Before going on a shopping trip, one of the first things you do (or should do) is figure out how much money you’re able to spend. You check your current account balance, consider what bills and income you have coming in the next few weeks, then decide what you can safely spend. If you haven’t been following that (or a similar) plan when you shopped in the past, keep those steps in mind for your future...
We can get so bogged down by the demands of our daily lives that we forget about the future, about planning for it and taking steps to make sure we’re securing the future we desire. Sometimes daily life can be so demanding that we forget to even think about the future, much less plan and actively work for it. It can be hard to focus on what we want for our lives decades from now, especially...
Credit card companies want your business. You can tell by the number of credit card offers you receive in the mail – that is, if you haven’t opted out. It can feel like an honor, having credit card issuers chase you for your business, but before you get too puffed up, consider who's doing the chasing and why they're chasing you. The credit card offers you receive are based on the credit cards each issuer thinks...
Consumers who feel taken advantage of by one of the most infamously predatory businesses – payday lenders – now have a place to send their complaints. In early November, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced it would begin taking complaints on payday loan businesses via its complaint form found at ConsumerFinance.gov/complaint or by phone to 1-855-411-2372. Some of the potentially illegal practices you can complain about include: unexpected fees or interest, unauthorized charges to you bank...
The idea that one born poor can work hard and improve their economic position is one that’s been around for decades and is still prevalent. In a Pew Charitable Trusts, poll 40% of Americans said they believe that it’s common for a poor person to work hard and become rich in the United States. However, research from Pew reveals that not it’s not so easy to move away from the lower income levels and to do...
Parents and children, siblings, and couples all may, at some point, choose to share a checking. Having an account with someone can be tricky and requires an extra amount of communication to be sure that you’re not overspending or creating problems that can affect your finances and your relationship. Once you open an account with someone, they learn a lot about your finances: how much you make, how much you spend, and what you spend it...
Some times are tougher than others. There may be times in your life that your finances are hard to manage. For example, if you’ve recently lost your job or suffered a pay cut, you may not have enough money to pay all the expenses you have. Ideally, you’ll get new employment soon enough that you don’t have to miss any payments, but it doesn’t always work out that way. You may face the tough decision of...
Mortgage and an auto loan are two of the biggest loans you’ll probably ever borrow. Some lenders require that you put forward a certain percentage of the home or auto cost because lending you 100 percent of the cost is risky for them. While you may find some lenders who don’t require a down payment and others who allow you to pay your own payment with another loan, there are several benefits to coming up with...
Last year, almost than 4 million South Carolina taxpayers had their social security numbers compromised when the state’s Department of Revenue suffered a data breach. In addition, close to 400,000 credit and debit card numbers were also stolen. Taxpayers who filed returns in the state as far back as 1998 were impacted. Since last year, the Department of Revenue has determined that only tax returns filed electronically were affected by the breach. Affected customers were given...
If a friend or family members comes to you with a request for financial help, you may struggle with the decision. Depending on your personality and your beliefs about money, you may jump at the chance to help out someone. Or, you may turn them away, if you have a policy to never loan money. Whatever you decide, it could have a major impact on your relationship. Who is it? Suffice it to say, your relationship...
