They didn’t have app-based custodial debit cards when I was a kid, but my parents still did what they could to prepare me for financial self-sufficiency. Now that I have my own kids, the appeal of a kid-friendly debit card I can effortlessly load, monitor, and control from my phone is clear. I’ve spent hours … Read more
Quick Look If you receive your paycheck via direct deposit, then you probably already use e-checks. E-checks work like paper checks, but you authorize, send, and receive them electronically. Thanks to the efficiency of the ACH network, e-checks are fast and usually free to the consumer. E-checks are much safer and more secure than paper … Read more
Quick Look The Fed will likely raise interest rates by 75 basis points this week. Economists expect another 50-basis-point hike in December. Interest rates on credit cards and mortgages will continue to increase as a result. Savings account yields could increase as well. The Fed hopes to stop hiking rates early next year, but that … Read more
There are many credit cards offering lucrative rewards programs to consumers — thus, it can be a tough challenge to decide which ones provide the highest value for the money you spend each month. Rewards are distributed as points or airline miles. They may then be redeemed toward booking travel reservations or buying merchandise. They … Read more
If you’re a renter, JPMorgan Chase is coming for your checkbook. The banking and investment giant is piloting a new platform that allows property owners to bill and accept payment digitally. That’s good news if you, like many renters, only keep a checkbook because you have to pay rent. It may be even better news … Read more
Everyone enjoys a night out once in a while. Maybe you are one of those people who dine out more frequently. Then, you could be in the market for a credit card that will reward you for making all of those expenditures. The credit card companies are always looking for ways to attract new customers … Read more
Your parents warned you about all the missteps they made early in their credit journey. From facing foreclosure on their first house to racking up hundreds of dollars in late fees to the electric company, their credit score wasn’t always the rosy picture of a stable household it is today. So you’ve spent the last … Read more
Taxpayers are always looking for ways to save on their tax liability. Each year, as we all prepare our tax returns, we account for the expenses that were incurred. We do this for a variety of reasons to identify deductions that each of us might qualify to claim under the law. For some, those expenses … Read more
There are so many fundraising websites cropping up all across the internet. This method for raising money from large groups of like-minded donors has never been more popular. The way it works is very simple. Anyone seeking to finance a wide variety of projects and products initiates a campaign on a website. These include Kickstarter.com … Read more
Credit card debt can be one of the most damaging ways to impact your credit score. The more debt you have, the worse off it can be. If you are among the millions of Americans who are trying to raise their credit scores, getting rid of credit card debt is the very first step. Yet, … Read more