Get smart with your money
Today’s top story: Making sense of your credit report. Also in the news: Protecting your credit cards from data theft, four bills you may be able to eliminate in 2014, and the benefits of joining a credit union. The 5 Most Confusing Things on Your Credit Report Unlocking the mysteries of your credit report. How […]
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Today’s top story: Improving your budget in 2014. Also in the news: The little things that are killing your budget, eliminating excuse making, and how to start digging out from under holiday bills. How to Budget Better in the New Year Smart budgeting is essential to your financial health. 5 Small Things That Are Killing […]
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LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Saving for college, applying for admittance and getting financial aid can all be complicated processes, so it’s not surprising that many myths have sprung up about paying for education. The following five myths, however, can wind up costing you dearly: 1. Saving for college hurts financial aid. Saving in a child’s […]
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Today’s top story: Assessing the damage created by holiday spending. Also in the news: Stress testing your personal finances, New Year’s resolutions for baby boomers, and finding help with getting out of debt. Did the Holidays Hurt Your Credit? Analyzing the Christmas carnage. Stress-Testing Our Personal Finances Preparing your finances for unexpected crises. New Year’s […]
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Losing a job late in life can be devastating, and rebuilding can be tough. Here’s how writer Teresa Mears puts it: Americans in their 50s and 60s, who expected to be at the peak of their careers before retirement, are finding themselves playing catch-up. While they may never get back the lives they had before, […]
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Happy New Year! Today’s top story: How to start 2014 on the right financial foot. Also in the news: A millennial’s guide to personal finance, ways to cut taxes while saving for retirement, and apps that will help you reach your financial goals for the new year. 7 Tips to Get Your New Year’s Money […]
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If you’re stressing about holiday bills and other year-end expenses, the following suggestions might help you have a better 2014: Try a no-spend month. The first time I led a “no spend” experiment at MSN nearly a decade ago, readers reported saving hundreds of dollars. But the bigger benefit was their increased awareness at how […]
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Today’s top story: The scary statistics of identity theft. Also in the news: A money checklist for 2014, financial resolutions for the new year, and what will cost more in ’14. These Identity Theft Statistics Are Even Scarier Than You’d Expect Don’t become a statistic. Your New Year Money Checklist Preparing your money for the […]
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Dear Liz: I have about $16,000 in student loans at 6.8% interest. At the current monthly payment it would take me about 7.5 years to pay them off. I contribute 10% of my income to my company’s Roth 401(k) plan (my employer matches the first 6% contributed). I also contribute 3% to the stock purchasing […]
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Dear Liz: I have rental property, own my home outright, am contributing to a 401(k) and have a pension, so finances are not a big issue. I do have an adult son in law school and would like to know the most fiscally prudent way to pay for it. Are there limits on gifts, and […]
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