Apr 5, 2013
It’s a fact of life that we’re all going to die at some point. While it’s not something you probably want to think about, you can make things a lot easier on yourself (and your family) if you get everything in order now. Here are 7 simple steps to...
Apr 2, 2013
Tired of the fees, low interest, or bad service at your bank? The infographic below shows how to switch to a new bank.
Mar 25, 2013
Today with online banking and mobile apps, many people no longer bother to balance or reconcile their checking accounts. But even though bank errors are rare, there are still some good reasons to at least review your account monthly: See how much you’ve spent...
Mar 5, 2013
With interest rates on savings accounts near zero, what do you do with your money in savings? Here are 2 ideas: 1. Get a high-yield checking account. You can earn nearly 20 times the rate of the average savings account and also avoid typical checking account fees....
Feb 18, 2013
Given the volatile nature of the world we live in, it is prudent to prepare yourself with a basic supply of food, other necessities, and money—in case of an emergency or a change in life situation. Emergencies or Life Changes When you hear “emergency,” you probably...
Feb 8, 2013
1. Have money automatically deposited to your 401(k), savings account, or college savings account. This is a more sure way to build your savings. Although fewer than 40% of savers do this, it is easier to exercise self-control if your money is less available. 2. Each...
Jan 30, 2013
Before you sign a contract for a gym membership, read it carefully and understand what you are signing. Complaints about membership contracts are way up across the country. In 2012 in Utah, for example, the Better Business Bureau of Utah received 330 complaints...
Jan 23, 2013
Don’t buy a prepaid funeral plan. It’s wise to set aside some money to pay for your funeral in a savings account, investment account, or through life insurance, but it makes no sense to pre-pay a funeral because the cost of funerals is not going up any faster than the...
Jan 4, 2013
Avoid paying unnecessary fees to your bank every month. Check with your bank and see how you can configure your account to avoid ALL FEES. Don’t get trapped into, “Well, it’s only $10 a month.” They all add up! There may be a minimum balance requirement. Decide if you...
Dec 18, 2012
Interest rates are at historic lows. If your home or car loan is older than a year, chances are that you could save lots of money by refinancing. If you have tried to refinance, but didn’t qualify, try again. There are new government programs now that may work for...
Nov 28, 2012
Ask and you might receive. When Money magazine called 10 credit card lenders and merely asked them to lower their interest rates, 3 out of 10 did! If you have a car loan, ask if they can reduce the rate of that as well. This could also work in other areas of banking....
Sep 17, 2012
Many people are finding that they can go cashless, since you can now pay for just about everything with debit cards, credit cards, or an app on your mobile phone. 40% of adults have gone cashless for an entire week. Although being cashless may be convenient, it can...
Sep 12, 2012
In the article “9 Ways to Build Your Emergency Fund,” Dave Ramsey suggests ways to build a $1,000 starter emergency fund. Here’s a summary: 1. Get a second job. No fun, but it’s temporary. There may be some things you can do from home. 2. Sell...
Jul 15, 2012
Money magazine (May 2012, p. 12) offers the following advice for college seniors: “Don’t expect a job to come to you. Get out there and network with people.” –Matthew Doyle “Buy a used fuel-efficient car and brown-bag your lunch” –Christine Deloach “Always, always,...
