Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

credit-cardsToday’s top story: The pros and cons of paying your taxes with a credit card. Also in the news: Discharging private student loans, financial rules for 40 year-olds, and what FICO’s new credit score means for you.

Should You Pay Your Taxes With a Credit Card?
The pros and cons.

Can You Discharge Private Student Loans in Bankruptcy?
It won’t be easy.

40 Financial Rules For 40 Year-Olds
It’s time to get serious.

FICO Will Use a New Credit Score That Includes Your Bill Payments
What this means for your score.

Smart Ways to Trim Your Water Bill This Spring
Gardening season is nearly upon us.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: How to wreck someone else’s credit. Also in the news: How much you need to save in case of an emergency, five tax resolutions for next April 15th, and ten steps to a smarter spending plan.

4 Ways You Can Wreck Somebody Else’s Credit
Not that you should, of course.

In Case Of Emergency, You Need To Save… How Much, Exactly?
Preparing for the unexpected.

Make These 5 Tax Resolutions For Next April 15
It’s never too early to start working on next year’s taxes.

10 Steps to a Smarter Spending Plan
Spend wisely.

6 Financial Items to Include on Your Spring Cleaning List
Tidying up your financial life.

Q&A: Credit freezes

Dear Liz: Is there a way to lock my credit history and access to prevent the unscrupulous from opening accounts in my name? Maybe I’m rare, but I have enough existing credit cards, don’t have a mortgage and essentially have no debt, and I want to keep it that way. I suspect businesses that make their living issuing credit reports will resist this ability, but I want to do all I can to make it tough for anyone to steal my identity.

Answer: You can lock up your credit reports with what’s known as a credit freeze (also called a security freeze). The three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — have information about how to do this on their websites. You also can find general information about credit freezes on Consumer Reports’ site.

Credit freezes can prevent new account identity theft — someone opening new credit accounts in your name. Lenders typically check credit reports when they get new credit applications. If they can’t access your reports thanks to a credit freeze, they’re unlikely to approve the application.

Of course, the freeze applies to you as well. If you change your mind and want to apply for a new account, you’ll need to temporarily thaw the freeze.

Other entities also check credit reports, so you may need to lift the freeze if you apply for a job, insurance, new utilities or cellphone service. You typically have to pay fees (which range from $2 to $15, depending on your state) to each bureau to lock up your credit and another set of fees to thaw it.

Credit freezes won’t interfere with your ability to use your credit cards or prevent your current lenders from accessing your reports.

Credit freezes also won’t prevent other types of identity theft, including tax refund fraud, medical identity theft and criminal identity theft (which occurs when criminals give law enforcement your information when they get arrested, rather than their own).

Still, credit freezes are a good solution if your identity has already been stolen or you’re at high risk because your Social Security number has been swiped or exposed in a data breach.

Credit bureaus may suggest you put a temporary fraud alert on your reports instead, or pay for credit monitoring or identity theft “protection” (which actually doesn’t protect you against anything but simply offers an early warning if your reports are compromised). A credit freeze is a more secure solution, but you have to weigh the potential hassle and cost against the benefit.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: How you may be accidentally wrecking your credit. Also in the news: What an unexpected windfall means for your taxes, the money moves you should make in March, and how to give your 401(k) a boost.

5 Ways You’re Accidentally Wrecking Your Credit
Ignorance isn’t bliss.

Received a Bunch of Cash? How It Will Impact Your Taxes
Don’t book that trip around the world just yet.

Your Best Money Moves for March
What to do to get ready for spring.

Amp Up Your 401(k) No Matter How Much You Earn
Give your savings a boost.

Friday’s need-to-know money news

155403-425x282-Mortgage-LateToday’s top story: What a missed mortgage payment can do to your credit. Also in the news: How to turn your retirement savings into income, tools that will simplify your life and save you money, and what we can learn about money from the movies.

How Much Will My Credit Score Drop If I Miss a Mortgage Payment?
A single missed payment can have a major impact.

What the Oscar Movies Can Teach Us About Money
Show me the money!

How To Turn Your Retirement Savings Into Retirement Income
What to do with your nest egg.

5 Tools That Will Help You Simplify – and Save
Removing temptation from your inbox.

Top 5 Tax Scams of 2015 to Avoid
Don’t fall into a trap.

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

smartphones_financeToday’s top story: Americans and their 401(k) savings. Also in then news: How to make taxes easier with your smartphone, what you should know about long-term care insurance, and what to do if your teen is destined for bad credit.

Good News and Bad News for Americans’ 401(k) Savings
Get your hand out of the cookie jar.

Want to Make Taxes Easier? There’s an App for That
Apps that can help you track your receipts all year long.

What you need to know about long-term care insurance
Protecting you and your family.

4 warning signs your teen is destined for bad credit
How to get them back on the right path.

6 Things You’re Spending Too Much Money On
Finding cheaper alternatives.

Monday’s need-to-know money news

Divorce-Money_43Today’s top story: What you need to know about taxes if you’re getting divorced. Also in the news: Honest mistakes that could ruin your credit, what you’ll be paying more for in 2015, and why you might need more care insurance.

Getting Divorced? 8 Things You Must Know about Taxes
Changes during a difficult time.

5 Honest Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Credit
When little mistakes become big ones.

15 things that will cost more in 2015
Prepare to pay more.

Why You Might Need More Car Insurance Than You Have
A little fender tap could end up costing you big bucks.

5 Smart Ways to Use Your Bonus
Instead of piddling it away.

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: How to come back from a financial crisis. Also in the news: Simple ways to save for a house, tips on how to avoid ATM fees, and why you may be paying more for your home repair costs.

How to Bounce Back From a Financial Crisis
Slow and steady.

10 simple ways to save for a house
Every bit helps.

5 Ways to Avoid ATM Fees
Don’t give the bank any more than you have to.

Why You Soon May Have to Pick Up More Home Repair Costs
Your homeowners insurance deductible may be on the rise.

3 Spooks That Can Haunt Your Credit
Time for some ghostbusting.

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

847_interestrates1Today’s top story: The everyday things that are hurting your credit. Also in the news: Whipping your 401(k) into shape, how to cope with low interest rates, and the ten best places to retire on Social Security alone.

5 Everyday Things That Hurt Your Credit
Your furry best friend could be trouble.

How to Whip Your 401(k) Into Shape
Unlocking your 401(k)’s full potential.

4 Strategies for Coping with Low Interest Rates
Counteract low interest rates by avoiding risky investments.

10 Best Places to Retire on Social Security Alone
The locations may surprise you.

8 secrets to building a budget you can live with
Budgeting doesn’t have to be painful.

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: How to build credit faster. Also in the news: Debunking financial planning misconceptions, the dangers of overdraft fees, and why too many people are underestimating post-retirement health care costs.

Will More Credit Cards Help Me Build Credit Faster?
Proceed with caution.

6 Financial Planning Misconceptions — Debunked
Everyone can use a little help.

How to Avoid Paying Your Bank $70 to Borrow $6 for 6 Days
The perils of overdrafts.

Too Many Underestimate Healthcare Costs In Retirement
Planning ahead realistically is crucial.

When To Declare Bankruptcy
When to make one of life’s most difficult decisions.