When Miranda Marquit started writing about personal finance six years ago, she “was maxed out on my credit cards,” she admits. No more. And the publisher of Planting Money Seeds has a few words of hard-earned advice for anyone who has dug themselves into a debt hole so big they think they’ll never … [Read more...] about Expert advice on digging your way out of debt
Credit
What happened at Equifax and how can you protect yourself
On September 7, 2017, Equifax announced that its massive database of consumer credit data was breached. If you had never heard of Equifax before, you may be in for a surprise. Equifax is one of three companies that keeps a copy of your credit history, which includes your name, address, social … [Read more...] about What happened at Equifax and how can you protect yourself
When to use credit cards and when to use debit cards
I'll start out by saying that I don't use debit cards but I do understand why some people do. It's linked to your bank account so in theory you can't spend more money than you have in your account. However, after extensive research, I know now why I've always avoided debit cards. The biggest … [Read more...] about When to use credit cards and when to use debit cards
How to pay off $100,000 in debt
A few years ago, Travis Pizel and his wife, Vonnie, found themselves in crisis. The Rochester, Minnesota, couple had good jobs and lived well, eating out frequently, buying what they wanted and taking vacations to water parks with their two children. But a letter from their credit card … [Read more...] about How to pay off $100,000 in debt
How I used a competition to fight off $39,000 of debt
I was in the ring fighting my opponent: debt. I had the idea of putting together a debt challenge. I thought what if I turned paying off debt into a game, and whoever paid off the most debt would win. I wasn’t sure if anyone would sign up, but I decided to write a post about the contest … [Read more...] about How I used a competition to fight off $39,000 of debt
How to keep 0% financing from costing you big bucks
This post is by Odysseas Papadimitriou, CEO of Card Hub. After all the pushing, shoving, coffee drinking and waiting in interminable lines on Black Friday to score savings and cross some items off your holiday shopping list, were you convinced to take a store up on its offer for 0% … [Read more...] about How to keep 0% financing from costing you big bucks
4 traps to avoid with credit card rewards
I love credit-card rewards. They're fairly easy to earn and they can give your budget a nice boost. I personally use my rewards for fun things I want, such as vacations or a new big screen TV. However, you can easily get caught up in the rewards game and end up paying more money in interest and fees … [Read more...] about 4 traps to avoid with credit card rewards
Which type of rewards credit card is right for you?
Chances are you're confused with all of the different types of rewards credit cards out there today, especially if you're looking for your first card. No worries. These cards can be broken down into a few different categories. At least one of these types will fit your lifestyle perfectly. Let's … [Read more...] about Which type of rewards credit card is right for you?
How to choose a travel rewards credit card
For years, I've had a credit card affiliated with Delta Airlines and been happy with it. Each year, I earned thousands of frequent flier miles and a free companion certificate (basically a FREE ticket). Plus, I could check one bag per person in my party for free when flying and received discounts on … [Read more...] about How to choose a travel rewards credit card
How to maximize credit card rewards
When it comes to credit cards, if you’re pretty good at paying your bill on time and keeping your debt load manageable, you’re ahead of the game. But are you really getting the most from your perks and rewards programs? If the answer is no, you’re like most card users, says Matthew Goldman, CEO of … [Read more...] about How to maximize credit card rewards
How to handle money when traveling the world
I love to travel, and I’m fortunate that I’ve been able to do a lot of it. Over the years, I’ve learned a lot of things about how to handle money abroad. If your summer plans include travel to another country or two, these tips may help your trip be a little smoother – and a little less … [Read more...] about How to handle money when traveling the world
‘Pay later’ plans: The fine print may cost you thousands
Although the true tightwad saves up money before buying anything, that doesn't work for most of us all the time. Sometimes, a refrigerator breaks down before we have time to save for a new one, the couch of our dreams goes on sale two months before the bonus check arrives, or a retailer is offering … [Read more...] about ‘Pay later’ plans: The fine print may cost you thousands
3 hot cash-back credit cards for holiday shopping
This post was written by Beverly Harzog. The holidays can be pretty stressful if you’re worried about paying your bills. One of the things I really like about cash-back credit cards is that they put a little dough back in your wallet. The key to making a profit from a cash-back credit card … [Read more...] about 3 hot cash-back credit cards for holiday shopping
The 4 scariest things on your credit report
Think you’re safe from creepy credit? Think again. There may be things lurking on your credit report that you least expected. That’s why it’s so important to check on it at least once a year (it’s free, via annualcreditreport.com), so that you won’t get a spooky surprise. Even better, because there … [Read more...] about The 4 scariest things on your credit report
How to deal with debt collectors
Debt collectors have a way of tracking people down, and sometimes, they track down the wrong people. That's why it's important to know how debt collectors work. No matter what your credit rating, you may get a call one day. When that happens, you need to figure out how to deal with the collector and … [Read more...] about How to deal with debt collectors
