Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: How to build your retirement nest egg on a small salary. Also in the news: Why Millennials are rejecting credit cards, tips on how to decide between saving money and paying off debt, and eight faster ways to pay off your student loans.

How to Plan for Retirement When You Don’t Make Much Money
Increasing the size of your tiny nest egg.

Why Millennials Are Rejecting Credit Cards
The massive amount of student debt is playing a big role.

5 Questions to Help You Decide Whether to Save or Pay Off Debt
What to do with your extra cash.

8 Ways to Pay Off Your Student Loans Faster
The quicker the better.

How to Balance a Fun Life With Your Financial Goals
You know what they say about all work and no play.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

budgetToday’s top story: How customizing your budget could be the key to success. Also in the news: Preparing yourself financially for a career change, products to make your teenagers money-savvy, and Home Depot confirms a months-long credit data breach.

How to Do a Budget: Customization Is Key
Tailoring your budget could be the key to its success.

5 Ways to Financially Prepare to Go After Your Dream Job
Getting ready to take the big leap.

4 Bank Products to Make Teens Money-Savvy
Prepare your teen to make wise financial choices.

Home Depot Confirms Computer Data System Breach
Retailer offers one year of free credit monitoring to customers.

6 Smart Ways to Use a Credit Card
Keeping yourself out of trouble.

Are you falling behind?

siblingsMore than half of Americans—56 percent—say they’re falling behind financially, according to a new national survey by the Pew Research Center.

That’s not surprising, given that a recent Census Bureau study concluded that most Americans are worse off financially than they were before the recession, despite gains in the stock market and home prices.

Which is why Donna Freedman’s latest piece for Get Rich Slowly, “Why I voluntarily slashed my salary,” is a timely read.

Like the rest of us who wrote for MSN Money, Donna faced a big drop in income when the site pulled the plug on original content. Rather than try to recoup what she’d lost, though, Donna made a conscious decision to live on a lot less.

Donna’s situation is Donna’s. Yours is probably quite different. But I’m always inspired reading what she has to say about the benefits of a more frugal, conscious life.

That doesn’t mean I think that status quo is okay. The ever-widening gap between rich and poor is not okay. The huge debts young people take on to get educated is not okay.  The fact that most people’s finances can be seriously and permanently upended–by a layoff, a divorce, a death in the family–is not okay.

It’s also not okay to keep blaming individuals for what are clearly huge economic trends. Overspending on credit cards did not trigger the Great Recession.

But if you’re living with less, Job One is figuring out how to make that work, at least for now. Job Two may be pushing for change.

 

Monday’s need-to-know money news

Chip cardToday’s top story: How to get rewarded for being responsible with your credit cards. Also in the news: The hidden costs of a new job, tips on how to avoid credit fraud, and how you should and shouldn’t pay for college.

3 Credit Cards That Reward You for Being Responsible
Paying on time has its benefits.

5 Hidden Costs of a New Job
That new salary could cost you.

5 Common-Sense Tips to Help Avoid Credit Card Fraud, ID Theft
Protect yourself.

Making smart choices when paying for college
Using your retirement savings isn’t one of them.

7 scams that just won’t die
Microsoft isn’t calling you.

Friday’s need-to-know money news

retirement-savings3Today’s top story: The easy solution to our retirement savings crisis. Also in the news: How to supercharge your retirement savings, how long credit flaws will stay on your report, and why it’s time to start saving for the holidays.

Our Retirement Savings Crisis—and the Easy Solution
A slight bump in savings rates could be a game changer.

6 Tools to Supercharge Retirement Savings
Where to find the aforementioned bump.

How Long Different Credit Flaws Stay on Your Report
Find out how long that late payment will linger.

You Need to Start Saving for Your Holiday Budget Now
The holidays are right around the corner.

Three Money Disruptors Making Your Financial Nightmares Less Scary
Tech disruptors are making our financial lives a bit easier.

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

download (1)Today’s top story: Be on the lookout for deceptive balance transfer options. Also in the news: How to retire without a large nest egg, how to work less as you approach retirement, and how to raise a financially savvy teenager.

Credit Card Companies Warned of Deceptive Balance Transfer Offers
If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.

3 Effective Ways to Retire Without a Large Nest Egg
Eliminating your debt is key.

How to Work Less as You Approach Retirement
Time to start using those sick days.

When Bad Things Happen To Good People With IRAs
Understanding beneficiary designations.

How Financially Savvy Is Your Teenager?
The earlier they learn, the better off they’ll be.

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: Home Depot is latest retailer to suffer a major data breach. Also in the news: How to organize your finances based on your personality type, which banks are the best and the worst with checking account fees, and three tips that could help you pay off your mortgage early.

Home Depot Data Breach: What to Do If You’ve Shopped There Recently
The latest big name target of credit data theft.

Four Ways to Organize Your Money Based on Your Personality
The best organization strategies based on your personality.

The Best and Worst Banks, Based on Checking Account Fees
Some of these fees will astound you.

3 Ways to Pay Off Your Mortgage Early
Even a year early can make a big difference.

3 Types of Insurance You Need – And 3 You Don’t
Choose wisely.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: Building credit with a small income. Also in the news: The best time to buy virtually anything, how to make sure you can afford your next vacation, and demystifying credit card inquiries.

How to build credit if you have a small income
Strategic spending can build your credit.

The Best Months to Buy Everything
Waiting for the right month can save you money.

5 Ways to Make Sure You Can Afford Your Next Vacation
Budgeting for paradise.

The Most Misunderstood Part of Your Credit Report
Understanding inquiries.

Friday’s need-to-know money news

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: The retirement mistakes being made by Generation X. Also in the news: Why you shouldn’t use your debit card at a bar, committing to a budget, and how to avoid overspending triggers.

7 Retirement Mistakes Gen X Is Making
Timing is everything

4 Reasons Not to Use Your Debit Card at a Bar
How to avoid an identity theft hangover.

How to Actually Commit to a Budget: 7 Tips for Success
Tips for sticking to it.

Common Overspending Triggers that Can Wreck Your Budget
And how to avoid them.

What not to buy over Labor Day weekend
Not all sales are equal.

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: Thousands of homeowners are missing out on lower mortgage payments. Also in the news: How safe are your deposits, how to save money while you remodel, and why free checking can be a misnomer.

800,000 Homeowners Are Missing Out on Lower Mortgage Payments
Are you one of them?

How Safe is Your ‘Safe Money’?
How banks are protecting your finances.

3 Ways to Reduce Your Remodeling Budget
DIY doesn’t have to mean $$$.

Checking account costs rise; only 28% are free, study finds
Free comes at a price.

10 Smart Money-Saving Tips for Time-Strapped People
Quick tips that’ll save you money.