Get smart with your money
Today’s top story: Why you need a 401(k) in your 20s. Also in the news: How being lazy can help you save money, the new rules of credit card point etiquette, and how to spot financial infidelity.
Yes, You Need a 401(k) in Your 20s — Here’s Why
Paving the long road.
How Being Lazy Can Help You Save Money
Automatic banking can help.
New Rules of Credit Card Points Etiquette
When to use your points.
How to Spot Financial Infidelity
Noticing the signs.
Today’s top story: Buying home insurance after a wildfire starts. Also in the news: Why good credit might not be good enough for a mortgage, a quick quiz to test how you’re doing financially, and why Americans are more afraid of student debt than they are of Kim Jong Un.
Can You Buy Home Insurance After a Wildfire Starts?
It could be too late.
Want a Mortgage? Good Credit Might Not Be Good Enough
What else you might need.
How Are You Doing Financially? Take This Quick Quiz
How’d you do?
Americans are more terrified of student debt than North Korea’s Kim Jong Un
When your debt is scarier than a nuclear weapon.
Today’s top story: 7 signs you’ve gone from frugal to cheap. Also in the news: 7 ways to avoid becoming a scary student loan statistic, following the lead of Millennials to save more for retirement, and retirement community fees that can be deducted as medical expenses.
7 Signs You’ve Gone From Frugal to Cheap
A slippery slope.
7 Ways to Avoid Becoming a Scary Student Loan Stat
Don’t become a statistic.
To Save More for Retirement, Follow These Millennials’ Lead
You can deduct these retirement community fees as medical expenses
Unexpected savings.
Today’s top story: New payday loan rule protects borrowers from sinking into debt. Also in the news: Sailing into Columbus Day sales, how to make money on Amazon, and why you’re losing money if cash is your only savings strategy.
New Payday Loan Rule Protects Borrowers From Sinking Into Debt
Protecting the consumer.
Should You Sail Into Columbus Day Sales?
What to purchase this weekend.
How to Make Money on Amazon
So that you can turn around and then spend it on Amazon.
If Cash Is Your Only Savings Strategy, You’re Losing Money
A piggy bank doesn’t draw interest.
Today’s top story: Why a rainy day fund is as crucial as emergency savings. Also in the news: How to deal with a credit card issuer who has you seeing red, how to make money on Upwork, and 5 personal finance tips from billionaires.
Rainy Day Fund Is as Crucial as Emergency Savings
Handling all levels of crises.
Credit Card Issuer Got You Seeing Red? Try These Tips
Demanding answers.
New Freelancers: How to Make Money on Upwork
Earning some pocket money.
5 Personal Finance Tips From Billionaires
Learning from the best.
Today’s top story: Crush impulse buying with these 4 Jedi mind tricks. Also in the news: 4 ways to make money as a college student, how and why to place a fraud alert on your credit lines, and what to do if you’ve lowballed yourself into a crummy salary.
Crush Impulse Buying With These 4 Jedi Mind Tricks
Buy this you won’t.
4 Ways to Make Money as a College Student
So you’re not stuck with ramen.
How to Place a Fraud Alert on Your Credit, and Why
Monitoring your credit lines.
How to Negotiate After You’ve Lowballed Yourself Into a Crummy Salary
Don’t accept less than you’re worth.
Adding freezes to your credit reports is an appropriate response to the massive Equifax database breach that exposed the private information of 143 million Americans.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking those freezes will keep you safe, however.
Credit freezes lock down your credit reports in a way that should prevent “new account fraud,” or bogus accounts being opened in your name. But there are so many other ways the bad guys can use the information they stole, which included Social Security numbers, birthdates, addresses and some driver’s license numbers. In my latest for the Associated Press, find out the other ways the Equifax breach will affect your life for years to come.
Today’s top story: 5 mobile banking alerts to help you fight fraud. Also in the news: What to do if you can’t replay your SBA loan, 7 habits of highly effective credit card users, and the worst cities for record high ATM fees.
5 Mobile Banking Alerts to Help You Fight Fraud
Using your phone to protect your money.
What to Do If You Can’t Pay Back Your SBA Loan
7 Habits of Highly Effective Credit Card Users
$5 to access your own money? ATM fees jump to record high and these cities are the worst
Today’s top story: How to foil 5 common bank fees from draining your funds. Also in the news: How to talk – not fight – about money with your spouse, the real cost of owning a pet, and how Equifax ignored warning about security vulnerabilities.
How to Foil 5 Common Bank Fees From Draining Your Funds
Don’t let them take your money.
How to Talk — Not Fight — About Money With Your Spouse
Peaceful talks over a tough subject.
How Much Does Owning a Pet Really Cost?
Affording Fido.
Equifax Was Warned About Vulnerability But Failed To Patch It
A nightmare that could have been prevented.
Today’s top story: Protecting your credit even as Equifax vows free lifelong credit lock. Also in the news: Sorting out an athlete’s tax bill, navigating car buying in a post-hurricane market, and the mobile game that helps you save money.
Protect Your Credit Even as Equifax Vows Free Lifelong Lock
Necessary steps.
Think Playing Quarterback Is Tough? Try Sorting Out an Athlete’s Tax Bill
Yikes.
Navigating Car Buying in a Post-Hurricane Market
Be careful you don’t get soaked.
One Part Personal Finance, One Part Mobile Gaming: Meet Long Game
Have fun while saving money.