What’s happening with the U.S. economy in 2023?
Credit Sesame discusses the state of the U.S. economy in 2023. The Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that the U.S. economy grew during the first quarter of 2023, even after adjusting for inflation. However, the news was not all good. The report of continued economic growth was soured by the reality that the pace of […]
Personal finance weekly news roundup August 5, 2023
Credit Sesame’s personal finance weekly news roundup August 5, 2023. Stories, news, politics and events impacting the personal finance sector during the last week. 1. Job growth continues but slows Employment in the United States continued its long growth streak in July. However, the pace of that growth has eased in recent months. The economy […]
Credit card spending and ways to lower your credit utilization ratio
Credit Sesame on how to lower your credit utilization ratio. A credit card is an easy way to buy almost anything at any time. Impulse purchases, going out to dinner with friends, an extra drink at the bar, airline tickets and many other things that you must repay when you receive your credit card bill. […]
Personal finance weekly news roundup July 29, 2023
Credit Sesame’s personal finance weekly news roundup July 29, 2023. Stories, news, politics and events impacting the personal finance sector during the last week. 1. Fed raises interest rates The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) announced an interest rate rise of 0.25%. This puts the Fed funds rate target range at 5.25% to 5.50%. The […]
The effect of inflation on American households
Credit Sesame discusses the effect of inflation on American households from 2022 to 2023. By some measures, the American economy had a decent year last year. The economy grew, as did employment. So why do so many households feel they took a step back? A new survey by the Federal Reserve found that American households […]
Personal finance weekly news roundup July 22, 2023
Credit Sesame’s personal finance weekly news roundup July 22, 2023. Stories, news, politics and events impacting the personal finance sector during the last week. 1. Credit burden grows heavier According to a report by TransUnion, average credit card balances grew last month. The average balance grew to $5,932, up 12.7% from a year ago. 30 […]
Using Buy Now Pay Later and how it affects your finances
Credit Sesame discusses using Buy Now Pay Later, the pros and cons and how BNPL can affect your finances. As inflation ravages consumer budgets and thwarts retailers’ marketing efforts, Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) schemes have become ubiquitous, especially online. While this popular payment option has tremendous value for retailers, it can be problematic for […]
Personal finance weekly news roundup July 15, 2023
Credit Sesame’s personal finance weekly news roundup July 15, 2023. Stories, news, politics and events impacting the personal finance sector during the last week. 1. Inflation takes important steps towards normalcy The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the Consumer Price Index rose 0.2% in June. This is a moderate monthly increase, bringing the year-over-year […]
Which are the most credit-dependent states?
Credit Sesame discusses which are the most credit-dependent states. Consumer debt in America continues to set new records. It seems inflation has increased how much consumers depend on credit to get by from week to week. Eventually, growing debt balances and rising interest rates might push that dependence on credit in America over a dangerous […]
Personal finance weekly news roundup July 8, 2023
Credit Sesame’s personal finance weekly news roundup for July 8, 2023. Stories, news, politics and events impacting the personal finance sector during the last week. 1. Job growth slows The US economy added 209,000 jobs in June. That marked a slower pace of employment growth than May’s 306,000. Along with weaker job growth, there were […]
A crash course on how personal loans work
Credit Sesame explains how personal loans work. A personal loan is an investment in your future self. Other types of loans, such as mortgages or auto loans, must be used for a specific purpose. A personal loan gives you a greater degree of flexibility. Learning how personal loans work helps you manage personal finances, achieve […]
Are rewards cards a good idea?
Credit Sesame discusses rewards cards and who benefits the most from them. A Federal Reserve study, “Who Pays for Your Rewards? Redistribution in the Credit Card Market,” compared the benefits and costs of rewards cards for cardholders. If you have good credit, chances are that you benefit when you use reward credit cards. If you […]
Personal finance weekly news roundup July 1, 2023
Credit Sesame’s personal finance weekly news roundup July 1, 2023. Stories, news, politics and events impacting the personal finance sector during the last week. 1. Fed Chair signals end is near for rate hikes While more rate hikes are likely still coming, Fed Chair Jerome Powell told a Senate Committee that “we’re at least close […]
Credit card hacks: maximizing card rewards and saving money
Credit Sesame on maximizing card rewards and saving money. Making the most of your credit card rewards shouldn’t require a complex spreadsheet and knowing every last detail in your card’s fine print of how its rewards program works. With some basic knowledge and insight into how to get the most value from your credit cards, […]
Can a personal loan fund your wedding?
Credit Sesame on love in the time of debt or how a personal loan can help fund your wedding. You want your special day to be absolutely right. For many couples, the joy of a wedding often competes with the dread of figuring out how to pay for it. According to Zola, a wedding planning […]
