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6 Easy Money Hacks to Improve Your Finances

July 16th, 2014 by Alice Bryant
Looking for financial success but not sure where you should start? There are so many loopholes and hacks out there that you’ve probably never heard of - and may never will if you don’t do your research. Of course, we would never, ever suggest any type of illegal or morally unethical money tip. There are, though, plenty of tricks of the trade that are entirely within the lanes of the law. The following money hacks are useful, low-profile and, of course, legal.
 

It’s Time for the Talk: Discussing Finances with Your Partner

July 15th, 2014 by Alice Bryant

Financial difficulties are incredibly common among married and even non-married partners nowadays. While the idea of sitting down and discussing your financial problems with your partner may seem like a daunting task, not doing so could lead to even greater hardships. Having a sit-down talk with your partner will allow you both to figure out what is best for you financially, and what you can both do to recover from money problems.

Is Peer Pressure Making You Poor?

July 10th, 2014 by Alice Bryant

Keeping up with the Jones' now has some competition. It's keeping up with Charlie and Norm, your buddies from college. Could it be that many of your financial troubles stem from trying to keep up with the expensive tastes of your friends that go beyond your meager budget? Many of us are almost unable to decline our friends when we really shouldn't do x, y, or z, because it just isn't in the budget.

Should You Go to Credit Counseling?

July 9th, 2014 by Alice Bryant

Credit counseling has become a term that many people are familiar with, but they may not be sure of its meaning or the full implications of what can be accomplished when it’s utilized. Credit counseling often conjures up images of guidance to those who are under an excessive burden of debt, which can certainly be an accurate depiction. However, working with a credit counselor can also be beneficial for other reasons, such as helping consumers to improve their overall credit score, even if they’re not in a large amount of debt.

Is Tuition Reimbursement Becoming the Norm?

July 3rd, 2014 by Alice Bryant

College. University. When people - particularly parents - hear these words mentioned, they usually imagine looming debts from paying off a child's tuition or the other expensive elements of attending any higher level educational institution. At most universities, the student or the parents are expected to chalk up 40 to 60 grand a year for their college experience. That's the equivalent of buying a sedan-class BMW every year! In the past few decades, the prices for college textbooks have jumped almost eightfold. This surpasses the regular yearly inflation rate by two magnitudes of ten. 

Is Google the Future of Credit Reporting Agencies?

June 19th, 2014 by Alice Bryant

The Internet is a beast with a long memory. Sometimes the photos and personal information it retains creates a one-sided and unfair impression of an individual, and sometimes the information about the person is just plain wrong. No one can ever assure themselves that this information will not come back to haunt them in any future credit granting decision. To this end, more and more people are making a claim that they have certain rights to privacy that the Internet presently ignores. These rights they say extend to personal information that is normally found in or derived from credit reporting agencies.

How to Protect Your Child from Identity Theft

June 18th, 2014 by Alice Bryant

Unfortunately, having your identity stolen as a child typically makes things difficult for a young adult. For example, they'll likely experience issues when applying for loans for colleges. Employers and landlords often take a look at credit reports. Therefore, it is important to be aware of this problem, so you can take the appropriate measures to protect your child from identity theft.

Turning Off Your Credit Cards: How New Technology Will Help Stop Fraud

June 11th, 2014 by Alice Bryant

A great answer to preventing fraudulent use of credit cards is here. Many of us have been victimized in some form with credit fraud, especially if you shopped at Target or one of the other companies involved in the December 2013 credit card fraud. Even if you don’t lose money, it is very inconvenient  to obtain new credit cards. Plus, the identity theft will have access to your personal information. They can use this to open new accounts in your name and easily damage your credit score.

Cash vs Credit: Which Should You Carry?

June 4th, 2014 by Alice Bryant
To generate money, one must know how to spend money. Among the most common forms of spending in the 21st century includes cash and credit cards. Both come with unique advantages and disadvantages, but that doesn't necessarily mean one mode is more dominant than the other. It is true that the plastic card is slowly replacing the greenback in many areas of consumer culture. But how could something as old as history of civilization itself suddenly fall to a recent innovation?
 

Credit Tips for Recent College Grads

May 29th, 2014 by Alice Bryant

Completing college and beginning a career is a heady experience. It is also a time when many people begin the process of building solid credit histories and ratings. Starting off on the right foot will make it easier to build financial security in the years ahead, and always have access to credit when it is needed for major purchases. Here are some tips that will help achieve this goal of financial stability. 

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