Posts By This Author

How Many Credit Cards Are Too Many?
Credit cards can increase your purchasing power. Just one credit card can give card members a convenient way to buy big-ticket items, cover emergency expenses, and pay for vacations without tapping into their checking or savings accounts. Multiply that power by three, and it might seem excessive. But not to everyone.

FICO® Score vs Credit Score
Your credit score can affect the type of car you drive, the credit cards you qualify for, where you live (both if you buy or rent a home), the job you get—even the premiums you pay for car insurance in some states. But just what is this mysterious three-digit number known as your credit score? And do you have only one?

What is APR on a Credit Card?
Three little letters can significantly influence your finances: A…P…R. This often misunderstood acronym stands for “Annual Percentage Rate” and represents the cost of borrowing money.

2020 Financial Resolutions
Optimism can be contagious, but it doesn’t always seem to be that way when it comes to New Year’s resolutions. According to a YouGov® Omnibus survey, 90% of respondents with resolutions in 2018 were confident that they would stick to them. But, overall, 80% of Americans surveyed agreed that most people don’t stick to their New Year’s resolutions.

The Difference Between Credit Cards and Debit Cards
Paying cash for your purchases makes it easier to limit your spending. If you’ve struggled with debt in the past and need to keep a close eye on your finances, paying cash is an effective way to do so because you can only spend the funds you have available. But choosing to pay with cash over a credit card or debit card could cost you. That’s because cash payments don’t offer any of the consumer perks of paying by credit card or debit card.

What’s the Difference Between a High-Yield Jumbo CD and a Regular CD?
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.

Using Credit Cards for Grocery Shopping
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?

Getting a Credit Card with No or Bad Credit History
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.