Refinance offers have poured into your mailbox over the past year, and you probably know several people who already refinanced their own homes. So should you join in? Or is now actually a beneficial time to refinance your mortgage? What about cashing out your equity? Maybe not, due to the following four factors… Mortgage rates [...]
Most of us are feeling a bit on edge about gas prices lately. So the last thing you need is even more trouble at the gas pump! But that’s exactly what can happen if you accidentally use a credit card machine that has been equipped with something called a “skimmer” that steals your card number [...]
We all know that too much debt is a bad thing. And in particular, you don’t want to throw away thousands of dollars on interest or enter retirement burdened by debt. On the other hand, credit cards can be useful tools at times, for many reasons. So how do you know that your credit card [...]
We often think of market downturns as bad things, but we can also reap some benefits from the situation. In particular, this might be the right time to pursue tax-saving opportunities such as a Roth conversion. What is a Roth conversion? When you first established your retirement account, you choose between a traditional or Roth [...]
Receiving a nice, fat tax refund check can provoke quite a bit of temptation. You might consider rushing off on a dream vacation, or at least purchasing an upgraded home entertainment system. But if you view your tax refund as a chance to get ahead and change your circumstances, it can make a significant difference [...]
You’re always hearing about the high cost of pay interest on debts, especially credit cards. And of course, no one enjoys wasting money! But there are even more reasons that paying off your debts can be a very wise decision. Freedom. Not only are you free from those notices that keep showing up in the [...]
We all know that saving for retirement is important. But when life throws unexpected events our way, savings can take a backseat to medical bills, a necessary move, or some other major expense. If you realize you’ve fallen behind, the following strategies can help you catch up your retirement savings. Increase your earnings. It seems [...]
We all want to live a comfortable lifestyle. Plus, a feeling of competition can creep in when you see your friends, neighbors, family members, or even complete strangers enjoying luxury items or fancy vacations. It’s only natural that you want to enjoy these things, too. But with easy access to credit, temptation can lead your [...]
When you think of the famous billionaire, Warren Buffett, you probably don’t assume that you have much in common. Surely he lives very differently from the rest of us, right? And surely his financial habits have nothing to do with your own life! Actually, there’s a lot we can learn from those who are more [...]
There’s been a lot of talk about becoming a “cashless society”. Most of us pay for purchases with debit or credit cards, or even through our phones. You’ve probably even noticed that many self check-out lines have gone cashless. Some retailers are considering the concept of ditching cash entirely. And yet, there are several good [...]