60 Creative and Simple Ways to Save Money
Boost your savings with these tips and tricks.
Debt and Depression
Experts say there’s a definite relationship between debt and depression. But we don’t like talking about either one.
Brandon Ballenger
Having more than $10,000 in student loan debt has a way of piquing your interest in personal finance. And because my degree was in English and public communication, I get to share that interest with you. My wide-ranging stories on money and business have run on Business Insider, the Christian Science Monitor, Reader’s Digest, the front pages of MSN.com and Yahoo! Finance, Money Talks News, and the South Florida Business Journal. In my free time, I like to jump off skyscrapers and play video games.
6 Ways Millennials Manage Money Better Than Their Parents
Millennials get a bad rap. On the bright side, it might be pushing them to excel.
The Biggest Cities With the Cheapest Homes
Housing affordability is a major concern, but that doesn’t mean home ownership is out of reach. From Chicago to Dallas, the salary required to afford a home might be less than you’d expect.
How Long Does Stuff Stay On Your Credit Report?
Nothing in credit lasts forever — good or bad.
Facing Our Worst Financial Fears
We’re most scared of dealing with emergencies, losing our jobs, and outliving our savings.
Are You Living in Credit Hell?
This spooky map looks at how long it takes to pay off the typical credit card debt in every state.
We’re Getting Squeezed By Credit Card Debt — But Acting Smarter
Our expenses keep going up, but our credit card debt is lower than it was a decade ago
Still Haven’t Got A Costume? Try These Popular Picks
This year’s Halloween spending is expected to top a ghastly $8.4 billion, the highest figure since the National Retail Federation began surveying consumers about their holiday spending. Where do the sale of Halloween costumes fit into that number? The biggest chunk of that is on costumes: $1.5 billion on costumes for adults — $1.17 billion […]
6 ways to beat dumb banking fees
Why pay a bank to use your money? Avoiding fees involves some simple tech and even simpler questions.
Save Up To $2,000 On Taxes With the Saver’s Credit
Most people don’t know that if you’re saving for retirement on a modest income, the federal government will cut you a break on taxes.
More Homeowners Are Turning Into Apartment Hunters
A majority of former homeowners say they’d rather keep renting than buy another home. Here’s all our advice for the new breed of nomads…
14 Places to Get Your Taxes Done For Free Online — And The Catches
If you make less than $60,000 a year, you don’t have to pay for an accountant or online tax software. You can get free tax prep and a fast refund.
Americans Don’t Want to Trade Privacy for Cheaper Car Insurance
Despite saving as much as 30 percent, pay-as-you-drive insurance has a lot more haters than it did a year ago.
Your Waiter Might Be An Identity Thief
No stats are available, but our research shows dining out makes you a prime target. Here’s how to protect yourself.
Are The Latest Student Loan Proposals Any Good?
The latest writing on student loans is equal parts crazy and useful. Here’s what you need to know.
Be the boss or befriend the boss?
New studies show a lot of people want to be in charge but aren’t cut out for it. Here’s how to enjoy the perks of leadership without the work.
Everything new you need to know about identity theft
It’s National Cyber Security Awareness Month, and we have a lot of new things to be aware of.
The worst places to rent in America
Unless you’re in the 1 percent, you don’t want to live in these neighborhoods.
Halloween Spending Will Top $7 Billion
With 29 days until Halloween, here are some frightening (or funny) holiday statistics…
How You Think About Money can Make You Rich — or Broke
A new PBS documentary about the psychology of spending translates neuroeconomics into plain English
What happens to debt after death?
A life insurance company wants to remind you some debts don’t get buried when you do.
More people are renting — but skipping rental insurance
If you own a home, you insure your stuff against fires, theft, and other disasters. But most renters don’t.
5 ways the government can save you money
If we think of the government at all, we usually think about the money they take away in taxes. But it taketh and giveth away, too.
Americans are willing to trade their driving data for cheaper insurance
Programs that track your speed and braking habits are becoming a more popular way to save.
3 Stupid Ways We’re Ruining Retirement
How is it that your dog has life insurance, but you don’t have a 401(k)?
Your credit score may get an automatic boost soon
But it could happen sooner with your help.
Can you mooch a degree out of MOOCs?
Not yet, but they’re still worth exploring — along with a lot of other changes in the college landscape.
The best time to buy everything, maybe
Not every product has predictable pricing trends, but here’s what we know.
Getting graphic about the student loan conspiracy
A young artist named Christopher Kosek draws a comic book about student debt, but it sure ain’t funny.
Why the Starbucks college program is even better than you think
A lot of companies offer tuition reimbursement, but few say how much in public.
Student loan debt: Election issue of the year?
Student loan refinancing is out for now, but President Obama and Democrats are pushing for more help.
17 Cheap, Efficient Ways to Improve Safety in Your Car and Home
There’s a lot of safety advice — a lot of it vague, obvious, or expensive. Here’s what we think is best for your time and money.
9 retirement myths you won’t believe
Most Americans have some majorly mistaken assumptions about retirement. How many of these do you fall for?
Detroit residents have less debt than the average American
You might figure a city that bankrupted itself would be full of people who can’t manage credit. But it’s not.
4 ways to master grad school student loan debt
I was a grad student who made costly mistakes and racked up big debt. Here’s how to avoid what I did.
6 amazing things you didn’t know libraries offer
A lot of them involve free stuff. Time to get a library card.
Mysteries of the Great and Powerful Credit Score (Part I)
Time to unmask 10 lies, delusions, and half-truths about credit.
4 Things Banking Apps Are Good For
Banking apps don’t always do what we want, but when they do it saves time and money.
How to hide thousands from Uncle Sam — legally
There’s still time to stuff an IRA full of tax-deferred or tax-free cash.
