Self-Help Articles

Six Questions That Will Help You Find the Perfect Checking Account

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...

Help Your Significant Other Rebuild Their Credit — While Keeping Yours Intact

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...

Five Ways to Consolidate your Credit Card Debt

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...

Explore High- and Low-Tech Tools for Monitoring Your Money

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...

Money Matters to Discuss With Your Partner

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...

Credit Union or Bank? Here’s How to Decide

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,...

The Best Things to Buy To Build Credit

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 are lots of reasons you might want to boost your credit score, but it can be...

Debt Avalanche Method Defined and How it Can Work For You

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...

$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...

Understand How Your Credit Score Affects Monthly Bills

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...