Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: How kids influenced by social media push parents to overspend on back-to-school shopping. Also in the news: How one man paid off nearly $120K of debt in 5 years, the number one airline rewards program, and the pros and cons of giving your child a credit card. Back-to-School Shopping: Kids Influenced by […]

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How to mess up a variable annuity

Variable annuities are complex insurance products — so complex that what people actually buy and what they think they’re buying may be quite different. Those misunderstandings can end up costing them, or their heirs, a lot of money. For the uninitiated: Variable annuities are insurance company contracts that allow people to invest money in a […]

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Monday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: Green Dot launches 3% cash back and savings account. Also in the news: Apps that could prompt impromptu spending, how to avoid lifestyle creep, and how to financially plan for having kids. Green Dot Launches 3% Cash Back and Savings Account A new offering from Green Dot. These Types of Apps Could […]

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Q&A: Resetting the Social Security clock

Dear Liz: I read that you can pay Social Security back the payments you’ve received in order to “reset the clock” and get a larger benefit. Is that true or did I misunderstand the article? My husband started two years ago to claim Social Security benefits at age 67, but if he had waited until […]

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Q&A: This is why credit scores are so confusing

Dear Liz: I am from Germany. I have had a bank account in America for over one year. Now I get my FICO score. After six months it was 738, half a year later, it was 771 and one month after that, 759. Why does it change in such a short time? Is it the […]

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Friday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: Don’t let lifestyle creep sneak up on you. Also in the news: 7 steps to buying a house, do you need a tax ID number, and how to make sure you don’t lose your credit card rewards when closing the card. Don’t Let Lifestyle Creep Sneak Up on You Living within your […]

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Thursday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: Don’t be duped by these phone and email scams. Also in the news: Help with checking your finances, how a single mom paid off nearly $80K in debt in eight months, and 1 in 5 Americans are hiding this financial secret from their spouses. Don’t Be Duped by These Phone and Email […]

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Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: Regretting your Equifax settlement choice? You can change it. Also in the news: What to buy (and skip) in August, considering CDs as savings interest rates fall, and how to wean your adult child off your credit cards. Regrets About Your Equifax Settlement Choice? You Can Change It You might want that […]

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Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: How to protect yourself after the Capital One data breach. Also in the news: Things to watch out for in the Equifax data breach settlement, why you need a midyear budget check-in, and how much you’ll need to invest each month in order to retire with a million dollars. How to Protect […]

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Don’t be duped by these phone and email scams

Some of us in the personal finance realm have a weird little hobby: We try to scam the scam artists. We’re not out to steal their money — just their time. When fraudsters call to say we’re about to be arrested for tax debt, our Social Security number has been “suspended,” or a loved one […]

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