Finance Globe

In the past few weeks, hundreds of consumers have complained online about a mysterious $9.84 charge on their credit cards. The complaints have become serious enough for the Better Business Bureau to issue a fraud alert warning others to look out for a similar charge on their credit card statements. Consumers may be reluctant to report an unauthorized charge of such a small amount, brushing it off because $9.84 seems insignificant. However, there have been past...

Yep. I’m not exaggerating. If all goes according to plan we really will have saved over $33,000 by the end of the year. Admittedly, numbers aren’t my forte, so you’d be right to question that figure, but I guarantee my math’s not fuzzy and $33,000 is only the tip of the iceberg. That amount only speaks to the items on which I have hard data right now or don’t need the help of an expert economist...

At some point in your life, you’re sure to suffer some kind of major unexpected disaster that can disrupt your financial life. It may be a job loss, divorce, natural disaster, or unexpected pregnancy. How you handle the situation, as dire as it may seem, will make the difference between getting out of it successfully or making the situation worse. Don’t panic. Money problems, big or small, can be pretty scary. The uncertainty that comes along...

When you’re living paycheck to paycheck, as 40% of Americans are according to a 2013 survey conducted by Harris Interactive, the best thing to do is to cut back on your spending. Creating more distance between your income and your expenses will keep you from being broke before your next paycheck comes. With the money leftover from your paycheck (yes, you can have money leftover), you can start building a savings cushion to help take care...

For years, personal finance experts have been repeated, “Build an emergency fund.” Yet, year after year, statistics show that many Americans don’t have enough money in their emergency funds and more alarming, many don’t have any savings at all. Saving money isn’t easy, but it’s well worth it. However, those without an emergency fund may be rationalizing that it’s ok to put it off for one reason or another. The economy is getting better. When the...

Many people believe that the only way to save more money is to earn more money. While there is nothing wrong with striving to increase your salary, it is important to note that you may be wasting money each month without realizing you are doing so. To pinpoint wasted money, you must complete an in depth review of your budget. From there, it will become clear of whether or not you are spending money that you...

Starting the New Year with full understanding of where you stand will put you on track to meeting your financial goals. So take pull out your financial documents, get out a pen and piece of paper, and jot down details of all your financial accounts. Having all the numbers in one place puts you in a much better decision making position than if they were all scattered. Here’s what to take account of: Monthly household budget....

Another New Year rolls around and once again, it’s time to come up with those resolutions – the things you hope to accomplish this year, but will probably forget about before Spring rolls around, if not by Valentine's Day. Maybe the real resolution this year should be to actually keep your resolutions. In an article for the Pennsylvania Psychological Association, Pauline W. Wallin, Ph.D. suggests a few reasons that we don’t keep our resolutions. For starters,...

With 2013 coming to an end, now is the time to review your budget for the new year. Are there any changes you can make to keep more money in your pocket? Rather than focus on the general theme of saving, you should dig deeper to find specific ways to improve your financial situation.Do you get the feeling you are spending too much money every month on cable service? If so, you are in the same...

"Deals" are everywhere you turn during the holiday season. Retailers are just as eager to make a dollar as consumers are to save a dollar. Some offer seemingly extraordinary discounts while others lure you with special financing deals, especially with higher-priced items. “Pay no interest until 2015,” one might read. Another may offer “0% for 18 months.” While you may see more of these offers during peak shopping seasons, like the winter holidays, many retailers offer...