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Points and cash back are only a fraction of the things your card can do for you.By Joan Goldwasser, From Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine - June 2011 Enhance your warranty. Gold and platinum MasterCards, Visa Signature cards and American Express cards all extend the manufacturer's warranty by up to one year when you use the cards to purchase items. If you lose or break that new...
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By Sarah Max, Money Magazine - June 21, 2011 (Money Magazine) -- With a combined income of $225,000 and a nest egg of $330,000, Rick and Amy Mendez, 41 and 43, seem like they are in good financial shape. But a closer look reveals that they're lacking something crucial: emergency savings. As a result, when they needed a new roof in 2009, they had to borrow from their 401(k)s. Credit cards...
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By Emily Glazer - May 22, 2011 Sherelle Villacorta knew she had to get her credit score "under control" before graduating from college if she wanted to avoid problems signing an apartment lease or getting a loan. "I want to be able to get a car some day," says Ms. Villacorta, a financial analyst in Long Beach, Calif. "I want to get it on my own and not need to get help from my parents." Ms...
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By Ann Carrns - May 4, 2011 When it comes to buying a car, you’re often far better off seeking a loan directly from a bank or credit union than going through the dealership, because dealers often add hidden finance charges. That’s the conclusion of a report on car dealer financing from the Center for Responsible Lending. The group examined data from bonds backed by car loans and survey...
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By The Financial Services RoundtableEveryone wants financial security. But only those who act and are willing to make a few sacrifices now will likely achieve it. Below are 11 tips to help you reach your financial goals by investing.1. Just do it. Most Americans cannot secure their retirement through savings mechanisms alone—particularly given how inflation will undermine them. Decide to invest...
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By Investopedia, December 8, 2010, San Francisco ChronicleWho doesn't like the fresh start of a new year? A clean slate and an optimistic outlook make January 1st a magical time. The only problem is that every year we vow to take care of our finances, but we ultimately get sidetracked with excuses. But this year will be different, and to help, here are some smart money moves for the New Year...
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The Mercury, December 6, 2010Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania is offering holiday spending and budgeting tips for consumers to help during this busy shopping season. Citizens hopes these suggested guidelines will help consumers manage their money and prevent the accumulation of debt, which can hurt household finances."While there are signs of an improving economy, we're expecting the holiday...
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By Kimberly Palmer, December 2, 2010, U.S. News & World ReportManisha Thakor, co-author of On My Own Two Feet: A Modern Girl's Guide to Personal Finance, wants you to be financially secure. Specifically, she wants all women, and not just the high net-worth ones catered to by the financial services industry, to have access to the same personal finance lessons that have helped her earn security...
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If you are like many Americans, you may find that you are spending more than you're saving and steadily going deeper into debt as a result. This is an easy and common pattern to fall into, and one that requires some planning and discipline to reverse. The first step is creating a budget. As unpleasant as this may sound, creating a budget is nothing more than examining your income...
