About the author:
Tracy ScottTracy Scott is a freelance writer who specializes in personal finance and higher education. As a contributor for Credit One Bank, she has combined her expertise in these two areas and managing credit to create informative, engaging content for readers. Her reading list always includes a seemingly odd mix of financial literacy articles and sweet romance novels. She holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin and has a background in higher education regulatory compliance.
Planning your wedding can be both exciting and overwhelming. From choosing a venue, deciding on the guest list, to planning every ceremonial detail, there’s plenty to consider in preparation for the big day. With the average wedding ceremony and reception costing $28,000, you and your partner may need to make some hard money decisions to avoid bankrupting your marriage in order to pay for your wedding.
Certificates of deposit (CDs) could be a good investment option if you have a large sum of cash and a short-term savings goal. These federally insured, low-risk investments offer a predictable fixed rate of return and allow you to bypass broker commissions by investing directly with a bank or credit union.
Whether you’re still hunkered down in your home or just spending less time out and about since the coronavirus pandemic, chances are you’ve found yourself with some time to kill. And you can only binge watch so many movies and television series. So, if you’re not using this newfound time to learn a new language or work on your great American novel, why not use some of it to develop something that may actually pay off once things get back to normal?….whatever “normal” turns out to be. Why not take this opportunity to begin developing better financial habits?
Until human beings figure out how to survive without food, “groceries” is one of those expense categories in your monthly budget that's here to stay. Yes, there are things you can do to save on groceries, such as shopping on certain days of the week, clipping coupons, buying in bulk, purchasing food that’s in season, buying generic brands, and more. But did you know that how you pay for your groceries could also save you money?
If a lack of credit history or a poor credit history is standing between you and a credit card, it may seem like an insurmountable obstacle to overcome. It’s difficult to get a credit card without some history of using credit, but using a credit card is one of the primary ways to build a credit history.
One of the benefits credit cards offer is convenience. They make it easier to pay for everyday expenses and larger purchases that would otherwise require carrying a lot of cash. But, if you’ve settled into making only the minimum required payment each month on your credit card, you may find you’re paying an excessive amount of interest and your outstanding balance seems to be decreasing at a snail’s pace.
Interest charges can take a big bite out of most any budget. But did you know that certain interest payments could actually help lower your income tax bill? When you itemize eligible interest expenses on your federal income tax return, you may be able to keep more cash in your bank account by reducing your IRS tax liability.
Page 1 of 2
Tracy Scott is a freelance writer who specializes in personal finance and higher education. As a contributor for Credit One Bank, she has combined her expertise in these two areas and managing credit to create informative, engaging content for readers. Her reading list always includes a seemingly odd mix of financial literacy articles and sweet romance novels. She holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin and has a background in higher education regulatory compliance.
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.