Today’s top story: Savings rates are staying low. Here’s why, and what to do. Also in the news: Ask a Points Nerd on how to celebrate the holidays without traveling, renting hotels for big events is dirt cheap at the moment, and the benefits of a ‘second chance’ checking account. Savings Rates Are Staying Low. […]
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Monday’s need-to-know money news
Today’s top story: How your mental health can affect how you save money. Also in the news: The holiday shopping episode of the Smart Money podcast, how to protect your credit when shopping for the holidays, and how to choose a secure credit card. Your Mental Health Can Affect How You Save Money How your […]
Q&A: A bill shows up twice in a credit report. Now what?
Dear Liz: I have been doing everything to raise my credit scores, which were horrible. I see some medical bills on my credit reports that seem identical. Should I try to dispute them or just let them go? I heard that if you try to dispute them, it allows the creditor to restart the clock […]
Q&A: To sell or not to sell that collection
Dear Liz: You’ve twice advised collectors to sell their collections while they’re still alive, rather than leave the task to an executor who won’t have the collector’s intimate knowledge of the market for these items. Collectibles bring joy to the collector and are probably most valued the closer the end approaches. It would bring sadness […]
Q&A: When paying debt hurts credit score
Dear Liz: You recently answered someone whose credit scores dropped more than 30 points after they paid off a mortgage. You mentioned that the big drop was probably because the mortgage was the person’s only installment loan. Credit scores like to see active use of both types of credit, installment loans and credit cards. Because […]
Friday’s need-to-know money news
Today’s top story: Financial advice that rarely fits all. Also in the news: Telehealth gets a boost among Medicare recipients in the pandemic, things to keep your holiday packages safe, and when you should transfer your credit card balance to a low-interest card. Financial Advice That Rarely Fits All One size doesn’t always work. Telehealth […]