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Credit cards can be a useful part of your financial toolbox. Along with enabling you to purchase items now and pay for them later, credit cards can also help you build your credit score. But don’t start filling out that application until you have a good understanding of how credit cards work. It’s easy to sign on the dotted line, but it isn’t as easy to understand the fine print that weaves... Continue Reading »

Don’t let your vacation dreams turn into an excuse to quit living on a budget or start racking up credit charges that you’ll spend months paying off. With a little smart planning now, you can enjoy a great summer without worrying about financial repercussions. Plan within your means If a week at an all-inclusive resort isn’t realistic, set your sights elsewhere. Don’t fall into the t... Continue Reading »

When it comes to running a small business, the daily, weekly, or monthly tasks involved in keeping things humming can be surprisingly time-consuming. You need to focus as much energy as possible producing whatever it is your business specializes in, but the little details can take up more of your time than you ever would have expected. There are plenty of small business tools to help you worry les... Continue Reading »

Interest and dividend rates may seem to change at a whim. Unless you happen to be chairperson of the Federal Reserve Bank, you can’t do much to control which direction the credit cycle takes. But if you understand a bit about why these rates change, you can time some important financial decisions to your advantage. Low interest rates mean lower loan payments, and high interest rates mean hi... Continue Reading »

You’ve aced the interview for your dream job, and now the head of HR is calling. Confident and excited, you’re ready to accept the offer, but she has crushing news: You’re being turned down because of your low credit score. Being denied a car loan, mortgage or even a job because of a low credit score can be distressing. Here’s how to repair credit, reverse a low rating, and get back on... Continue Reading »

When financing your home, the options can seem overwhelming and complex. Opinions and information abound, making it difficult to find the choices that might be best for you. What are the benefits of a VA loan? A loan guaranteed by the VA can be used to buy a home that you’ll use as a primary residence, or it can be used to refinance an existing mortgage. The program offers several benefits: ... Continue Reading »

According to the Federal Reserve, the average U.S. household credit card debt is around $7,000 ­– and as a country, we owe over $850 billion in total credit card debt. However, those statistics don’t mean that every adult in the country owes at least a few thousand to credit cards. The stat simply considers the total amount of credit card debt owed and divides that number by the number ... Continue Reading »

Seeing a zero balance on a credit card statement is a great feeling, especially if you’ve worked hard to pay off that debt. At that point, you may feel like getting rid of that card completely, and you might be asking yourself, “Should I close my credit card account? Would that improve my credit score?” The answer to both questions is no. Although closing an account would give you les... Continue Reading »

Your credit score is just as much a part of your financial health as your blood pressure is of your overall wellness. But just as your blood pressure isn’t the only measure of healthiness, your FICO score isn’t the only thing lenders consider to determine your creditworthiness. Your FICO score does play a major part in the decision. But there are many other aspects to the application that w... Continue Reading »