Thursday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: How women who retire with their husbands ofter lose out. Also in the news: Why the cashless trend doesn’t have all shoppers sold, what rising DTI limits mean for your next mortgage, and how to protect your frequent flyer miles from hackers.

How Women Who Retire With Their Husbands Often Lose Out
Losing years of income.

Why the Cashless Trend Doesn’t Have All Shoppers Sold
Cash still matters.

What Rising DTI Limits Mean for Your Next Mortgage
Your debt-to-income ratio is key to mortgage approval.

Protect Your Frequent Flyer Miles from Hackers
Miles have become a hot commodity.

Monday’s need-to-know money news

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.

Friday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: What really matters with your first credit card. Also in the news: Getting a safer mortgage using lessons from 2008, what to do if Hurricane Florence hits your home and/or mortgage, and how to help Hurricane Florence victims.

What Really Matters With Your First Credit Card
Starting off strong.

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

What to Do If Hurricane Florence Hits Your Home, Mortgage
Take a deep breath.

How to Help Hurricane Florence Victims
The rebuilding begins.

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: 4 quick financial wins you can score in an hour. Also in the news: Why getting a mortgage may be easier now – and riskier, how to protect your savings from inflation, and why trip insurance may not help if Hurricane Florence ruins your cruise.

Got an Hour? Chalk Up 4 Quick Financial Wins
Four tasks under fifteen minutes each.

Why Getting a Mortgage May Be Easier Now — and Riskier
It’s all about your debt-to-income ratio.

Inflation Erodes Your Savings. Here’s How to Shore Them Up
Strategies to keep inflation at bay.

Why trip insurance may not help if Hurricane Florence ruins your cruise vacation
The itinerary deviation clause.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: Why your parents’ money guru may not be right for you. Also in the news: Home loans with 3% down for 2018, what hotel credit card upgrades mean for your bottom line, and how the student loan grace period works.

Your Parents’ Money Guru May Not Be Right for You
Striking out on your own.

HomeReady and Home Possible: Loans With 3% Down for 2018
What you need to know.

What Hotel Credit Card Upgrades Mean for Your Bottom Line
Sweet new perks.

How the Student Loan Grace Period Works
Interest will still accrue.

Why reverse mortgages are a harder sell now

The millions of Americans who haven’t saved enough money for retirement still have a potential safety net: their home equity. But recent changes to reverse mortgages mean seniors and their families may have tougher decisions to make.

In my latest for the Associated Press, the changes to reverse mortgages that are causing people to think twice.

Monday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: How that new store card could torpedo your credit score. Also in the news: Insuring expensive gifts, the right mortgage to ask, and how to quickly figure out how much spending money you’ll have for the year.

That New Store Card Could Torpedo Your Credit Score
That immediate discount could cost you in the long run.

Splurged on an Expensive Gift? Don’t Forget to Insure It
Protect your purchase.

13 Mortgage Questions to Ask — and the Answers You Want
Everything you need to know.

How to Quickly Figure Out How Much Spending Money You’ll Have for the Year
Calculating discretionary income.

Friday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: How to join a deluge of insurance claims for flooded cars. Also in the news: The pros and cons of zero down payment mortgages, what investors need to know about the SEC hack, and 5 budgeting apps that will save you money.

How to Join a Deluge of Insurance Claims for Flooded Cars
Drying out after Harvey and Irma.

Ins, Outs, Pros and Cons of Zero Down Payment Mortgages
What to look out for.

The SEC Hack: What Investors Need to Know
Could you be affected?

5 Budgeting Apps That Will Save You Money
A budget right in your pocket.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: How 3 people conquered credit trouble and bought homes. Also in the news: Top 10 apps for buying the right car at the right time, biting on Whole Foods new prices, and 6 Equifax hack rumors fact-checked.

How 3 People Conquered Credit Trouble and Bought Homes
How to come back from credit trouble.

Top 10 Apps for Buying the Right Car at the Right Price
Get the car you want at the price you want.

Should You Bite On Whole Foods’ New Prices? Maybe Not
Are you really saving?

6 Equifax hack rumors fact-checked
Fact from fiction.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: How to lower your monthly mortgage payment. Also in the news: 5 things to do before changing careers, a Labor Day look at America’s workforce, and 3 myths that could tank your credit score.

How to Lower Your Monthly Mortgage Payment
Taking the first steps.

Want to Change Careers? Do These 5 Things First
Preparing for change.

Hard at Work: A Labor Day Look at America’s Workforce
Where we’ve been and where we’re going.

3 myths that could tank your credit score
Don’t believe the hype.