For many Americans, credit cards are a way of life. We have multiple cards, and we use them as much as possible. And that’s why many of us will find ourselves in the familiar position of having higher credit card debt spread across multiple cards. What is the best way to begin to pay down… Read More
Does Intelligence Lead to Wealth? (as reported by Brock Kernin on www.cleverdude.com)
Whether or not you are smarter than someone else has almost no impact on whether or not you will make more money than that person in your lifetime. That’s the conclusion of several studies measuring intelligence and wealth. Surprised? It’s a common misconception that intelligence leads to higher income. While in some cases, it helps…. Read More
Millennials are not Investing (as reported by Preeti Varathan on www.qz.com)
There are significant differences in the financial habits of different generations. And depending on whom you ask, that might be reason to worry about the future of our economy. Millennials, those born between 1983 and 2000, report an unusual ability to save with every paycheck. But rather than investing in the stock market, most young… Read More
How to Save on the Costs of Raising a Child (as reported by Holly Johnson on www.thesimpledollar.com)
All of us want the best for our children. Sometimes, however, money gets in the way. Raising a kid to the age of 18 now costs an average of over $230,000. This figure includes everything from food to healthcare, education to clothing, and all the costs in between. But it’s just an average, and there… Read More
Behind in Your Retirement Savings? There’s Still Hope (as reported by Oliver Staley on work.qz.com)
A new study by the National Bureau of Economic Research tells us that if you are behind on your retirement savings in your forties and fifties, all is not lost. You will still have time to make up much of the gap. The only catch is, you may have to work a little longer than… Read More
Rising National Credit Card Debt (as reported by Kathleen Elkins on www.cnbc.com)
How much credit card debt do you currently hold? Curious how that stacks up against the rest of the US? New data collected by WalletHub, a free credit reporting site, tell us that the average American family owes about $8,300 on their cards. That figure is from 2016, the most recent year available, and is… Read More
Pay Off Credit Card Debt Faster (as reported by Stephanie Colestock on www.fivecentnickel.com)
The average amount of credit card debt that American families hold is just under $10,000. If you don’t have any credit card debt, congratulations. You are in the minority in our credit-addicted culture. Whether your credit card debt is $10,000 or $100,000, you probably want to know the best way to pay it off and… Read More
Which Tax Software to Choose (as reported by Rob Berger on www.doughroller.net)
We are getting to that time of year when the major tax software companies begin to bury us all in their advertising. The three biggest companies – TurboTax, H&R Block, and TaxAct – all offer a free option. But they just use that to get you hooked, hoping that you’ll opt instead for one of… Read More
Getting Over Your Investment Fears (as reported by Matt Becker on www.thesimpledollar.com)
There are a number of reasons why people choose not to invest in the stock market. Could it be that they don’t know how to get started? Maybe they are afraid they will lose their money. Or perhaps they don’t believe they have enough money to invest. In fact, 61% of Americans between the ages… Read More
How do Credit Card Interest Rates Work? (as reported by Ramit Sethi on www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com)
A popular way to compare credit cards is to look at their interest rates. When we talk about a credit card’s interest rate, what we are talking about is how much they will charge you if you fail to pay off your balance in full each month. An interest rate of 15% (common these days)… Read More