8 Tips For Starting an Emergency Fund

What would you do if you suddenly lost your job today, or have fallen ill for a couple of weeks and you’re not able to go to work? What if you find out that you urgently need to repair the leaking pipes in your basement or replace a portion of your roof after a storm?

The truth is this: we will all encounter an urgent, unexpected expense at one point or another. No matter how prepared we feel, life will always surprise us in unexpected ways.

But another sad truth: Americans don’t have enough money set aside for emergencies.

According to a survey […] Read more

7 Ways to Budget For the Holidays

It’s almost the season to be merry. As the holidays approach, people spend without reproach. The merriment in the air spreads right through your wallet, tempting you to buy, share and give gifts to make others happy. This is after all, the season of giving. In which case, it almost always implies that you need to spend, perhaps, more than the usual months of the year.

It’s great to play Santa and all, giving thoughtful gifts and hosting fun parties. But come to think of it: how many times in the past years did you go overboard and spent more for […] Read more

8 Ways to Make the Most Out of a Pay Raise

Congratulations! You finally got that well-deserved raise! After all, you spent the last several years working for the company and dedicated your skills, knowledge, and expertise to your job. Your boss finally noticed and acknowledged all the hard work that you do, and starting on your next payday, your salary is going to be higher than usual.

Getting a raise is one of the best things that can happen to your career. Although projections say that the average pay raise in the US for 2018 hovers around 3%, while well-performing employees get around 4.5% t0 5% increase, it’s still a raise.

If […] Read more

9 Tips to Help Your Child Build Credit

Many years ago, your child was just a baby who has not a single worry in the world. As the years pass by, your child gets older and older and it would be just a couple of years before they leaves the nest for the real world. By this time, your desire as a parent is that your child is equipped enough to face the mounting responsibilities, especially when it comes to their finances.

Like most people say, “teach them young,” and you want to do the same when it comes to your child’s financial management. When it’s time for them […] Read more

Home Loan Tips: Everything You Need to Know About Home Mortgage Loans

Buying a home is going to be one of the biggest purchases that most people will ever make. Most mortgages are for 15 or even 30 years and you’re financing hundreds of thousands of dollars over that time frame. You want to learn everything you possibly can to not only make yourself look like a great candidate to lenders, but also so you can save as much money as possible. Spend some time reading up on everything you need to know about home mortgages and catch the home loan tips at the end that can save you tens of thousands […] Read more

9 Unexpected Expenses You Need to Plan For

Life happens. In the blink of an eye, your paycheck yesterday could be spent towards a medical emergency tomorrow. It’s prudent to say that we should always anticipate the unexpected, but without concrete actions and actual preparations, you’ll always be caught off-guard.

You plan for most things in life. You prepared to ace the interview for the job you have right now. You’ve planned your wedding to the littlest detail. You even made a checklist for that vacation you’ve been so excited about. But what about the emergencies like a trip to the ER, an urgent dental procedure or home repair? […] Read more

Top Ways to Save Money on Your Monthly Bills

We all go through the monthly ritual of paying our bills. Whether it’s food and grocery expenses, to essential utilities like water, energy and internet, it’s nearly impossible to survive the modern lifestyle without having to availing, and ultimately, paying for these expenses.

Still, bills can be crippling and eat a good portion of your income. You may not know it, but you’re probably paying more bills than you should. Fortunately, you don’t have to live with this situation forever. You can bring down monthly bills by several hundred dollars, thereby giving you the much needed breathing room in your budget. […] Read more

10 Best Ways to Help You Save Money

Saving money is an age-old preaching and is considered to be one of the crucial pillars in financially establishing oneself. Although it’s obvious that you need to have some saving to tide you over various financial circumstances, many people still find it hard to sock some dollars away.

In fact, studies show that more and more Americans have little to zero savings. According to CNBC, Bankrate’s survey found that out of the 34 households surveyed, only 39% were able to meet an unexpected expense of $1,000. What’s even more startling is that many people resort to debt instead of using an […] Read more

8 Ways to Make the Most of Your Rewards Credit Cards

Many people are able to travel several times for free, earn several dollars or redeem gift checks just by using their credit cards in their purchases. It’s amazing how this small plastic card is letting you buy things without physically shelling out money up front, and then let you earn you some fantastic rewards in the form of miles, cash-backs, gift checks and more. It’s safe to say that you can earn some while you spend some just by responsibly using your credit card.

But rewards credit cards aren’t all the same. It pays to scrutinize your card deeply, know what […] Read more

12 Mistakes that Will Lower Your Credit Score

Having poor credit score makes you vulnerable to some awkward and embarrassing situations, such as getting declined on the spot to finance a new set of furniture or shiny new electronics. But the case could get worse as bad credit rating can make certain circumstances even more challenging.

Lenders and creditors certainly favor borrowers with good to excellent credit standing, especially when one is trying to finance a new home or car. Even getting a rental apartment or landing a job can be influenced by your credit score. Let’s just say that credit score impacts almost every financial decision you make […] Read more