You need to have “x” amount of savings in your savings account. You need to have “x” amount of investments in your portfolio or 401K. You need to have “x” amount of dollars in your emergency funds. You’re told you need “xyz” to have healthy finances. But where do you start if you live on …
When you live paycheck to paycheck, the days before the money goes to your account can leave you tossing and turning. You worry about the late payment on one bill, and whether you’ll have enough money to fill up your tank for the week. It’s a stress-inducing situation that affects people who live on government …
The word “subprime” might leave a bad taste in your mouth. After all, many blame excessive subprime mortgage lending as the reason for the 2008 recession (although this has been disputed). Also, many people have simply had bad experiences with subprime lenders in general. Then again, subprime lending has helped some to manage serious …
Last fall, a CNBC report came out which revealed 94% of Americans failed a basic personal finance quiz with just six-questions. This spring, Forbes published an article, revealing that 44% of Americans don’t have enough cash to cover a $400 emergency. We can go on and on with personal finance stats but we’ll spare you …
In some scenarios, a credit freeze may seem like a lifeline. Freezing your credit allows you to restrict access to your credit report, so that unwanted parties, namely identity thieves, can’t see your account. It’s more or less a security tool, a helpful one in a world where cyber hacks and fraud can threaten your …
When it comes to managing finances, it really does seem like you can’t have your cake and eat it too. Why? Because in these modern times, it’s tricky to save and pay off debt at the same time. It’s as if we have to pick one: either we pay off that loan faster or add …
By now, you know there are three major credit bureaus – TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. But you probably wonder why there are three. After all, don’t you have just one score? How could three credit scores give the same, consistent information? Here’s the answer to both questions: you have more than one credit score and …
Apps are like supplements: they can’t make you stronger or any fitter, but they can help you reach your goals faster. The same goes for personal finance and credit apps. They won’t save money for you, but they can help you save money, and they won’t increase your credit score but they can make the …
When you’re aiming for a better credit score, the last thing you want is to have your credit score take a hit. Unfortunately, little errors and mishaps can lower your score. One common reason for this is the “unauthorized credit inquiry”. Essentially what happens, is that some unknown party does a credit pull and reviews …
