Finance Globe

As you search the market for your next home, don’t forget to spend an equal amount of time on the process of securing a mortgage. Without this, you may find it impossible to move forward with a purchase. Generally speaking, there are two ways to secure a mortgage: •    Work with a broker.•    Search and compare lenders and loan products on your own.There are pros and cons of both, but for the sake of this article...

Now that warmer weather has arrived, you may be thinking about taking some time away from work. You may also be thinking about booking a vacation. It doesn’t matter if you are traveling alone, with family, or with friends, there are thousands of destinations to consider. So, here is the big question: where will you visit this summer? Like many, you may head for one of many beaches throughout the world. After all, there’s nothing better...

There is no denying the fact that closing a credit card account can have a negative impact on your credit score. For example, closing an older account can shorten your credit history. It will also mean that you have less credit available, thus leading to a higher credit utilization ratio. Even with all this in mind, there are times when it makes sense to close a credit card account. Here are some of those times: 1....

Will you be traveling this summer? If so, do you have a plan in place for making purchases? Like many, you will turn to your credit card time after time. While there is nothing wrong with this, there are some basic tips you need to follow. 1. Understand your credit card fees. For example, using your credit card outside the United States could lead to a foreign transaction fee of approximately three percent. You need to...

Although you may have avoided the use of a small business credit card in the past, it could be a good idea to change your approach in the future. Once you are okay with the idea of using a credit card, it won’t be long before you are comparing your options and deciding which one suits you best. Here are some of the top reasons to use a small business credit card: 1. Convenience. Are you...

Thanks to the CARD Act of 2009, credit card issuers can only raise your interest rate under specific conditions. As a consumer, this is good news. The not so good news is that your rate could still increase at some point in the future. Here are several times when this could happen to you: 1. Your promotion is coming to an end. Did you sign up for a credit card with a 0 percent interest rate...

Some people say you should never loan money to a friend or family member. Money tends to complicate relationships, particularly if the borrower doesn’t pay you back as agreed. It’s easy to set a rule that you'll never loan money to people you know, but it’s just as hard to watch someone close to you suffer financially, especially if you can help. If you decide to loan money to a friend or family member, here are some tips to make the...

As hard as you try, there may come a point when you miss a credit card payment. This isn’t the worst financial mistake you can make, but it could have a negative impact on your credit report.Here are several things you should do if you miss a credit card payment: 1. Act fast. The due date may have come and gone, but that doesn’t mean you should sit around and wait for the next statement cycle...

Throughout life, you’ll experience life changes that can have a major impact on your finances. Job loss, losing a spouse, having a child, major medical bills, and disability are just a few life events that can put a strain on your finances. Unfortunately, your credit score can also be impacted during these times. Here are some tips to protect your credit score even when you’re having financial problems. Scale back your credit card usage. Many people feel...

We know that skills like budgeting and smart spending play an important role in financial success. Without them, you can easily make critical mistakes that derail your finances. But budgeting will only take you so far. Here are six life skills you need to have to be financially successful. The ability to prioritize At any given time, you’ll have competing financial needs. While you may feel like they are all equally important – like saving money and...