The holidays are supposed to be a jolly time, but this year is shaping up to be a bit more stressful than usual as consumers worry about their financial situations and stress over seasonal expenses. In fact, a recent survey from Gallup found that consumers plan to spend an average of $805 on gifts this
Whether you want to admit or not, the holidays are fast approaching and planning ahead is key to managing your money, so that you don’t overextend yourself or go into debt. Last year, the average American spent $882.45 on Christmas gifts, food, decorations, travel, and other miscellaneous holiday-related expenses, according to the 2019 Christmas Spending
Gone are the days of having to call a 1-800 number to interact with customer service teams. With the rise of social media, support is often available around the clock. If you’ve ever called out a company on social media for bad service, you know they can be quick to respond. Don’t be in a
Winter driving is stressful enough given the confluence of unpleasant weather, bad road conditions, and collective increases in driver stress. It can be even more stressful if you experience mishaps, gas-related problems, and seasonal breakdowns – and the same goes for your car.
Here are a few steps to save money with winter driving and
You learned a lot at school. But did your teachers or professors educate you on how to use credit, protect your identity, or maintain a good credit score? Sadly, personal finance education does not rank up there with reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic.
According to research from the credit bureau Experian, more than one in three
Hunting for apartments in the off-season can be a blessing or a curse. Most renters tend to move in the summer months, so it makes sense that there are more apartments to choose from during peak season.
Unfortunately, that means there are fewer available apartments to choose from during the off-season. At the same time,
By Andrea Woroch
September is the most common birth month of the entire year and whether you‘re among the millions of couples preparing for baby‘s arrival or recently welcomed your tiny bundle of joy, this is a good time to review your budget since a lot is about to change. It‘s no surprise that raising
You’ve probably moved at least once in your life and had to fill out the Change of Address form at the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). The USPS makes it easy to change your address or temporarily forward mail to a different address. Forms are available at your local post office, or you can make the
Equifax… Uber… Target… Under Armour…. The list of data hacks keeps growing and growing, increasing the odds that someone will steal your identity. Last year, this digital epidemic affected 14.4 million Americans. But the more you know, the better you can protect yourself.
We conducted an exclusive MoneyTips Google survey in 2018 to
By Andrea Woroch
Many colleges across the country have announced plans to begin the year with virtual or hybrid learning models, but that doesn’t mean students are off the hook from buying supplies and other gear. In fact, the National Retail Federation estimates that college students and their parents will spend an average of $1,059
Like most people, you have probably had enough of the cold weather and are looking forward to your summer vacation – but cannot afford to spend too much on it.
How can you make the most of your summer travel dollar and still have a wonderful vacation? Here are ten ideas to help you out.
Parents, how’s your summer going? Enjoy a fun family vacation or staycation? Ready for school to start? As we approach summer’s halfway point, you may be tired of working as a full-time entertainment director and concierge for your kids.
Sure, you could buy the latest gaming system and leave them planted in front of the
Want to take a family vacation, but worried about the costs? A stay-at-home vacation (“Staycation”) can be a fun and money-saving alternative to dealing with that thrilling extra security search at the airport, or packing everyone in the family roadster for a less-than-scenic drive to your destination. (“Are we there yet? Are we there yet?”)
By Andrea Woroch Many U.S. households have put a pause on air travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic and families are instead hitting the open roads to enjoy a getaway while staying safe and saving money this summer. In fact, AAA forecasts that Americans will take 700 million trips this season and road trips will
Let’s begin by pointing out that this article is not a tutorial. Enterprising criminals are recommended to look elsewhere.
Counterfeiting costs the U.S. economy millions of dollars annually. According to the U.S. Secret Service, $75 million in counterfeit bills were seized by the Peruvian National Police between 2009 and 2017, yet a counterfeiter reported
Are you dealing with more credit cards than you can handle? You may have several cards for different purposes – perhaps a travel card to maximize travel benefits, a cash-back rewards card, and a low-interest rate card for large purchases that will require you to carry a balance. They were all good ideas at the
Does your credit score need help? Don‘t look for quick fixes. Set up a realistic budget that will help you repair your credit score over time.
Consider these six ways that a budget can raise your credit score and keep it high.
1. Paying Bills On Time – On-time payments are the most critical
Statewide restrictions are easing, and businesses are slowly reopening across the country, but consumers are still experiencing a lot of financial anxiety about the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on their income and budgets. In fact, a survey by LendEDU found that 63% of poll participants were concerned about running out of money and 51%
With interest rates currently at a three-year low, it is clear that home values are on the rise. This makes it a great time to purchase a home — especially for first-time buyers. However, buying a home is no cakewalk; it must be handled with great care, and you must be prepared before applying. Here
For years, you have been dreaming about buying your first home and now you are debating taking action. Are you ready to enter the home buying market? Consider these seven signs before taking the plunge.
1. Having Job Security – Mortgage loan approvals require a steady regular income. Is your employment situation secure enough that
You have just closed on your home purchase and money is going to be tight for a while. Should you buy a home warranty to help you avoid out-of-pocket expenses or will it be a waste of money?
Before you decide if it will be worth it to you, you should understand what a home
By Andrea Woroch
The first round of stimulus checks was sent out to millions of Americans across the country, with $218.4 billion paid out so far in an effort to ease the financial strain caused by the coronavirus outbreak. Although these payments provide some relief, using the money wisely is crucial in creating more financial
Your bathroom can be functional without being boring, without spending thousands of dollars or hosting an HGTV makeover show to spruce it up. (Most of us are terrified at the thought of our friends spending significant time in our bathrooms, much less letting all of America critique it.)
Flea markets, dollar stores, and other discount
Cell phone bills form a large portion of one’s monthly budget. According to a study done by J.D. Power and Associates, the average family in the United States spent approximately $157 on their cell phone bill each month in 2017, or $1,884 throughout the year. That is a big chunk of change to spend, which
When it comes to financing your mortgage, trying to navigate the labyrinth of lenders can get confusing. Like any significant financial transaction, there are advantages and disadvantages that come with each type of lender.
Get started by asking your realtor for referrals. With a large commission at stake, realtors have the right sort of incentive
Does visualizing success help you achieve success? It certainly does in some cases. Successful athletes such as Tiger Woods and Muhammad Ali are known to have visualized their successes years in advance.
People in other fields have also used visualization as an important part of the path to their success, from cartoonist Scott Adams to
Is your credit card interest rate causing you financial pain? As of April 2020, the average annual percentage rate (APR) across all credit cards is 16.12%. Low-interest rate cards average 12.95% – a huge improvement when you’re struggling with debt.
If your card’s APR doesn’t measure up, how do you get a low-interest rate credit
Can you spot a credit score myth when you see one? Survey after survey, including a 2017 MoneyTips survey, finds that people continually believe the same credit score myths. Have you fallen for these examples?
1. Checking Your Own Credit Report Drops Your Score – This myth confuses the two types of pulls on your
Tax season is almost over. Have you filed your return yet, or are you still scrambling to beat the tax deadline for 2020? Don’t overlook these common tax deductions that could save you money.
When you hurry through your tax return, you may miss valuable deductions that could produce a lower tax bill – or
Selling a home can be a stress-inducing experience, especially if you are counting on the sale of your existing home to fund the purchase of a new home. It can seem like you are coordinating a million things at once. A simple checklist can help you to keep track during the chaos and prevent necessary
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