Liz's Blog Archives - Page 207 of 285

September 15, 2015 By Liz Weston

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: The cost of spending your retirement money before you retire. Also in the news: How to build a high credit score from scratch, how to get over spending mistakes, and the boring secret to getting rich.

Should You Ever Spend Your Retirement Money Before You Retire?
It’ll cost you.

3 Steps To Build A High Credit Score From Scratch
A great opportunity for millennials.

Get Over Spending Mistakes With a “Money Regrets” Budget
Quit beating yourself up!

The Boring Secret to Getting Rich
Try not to fall asleep.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: Credit Score, millennials, Retirement, retirement savings, spending mistakes, tips

September 14, 2015 By Liz Weston

Monday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: Beware of new estate planning laws. Reducing your financial stress, what you need to know before buying your first home, and five credit card hacks that can save you money.

Your estate plan: Be aware of new laws
Introducing portability.

3 Ways You Can Reduce or Remove Your Financial Stress
Prioritizing what’s important.

3 Things to Know Before You Buy Your 1st Home
Time for a reality check.

5 Credit Card Hacks That Can Save You Money
The good kind of “hacks”, of course.

10 Money Mistakes a Financial Planner Can Find in 10 Minutes
Learning from the pros.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: credit card hacks, Estate Planning, financial planners, financial stress, first time homebuyers, money mistakes, portability, tips

September 11, 2015 By Liz Weston

Friday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: How you may be exposing yourself to fraud. Also in the news: Why responsible people can have bad credit scores, tricks advertisers use to make you spend money, and the money nightmares keeping us awake at night.

16 Ways You May Be Exposing Yourself to Fraud
Stop being your own worst enemy.

3 Reasons Responsible People Have Bad Credit Scores
It takes more than just responsibility.

7 Tricks Advertisers Use to Make You Spend Money
Resist!

These Money Scares Are Keeping Americans Up at Night
Are any of these yours?

30% of people would sell an organ to erase student debt: Survey
Are you one of them?

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: advertising, credit fraud, Credit Scores, Identity Theft, money worries, Student Loans

September 10, 2015 By Liz Weston

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: How a single missed student loan payment can damage your credit. Also in the news: Finding a financial advisor who won’t rip you off, how tax liens can affect a spouse’s credit, and seven fall budget moves you need to make before the holidays begin.

Most Students Don’t Get How Bad It Is to Miss Loan Payments
A single missed payment could take a severe bite out of your credit score.

How to Hire a Financial Advisor Who Won’t Rip You Off
Due diligence is key.

Life Insurance Agents and Commissions: What You Should Know
Beware the sales pitch.

How Tax Liens Affect a Spouse’s Credit
Community property states mean trouble for both credit scores.

7 Fall Budget Moves You Need to Make Now
Get busy before the holidays.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: budget moves, credit report, Credit Score, financial advisors, life insurance, Student Loans, tax liens

September 9, 2015 By Liz Weston

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: College financial aid advice for divorced families. Also in the news: Getting teens to save can have a long term payoff, bad money habits you need to break, and how to make living on a budget less of a slog.

College Financial Aid Advice For Divorced Families
Navigating through the financial aid maze.

Why Teen Savers Have More Financial Success Later in Life
Good financial habits at a young age can have lasting effects.

3 Bad Money Habits You Should Finally Kick
Kick them to the curb!

Peppy ways to fight budget burnout
Living on a budget doesn’t have to be drudgery.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: budgets, divorce and money, financial aid, money habits, teens and money

September 8, 2015 By Liz Weston

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: How your house payments can unexpectedly increase. Also in the news: Why grandparents should be careful with 529 plans, why right now could be the right time to refinance your student loans, and six reasons why early retirement could be a mistake.

4 Ways Your House Payment Could Unexpectedly Go Up
Don’t get caught off guard.

Grandparents: Don’t Make a 529 Plan Mistake
529 disbursements come with some risks.

Now Could Be the Right Time to Refinance Your Student Loans
Taking stock of your student loan situation.

6 reasons early retirement might be wrong for you
What sounds like a good idea might not be.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: 529 plan, College Savings, early retirement, house payments, mortgages, student loan refinancing

September 4, 2015 By Liz Weston

Friday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: How to avoid money mistakes after a spouse’s death. Also in the news: A retirement reality check for homemakers, how to downsize the smart way, and the hidden costs of credit card rewards.

Money mistakes to avoid after a spouse’s death
Treading carefully through difficult times.

7 Step Retirement Reality Check For Homemakers
Being part of the retirement planning process is essential.

6 Tips to Downsize the Smart Way
Simplifying your life can become expensive.

Rewards Credit Cards Can Be Costly, Report Finds
Those free rewards can come at a price.

5 Things You Must Consider Before Borrowing Money
Hidden dangers may lie ahead.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: borrowing money, credit card rewards, downsizing, money mistakes, Retirement, tips

September 3, 2015 By Liz Weston

4 Ways to Protect Your Retirement Money From Scammers

The good news: Through hard work, thrift, and wise choices, you’re set for retirement. The bad news: You might find it harder someday to make sound financial decisions. On average, money smarts peak at age 53, the Center for Retirement Research reported in 2010. The older you get, the greater your vulnerability to scams, unscrupulous advisers, or just poor judgment.

The stakes are high: Fraud victims 65 and older lost an average of $30,000, Allianz found last year. One in 10 lost more than $100,000.

In my latest for Money magazine, I discuss measures to take that can protect your finances, or the finances of a parent or older relative.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: financial fraud, money and seniors

September 3, 2015 By Liz Weston

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: How transferring a credit card balance could affect your credit score. Also in the news: How helicopter parents can damage their child’s financial future, what grandparents can do to help their grandchildren grow financially, and why planning on working through retirement could be a disaster.

Will Transferring a Credit Card Balance Hurt My Credit?
Where credit utilization ratio comes into play.

4 Ways Helicopter Parents Can Harm Their Kids’ Chances At Success
Building financial insecurity.

6 Ways to Help Your Grandchildren to a Great Financial Future
Counteracting helicopter parenting.

Why Planning to Work in Retirement Is a Risky Business
Health problems could interfere.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: balance transfers, Credit Cards, grandparents, helicopter parenting, Retirement

September 2, 2015 By Liz Weston

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: There’s a new proposal in Congress to raise Social Security benefits. Also in the news: Money moves to make before the end of the year, why Millennial credit scores are on the low side, and the complete guide to refinancing your student loans.