What is layaway anyway? If you’re old enough to remember the Sears catalog, you’re old enough to remember the old layaway plans that allowed consumers to pay for an item over time while it was “laid away” in the store’s stock room. That was the way a lot of people bought their TVs and appliances, [...]
Continue Reading →It’s not even Halloween yet, but if you weren’t absolutely shocked by the holiday themed commercials that have begun to pop up, then maybe you’re ready to do some holiday shopping right now. You wouldn’t be alone, as it is expected that nearly 40 percent will be heating up their credit cards in an attempt [...]
Continue Reading →The Southwest credit card 2 Free Flights is an offer too good to pass up!! At a time when most travel rewards credit cards are tightening the reins on their mileage programs, one is bucking the trend by making it ridiculously easy to earn free flights. For a limited time, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus [...]
Continue Reading →You would think that the main thing that separates the financial winners from the losers is money. Obviously, the more money people have, the more things they can buy, but that doesn’t necessarily translate into happiness. Even people who have financial success and make a lot of money can find themselves at its mercy if [...]
Continue Reading →Learning how to save money in these economic times may not be easy, but it is necessary, now more than ever. About the only certainty in life is that the unexpected will happen. While most of us would like to imagine the unexpected in shining terms, such as finally hitting the lotto, that’s not what [...]
Continue Reading →Using cash back and rewards points for holiday shopping has always been a great way to stretch your holiday budget and fill in the gaps on your gift list. But, even with the vast shopping malls offered by the rewards programs, it always seems to be a bit limiting and, often times, you know you’re [...]
Continue Reading →Are you seeking debt management solutions? Perhaps the most encouraging outcome of the latest recession is the increasing emphasis on debt reduction by most Americans. We are borrowing less and saving more, and hopefully, developing some more frugal habits that can lead to healthier finances in the future. Still, millions of people continue to struggle [...]
Continue Reading →You’ve seen the commercials with people blissfully depositing checks straight through their smart phones, or the father making an emergency fund transfer to aid his daughter stranded in a foreign land. Mobile banking is indeed sweeping the country. It’s convenient, it’s cool, and it’s safe, that according to security experts who understand something about encryption [...]
Continue Reading →It probably came as no surprise to most people when the major banks announced that they are going to start charging new debit card fees on our debit cards. Banks are in business to make money, and when they can’t find it in one place, they’ll look for it in another. Recent regulations, which have [...]
Continue Reading →Unlike past economic recoveries that spawned job growth across the broad cross-section of industries, this one has been much more gradual and the real job growth is concentrated in certain industries. So, for people who suffered layoffs from jobs for which they may have had a lifetime of experience and training, the new reality may [...]
Continue Reading →Many people would have a difficult time managing their finances without credit cards, and small businesses that need to cover short term shortfalls and manage their cash flow are no different. And, it’s important for small businesses to establish credit so they can have access to the financing needed to expand. Credit cards for small [...]
Continue Reading →Bank of America debit card fees, what this means to you. The real question is; will other banks likely follow suit? If so, how will it affect consumers? It was only a matter of time. The banking industry, which has seen its profits squeezed as a result of bad loans and more costly regulations, has [...]
Continue Reading →How do balance transfers work? If you are suddenly seeing more 0% balance transfer offers in your mailbox, you’re not alone. Millions of Americans are beginning to see what, until just recently, has been a somewhat rare occurrence. Since the credit crisis of 2008, banks had virtually shut down their balance transfer offers except for [...]
Continue Reading →What is the best rewards credit card when shopping for groceries, gas, clothes? Now that the banks are lurching towards charging fees on debit cards there really is no reason not to pay for groceries or gas with a cash-back rewards credit card. But, with the opportunity to earn up to 5% cash off of [...]
Continue Reading →Why do European credit cards have a chip instead of a magnetic strip and how does this relate to safety and travelers? The newest chip-and-PIN technology for credit cards is just around the corner in the United States which, with its multiple layers of security, is good for consumers. But, if you’re a traveler in [...]
Continue Reading →The problem facing the movement is both one of perception and of perspective. As hundreds of people swarm the parks and town centers of cities across the country Tweeting their rants over their iPhones and uploading their photos on Facebook using their iPads, most Americans snicker at the hypocrisy of their stated disdain for capitalism. And, as they target their tirade at the very corporations that actually generate their jobs and make the products they utilize to promulgate their movement, the rest of the country is left to wonder if they truly understand how shallow their message rings.
Continue Reading →Wall Street Protest: Protesters’ Rage is on Target, but They’re Not Americans are struggling with just who these people are and what they represent. So, naturally, they are also questioning their true motivations.
Continue Reading →For people who are frustrated with rewards programs that offer great point bonuses and marvelous redemption choices under a complicated structure of rules, limitations, and restrictions, the Capital One No Hassle Rewards card may be the answer. In the end, it can enable you to accumulate points as quickly as many bonus-laden programs, and its redemption policies and procedures are truly hassle-less.
Continue Reading →Unfortunately, the prospect of a foreclosure has become all too real for tens of thousands of people. And, the fact that there are still thousands of pending foreclosures is a partial cause of depressed home prices which threatens even more people when their homes become upside down in their mortgages. Avoiding foreclosure may not be easy in some circumstances, however in most cases it can be done if you take the right steps.
Continue Reading →Advantages of Online Banking: Never Drive to Your Bank Again! It may be a nice ritual for some people: Gathering your deposit book, your checks for deposit, your keys, and then driving your car down to your local bank. Or maybe you are able to plan your trips to the bank around other trips to nearby shops.
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