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The financial experiences people have early on, whether positive or negative, shape their relationships with money for life. They can affect how people handle paycheck deposits, savings accounts, bills, and credit cards well into adulthood.
Continue ReadingA good education is priceless—but it can also be pricey. From notebooks and notepads to books and backpacks to the perfect first-day-of-school outfit, annual back-to-school shopping for supplies can quickly snowball into an unexpected budget-breaker. Fortunately, school supplies are also one of the educational costs you have the most control over.
Working in the so-called gig economy (the labor market made up of part-time, short-term, and freelance jobs, often in combination) is not for everyone. Some people, particularly those who enjoy more personal freedom and may not do well in a cubicle environment, embrace it. Others find themselves in it as a matter of necessity more than choice.
Nothing smells quite like the inside of a brand-new car. But that new-car smell, as intoxicating as it may be, could cost you thousands of dollars more than a similarly featured ride with a slightly less aromatic interior. Given that a vehicle is the second-largest purchase (after a home) most of us will make in our lifetimes, it’s worth weighing the pros and cons of going new versus used on your next car or truck purchase. Doing so could help streamline the buying process and save you time, effort, and hopefully some cash. So consider the following before signing on the dotted line for your next vehicle.
Goodbye traditional credit cards, hello chip cards! By now, your credit card provider has most likely sent you a new card emblazoned with a metal chip on the front. Credit cards with EMV (Europay, MasterCard®, and Visa®) chips have been used in Europe and Canada for years and are becoming a global standard. However, the new technology has left many Americans confused when it comes to the transaction process.
Do you know your credit score? If so, congratulations! You’re among the 40% of Americans who do, according to a LendingTree study. However, knowing your credit score is one thing—understanding it is quite another. In that same study, only 10% of Americans actually understood their score and what makes a perfect one.
This material is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified tax advisor, attorney or financial advisor. Readers should consult with their own tax advisor, attorney or financial advisor with regard to their personal situations.