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5 Ways to Avoid Medical Debt
Tweet Share on Facebook February 28, 2013 CommentMedical debt is one of the leading causes of bankruptcy in the United States. Here are a few ways to lower your health care expenses:
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Tax Terms 101
Tweet Share on Facebook February 28, 2013 CommentIt’s officially tax season, and even if you’re using tax software to make preparing your taxes easier, you may still want to know what some of the common tax terms flying around mean. Here is a handy glossary:
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Are You Using the Right Online Brokerage?
Tweet Share on Facebook February 27, 2013 CommentInvestors these days are overwhelmed with options when it comes to picking the best online investing account. Should you go with the company offering a flashy sign-up bonus, the one with the cute ads on TV, or the deep discounter toting free trades?
Since most retail investors only have a couple of brokerage accounts where they manage their investments, it matters that you’ve picked the best online brokers for your needs so you can save money while optimizing for your stock trading needs down the line.
To help investors sort out the small print, let’s break down the most important steps you can take to determine if you’re using the right account for your needs. By asking yourself these three questions, you can determine if you’re using the best account possible to save yourself a lot of money and headache later on:
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Take Note of These 5 Frugal Habits of the Rich
Tweet Share on Facebook February 27, 2013 CommentA fat salary isn’t the only way someone can strike it rich. Regardless of one’s income level, people who live below their means, invest wisely, and live modestly are on the path to real wealth. Here are five frugal habits that many of the upper class have adopted to build long-lasting wealth and financial independence:
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Online Banking Tips to Keep Your Accounts Secure
Tweet Share on Facebook February 26, 2013 CommentWhether you’re checking your bank accounts, transferring funds, or making a payment, online banking is a convenient way to manage your basic transactions. More banks and credit unions are offering online banking options as a convenience to customers, and now it’s easier than ever to keep track of your finances. However, online banking is not without its risks, so you’ll need to be cautious when storing usernames and passwords on your computer, and make sure you’re really logging in to your financial institution’s encrypted site.
Here are seven tips for safe online banking:
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7 Simple Ways to Avoid Rising Banking Fees
Tweet Share on Facebook February 25, 2013 CommentWhether it’s because of new rules regarding credit card swipe fees or tighter regulations for maintaining different types of accounts, banks across the country are increasing fees for various transactions—and even longstanding or preferred banking customers are feeling the pinch. Certain types of accounts are simply unprofitable for most banks, forcing the institution to find new ways to increase its income. Imposing certain fees and surcharges can help to compensate for this lost income, but savvy consumers can take steps to avoid many of these fees.
Consider these tips to keep your banking costs as low as possible:
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Money’s Personal: Make Sure Your Financial Adviser Isn’t a Stranger
Tweet Share on Facebook February 22, 2013 CommentWhile money may seem like a logical, rational topic, you probably have noticed that your relationship to your own money is deeply personal and emotional. It makes sense—the amount of money you have in the bank is closely tied to how secure you feel about your future. Major shake-ups in your financial situation also usually accompany larger life transitions, such as getting married or having children.
So when you’re looking for a financial adviser, you’re actually looking for someone to help you manage that personal relationship with your finances. With more than 300,000 credentialed advisers in the United States, how do you find the person with whom you can establish a close, trusting relationship? Many directories that are available from industry groups online—such as the listings from the CFP® Board—give little more detail than a phone book, making it hard to know what the experience of working with at adviser would be like.
With that in mind, check out these tips on finding the right adviser for you:
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4 Handy Apps for Maintaining a Budget
Tweet Share on Facebook February 22, 2013 CommentIn the age of smartphones, users have come to learn there is nothing you can’t do with the right app. For those looking to budget and track expenses, mobile apps are a good idea because phones are ubiquitous and makes logging easy and quick. If the apps are already connected to your bank accounts, even better.
Expense-tracking apps are aplenty, so here are four highly-recommended ones that will help you sift through your financial life electronically:
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10 Times Procrastination Can Cost You Big
Tweet Share on Facebook February 22, 2013 CommentWe've all done it: Put off something until tomorrow that could have been done today. Often it seems as if there's no cost to procrastination—but we know better. Stephen Richards, in his book Overcoming Procrastination, wrote “Habitual procrastinators will readily testify to all the lost opportunities, missed deadlines, failed relationships and even monetary losses incurred just because of one nasty habit of putting things off until it is often too late.”
Here are 10 things that can tighten your wallet if you put them on the backburner:
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5 Ways to Deal with Financial Aid Uncertainty as the Fiscal Cliff Talks Continue
Tweet Share on Facebook February 21, 2013 CommentIf the sequester automatic spending cuts goes into effect on March 1st, the financial aid award notification from your college may not be 100 percent accurate. The Department of Education is set to cut about $4,021 million—meaning funding for the Office of Federal Student Aid and the Office of Postsecondary Education may be slashed. These offices are responsible for distributing work-study and grant opportunities that make college possible for many students.
Out of 1,096 college students that NerdScholar interviewed on the issue of the fiscal cliff, 85 percent said they are worried about what kind of impact it would have on their aid. Twenty-five percent said they would even consider dropping out of school rather than ask their parents for help or take out private loans.
What does this mean for you? If the sequester goes into effect, the awards that colleges say they will give may not be the exact amount you will receive.
You may get what they tell you in their award letter, but due to the fiscal mess, you may get less. Still, it is helpful to be prepared to make sure you are financially covered to pay for next year’s tuition. Here are five ways to deal with the uncertainty about your financial aid award in the:
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