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This week’s money news

December 27, 2023 By Liz Weston

This week’s top story: Should you use your home or car as collateral for a credit card? In other news: 5 financial new year’s resolutions for 2024, airline that has been the most reliable in 2023, and to cash a check at any bank or check-cashing service.

Should You Use Your Home or Car as Collateral for a Credit Card?
Asset-secured cards backed by collateral rather than cash can give consumers more spending power and lower interest rates, but they won’t be the best fit for everyone.

5 Financial New Year’s Resolutions for 2024
Use 2024 to shore up your financial knowledge, set goals, earn more interest, pay off student debt and more.

Which Airline Has Been the Most Reliable in 2023?
Alaska and Delta are neck-and-neck for most reliable based on the data, with Alaska coming out slightly ahead.

Can I Cash a Check at Any Bank or Check-Cashing Service?
Not every bank and credit union will cash checks if you aren’t a customer, so you’ll need to evaluate your options.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: 5 financial new year's resolutions for 2024, cash a check, check-cashing service, credit card, home or car as collateral for a credit card, the most reliable airline 2023

Friday’s need-to-know money news

April 24, 2020 By Liz Weston

Today’s top story: How to get cash from your life insurance policy. Also in the news: How to manage your credit score during a crisis, how to tell if your financial advisor is really helping you, and how much a credit card cash advance will really cost you.

How to Get Cash From Your Life Insurance Policy
Four ways to tap into your policy.

How to Manage Your Credit Score During a Crisis
Strategic choices.

Crisis Test: Is Your Financial Advisor Really Helping You?
Are your best interests being put first?

Here’s What a Credit Card Cash Advance Will Really Cost You
Check that APR.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: cash advance, Coronavirus, credit card, Credit Score, financial advisors, life insurance

Friday’s need-to-know money news

January 24, 2020 By Liz Weston

Today’s top story: What you need to know about the new FICO score. Also in the news: 5 reasons to add beneficiaries to your investment accounts now, 5 home improvements that may not pay off when you sell, and what to do if you lose your credit or debit card while traveling.

Worried About the New FICO Score? Here’s What to Know — and Do
Get the details.

5 Reasons to Add Beneficiaries to Your Investment Accounts Now
Making things easier on your loved ones.

5 Home Improvements That May Not Pay Off When You Sell
Skip the chef’s kitchen.

What to Do If You Lose Your Credit or Debit Card While Traveling
Rule #1 – Don’t panic.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: credit card, Credit Score, debit card, FICO score, home improvements, investment account beneficiaries, lost card, traveling

Monday’s need-to-know money news

September 17, 2018 By Liz Weston

Today’s top story: What really matters with your first credit card. Also in the news: Having more than one life insurance policy, getting a safe mortgage using these post-crisis tips, and questions to ask yourself to live a better financial life.

What Really Matters With Your First Credit Card
The new foundation of your credit history.

Can You Have More Than One Life Insurance Policy?
The short answer is yes.

Get a Safer Mortgage Using These Post-Crisis Tips
Lessons learned from 2008.

Questions to Ask Yourself to Live a Better Financial Life
31 questions that need answers.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: credit card, first credit card, improving your financial life, life insurance, life insurance policies, mortgages

Friday’s need-to-know money news

March 23, 2018 By Liz Weston

Today’s top story: The single parent’s guide to life insurance. Also in the news: How to pay your taxes with a credit card if you must, life insurance and suicide, and how to prepare your kids for “adulting.”

The Single Parent’s Guide to Life Insurance
Protecting your children’s future.

If You Insist on Paying Taxes With a Credit Card, Here’s How
Don’t pay more than you already have to.

Does Life Insurance Cover Suicide?
Practical issues to address.

Here’s how to prepare your kids for ‘adulting’
Having the “money talk.”

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: adulting, credit card, kids and money, life insurance, paying taxes, single parents, suicide, Taxes

Q&A: Frequent flier cards

March 13, 2017 By Liz Weston

Dear Liz: I have an airline credit card but I find it really hard to use the frequent flier miles I get. The “free” flights have gotten more expensive (they take more miles) and harder to find. I’m getting sick of paying an annual fee for nothing. Would I be better off with a cash-back card?

Answer: Good cash-back rewards cards typically offer rebates of 1% to 2% on most purchases, and some have rotating categories that offer rebates of 5% to 6%. If you’re not an elite frequent flier or trying to amass miles for a special trip, then putting most of your spending on a cash-back card can make sense.

Think twice about closing that airline card, though. It likely offers some perks worth keeping, such as free checked bags and priority boarding. If you take one or two flights a year, the card may pay for itself.

Filed Under: Credit Cards, Q&A Tagged With: credit card, frequent flier miles, q&a, reward cards

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