ability to invoke panic as it pertains to your finances. In

Your smartphone can do a lot of amazing things: With the touch of a few buttons, you can create the ultimate workout playlist, talk and text with friends and family across the country (or the world), play games, take photos, and binge-watch the latest episodes of your favorite TV shows. But did you know that

When strolling your favorite clothing store, perusing the lunch menu at your regular haunt or scanning the sale items during your weekly grocery shopping trip, you may notice screaming advertisements promising massive savings and super specials all aimed at saving you money. As in so many instances in life, this is a time for discernment.

When your finances are in a slump, your mood can act as a mirror, leaving you feeling down about your prospects of fun – and often costly – weekend plans and even anxious about future financial obligations. Obviously this is a problem, not only because you may be looking at an empty or near-empty saving

For many folks, a mantra of “No regrets” is a way of proclaiming they’re living their life to the fullest, free from worry, no matter the consequences. While this might be an effective way to navigate some aspects of life, it’s not necessarily the best tactic when it comes to your financial health. In fact,

As much as Americans love to use credit cards – we have nearly $1 trillion in credit card debt to prove it – you’d think more of us would be well versed in the myriad of fees that often pop up on our monthly statements. But alas, many of us might find ourselves surprised at

Even when you’ve got a carefully planned budget in place, life happens. All it takes is one unexpected expense – say, a home or car repair; a random impulse purchase; emergency dental work; you name it – to knock your finances off course. Blowing your budget is frustrating, to be sure. But it doesn’t have

The more you learn about your finances, the more you’ll discover many aspects of them are intertwined, and they have a great deal of effect on each other in both good and bad ways. Knowing that, it’s important to take into account your entire financial picture – what you earn, how your credit ranks and

A guide to storing important documents: In some ways, the story of our life is told on paper. Birth, marriage, purchases, travels, finances, insurance policies, and legal issues can all be found on official, often government-issued documents that we must collect, store and keep within arm’s reach should we ever need to refer to them.

For some of us, loads of debt equal desperation. The endless bills, the ever-growing balances, the mounting interest. With the goal of freeing themselves from their financial burden, it’s enough to push some people to make risky financial decisions they might not otherwise.  Don’t let debt push you to desperate financial measures. One such decision

Unless you’ve been living under a rock in a cave on the far side of Antarctica, you’ve likely heard of a cleanse. These cleanses or so-called “detoxes” seem to be all the rage, at least when it comes to your physical health. Supposedly they can serve to reset your hormones, flush toxins out of your