Get smart with your money
Today’s top story: 3 steps to tame your debt in an hour or less. Also in the news: 10 housing and mortgage trends to watch for in 2018, how one woman ditched over 50K in debt, and why to be wary of instaloans in stores.
3 Steps to Tame Your Debt in an Hour or Less
Concrete steps.
10 Housing and Mortgage Trends to Watch for in 2018
What to keep an eye on.
How I Ditched Debt: A Wish List Kept Her Going
Read a success story.
Retailers now offers Instaloans to pay for purchasesBuyer beware,
Today’s top story: Paying for fake organic food. Also in the news: People who eschew checking accounts, 4 questions for your local organic farmer, and defrauded students are losing their debt relief.
The Dirt on ‘Organic’ Food: You May Be Paying for Fakes
Be on the lookout.
Checking Account? No, Thanks, Say Those Who Dislike Banks
It could be costly.
4 Questions for Your Local Organic Farmer
Making sure you get your money’s worth.
Debt relief for defrauded students halted under Trump, says report
Reversing Obama-era policy.
Oh, the injustice of it all.
Who among us hasn’t felt abused as a consumer? We get billed for stuff we didn’t receive, or that doesn’t work, or that didn’t live up to its hype. Companies charge us unexpected fees and insist the costs were revealed in the fine print. Health insurers take customer disservice to a whole new, awful level, inexplicably refusing to pay for services they promised to cover and deluging us with impossible-to-decrypt paperwork.
It’s understandable if you feel that enough is enough. But taking a righteous stand against paying an unfair bill can boomerang on you — hard.
In my latest for the Associated Press, situations where you might be tempted to refuse to pay, and what you might want to consider doing instead.
Today’s top story: 5 ways to reduce credit card interest. Also in the news: Holiday hosting tips to be safe, holiday tipping guide, and the pros and cons of using debit vs. credit cards.
5 Ways to Reduce Credit Card Interest
Escaping the interest trap.
Holiday Hosting Tips to Be Safe, Insurance If You’re Sorry
What’s covered under your homeowner’s insurance.
Holiday Tipping Guide: Whom and How Much
Showing appreciation.
Pros and Cons of Using Debit Vs. Credit Cards
Differences to keep in mind.
Today’s top story: Is Bitcoin safe? Also in the news: How to buy better gifts with credit card rewards, must-have tools and tips for year-end retirement planning, and smart money lessons for kids that can last a lifetime.
Is Bitcoin Safe?
A roundtable debate.
How to Buy Better Gifts With Credit Card Rewards
Using your rewards strategically.
Must-have tools and tips for year-end retirement planning
Getting on the right track.
Smart money lessons for kids that can last a lifetime
Today’s top story: How not to go broke attending holiday parties. Also in the news: Self-taught financial advisers keep it real about money, how to determine if your taxes are going up, and how to spend your extra FSA money.
You Don’t Have to Go Broke Attending Holiday Parties
Having fun without breaking the bank.
Self-taught financial advisers keep it real about money management
Knowing your limits.
My Taxes Probably Are Going Up. Are Yours?
How to determine next year’s taxes.
How to Spend Your Extra FSA Money
The clock is ticking.