Dear Liz: My FICO score is just under 800. The reason given that it is not higher is that I don’t have any non-mortgage leases. What would be the cheapest way to remedy this without buying something expensive? Answer: When you get your credit scores, you may be given sometimes-vague reasons for why they’re not […]
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Friday’s need-to-know money news
Today’s top story: What to do when you get an IRS audit notice. Also in the news: Budgeting for new parents, where to sell your stuff online, and how your credit score is linked to your chance of divorce. I Got an Audit Notice From the IRS — Now What? Take a deep breath. Budgeting […]
Thursday’s need-to-know money news
Today’s top story: How to keep Mother’s Day spending down. Also in the news: How the rise in student loan rates will affect borrowers, where to sell your stuff online, and will you see a Social Security check in your lifetime. Mother’s Day Spending Is up, but You Can Keep Costs Down It’s the thought […]
Wednesday’s need-to-know money news
Today’s top story: Goofed on your tax returns? Here’s what to do. Also in the news: 5 awful reasons to buy a stock, what newlyweds need to know about insurance, and does free shipping make you spend more money. Goofed on Your Tax Return? Here’s What to Do Don’t panic. 5 Awful Reasons to Buy […]
Tuesday’s need-to-know money news
Today’s top story: How to dodge scams and time-wasters in the online job market. Also in the news: Credit card bonuses are drifting further away, how job hopping can hurt Millennials in retirement, and how to fraud-proof your retirement savings. Online Jobs: How to Dodge Scams and Time-Wasters Don’t get taken for a ride. As […]
Why you need 3 savings accounts
Some of us hoard cash while paying 18% interest on a credit card balance. Others blow through a tax refund as if it were free money when it’s actually a return of our own hard-earned dollars. This brain quirk has a name: mental accounting. We treat money differently depending on where it comes from and […]