7 Ways the Fed Interest Rate Hike Could Affect Your Finances
It may take a little time, but expect a domino effect to your finances after the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate Dec. 14 for only the second time in eight years. Any type of variable-rate debt is likely to become more costly in the foreseeable future. The best way to avoid the impact […]
10 Things to Know Before You Donate Money
December is the high point of the year for charitable donations, in part due to the holiday spirit of giving. This year, several organizations have also reported record levels of donations from activists in the wake of the election. Whatever your motivation to give, doing your research before you donate can help your money make […]
3 Key Ways to Ring in the New Year With Health Insurance
Are you a fan of Europe’s “The Final Countdown”? Well, if you’ve ever been ashamed of playing ‘80s stadium rock over and over and over, I’ve got good news: you’re encouraged to play it now, because it’s the final countdown to health insurance coverage. What do I mean? Well, you might know that right now […]
Top 5 Credit Myths Busted, Once and For All
Here are five prime examples of credit myths you shouldn’t fall for. Myth #1: Checking your credit hurts your credit score. Checking your own credit NEVER hurts your score. A self-check is a “soft inquiry” and does not impact your credit. Other types of credit checks are also harmless. When you receive a pre-screened credit […]
How a CD Can Help You Save Money: What You Need to Know to Get Started
Do you ever wish that your savings account offered a better return, but don’t want to risk losing your money in the stock market? Is it hard for you to keep your money in a savings account? If so, then a certificate of deposit (CD) might be a good option. CDs are a great way […]
A Super Guide to Retirement CDs for the Beginner Investor
We’re all under pressure to save enough money for retirement. A million-dollar nest egg is now the baseline for what retirees need before they can stop working, but tens of millions of Americans, including many Millennials (those in their 20s and 30s), have fallen behind. An April 2016 study from robo-advisor Personal Capital found that […]
10 Signs You’re Ready to Buy a House
Now that the economy appears to be rebounding into a much more stable position, it might be the time to start thinking about buying into the American dream of home ownership. However, you need to consider if it is the right time for you — beyond the external factors like low interest rates and competitive […]
How Much You’d Have to Make Per Hour to Work Your Way Through College Today
In this day and age, “working your way through college” seems like an urban myth. It wasn’t always. Many parents of current college students or recent grads remember when it was possible for students to pay their way through college by working full-time during the summer and part-time throughout the school year. Students today continue […]
10 Worst Places for Millennials to Buy Homes
Buying a home seems like a pipe dream for millions of Millennials across the country. Home prices and student loan debt keep sailing upward, and wages don’t seem to be catching up. This is especially true in certain regions. We were inspired by a recent CoreLogic survey[1] that listed the top 10 worst markets for […]
Cash vs. Credit Card — Which One Should You Use for the Holidays?
Credit Sesame surveyed 500 consumers to find out how they plan to pay for holiday expenses this year. Most people (43%) said they would rather use cash than credit cards for holiday purchases. This is in line with our previous survey that showed the people (in particular, Millennials) are adverse to using credit cards. People tend to […]
4 Investment Options When You’re Ready to Grow Your Money for the First Time
Saving and investing are two entirely different things. Generally, “saving” means depositing cash into a traditional savings account or a money market account. You earn a little bit of interest and the money is easily accessible so you can tap it when you need to. Investing is an entirely different ballgame. Saving is generally a […]
Is a CD the Best Place to Keep Your Savings?
Thanks to the historically low interest rates in the United States, Certificates of Deposit, or CDs, have fallen out of favor for savers trying to grow their nest egg. As interest rates begin to rise in the coming years, CDs may be worth considering as one way to lock in higher yields on money that […]
Best Places to Open a CD
Money under the mattress loses value over time. Money in a bank savings account doesn’t perform much better. You know growing your savings is a big part of good financial health, and that you need to protect at least some of your funds from investments that come with higher risk. CDs are a great financial […]
Retirement at 30: The Opportunities He Recognized to Make His Dream a Reality
Many of us have read about modern day financial trailblazers who reached early retirement in their 30s. Each of these money mavericks carefully mapped a course and diligently worked toward financial independence. What if you decided to set your sights on early retirement? Would you recognize opportunities to make your dream a reality? That’s what […]
Confessions of a Black Friday Employee: 11 Ways You’ll Get Tricked Into Spending More This Season
I worked my way through college with a department store job, specifically in their Home Store. My first day was in early September and my task for the day was to unpack dozens of boxes of ornaments and Christmas tree decorations. When I asked my coworkers why we were putting up holiday items so early, […]
