Finance Globe

With back to school season right around the bend, students all over the country are beginning to think about what the next few months will bring. As a first year college student, you are in an exciting position. You are making the big leap from high school to college, which is sure to change your life in many ways. It is common to face financial challenges along the way. After all, you are inching closer and...

Nearly every credit card issuer has at least one credit card with a signup bonus. Spend a certain amount of money in the first few months of your account opening and you can earn points, miles, or even cash. To be sure you earn your points, be a little more meticulous about your spending and payments in those first few months. The last thing you want to do is sign up for a credit card hoping...

The experience of buying a car should be enjoyable. Unfortunately, this process is anything but fun for most consumers. Instead, they dread the thought of negotiating with a salesperson, hashing out details with the business department, and hoping they don’t spend their entire day at the dealership. It is not uncommon to come across an overbearing car salesperson. He or she will do whatever it takes to make a sale, even if it means putting you...

It doesn’t matter why you are seeking a new bank. The only thing that matters is that you make the right decision at the right time. It is easy to believe that all banks are the same, but nothing could be further from the truth. You have to find the best one for your money, and doing so means answering the following questions: •    What is unique about each bank?•    What does the bank offer from...

Are you in need of a loan? If so, you can go the conventional route and contact a local bank. Just the same, you could turn to your credit card or ask a family member if they are willing to lend you the money. Even with these choices, you may want to consider another: a 401(k) loan. This may not be your preferred method of borrowing, but it is something to consider for many reasons: ·     ...

The federal government on Tuesday ordered Citibank and its subsidiaries to pay back consumers approximately $700 million harmed by the bank's illegal practices conducted from 2003 through 2012. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) said that roughly 7 million of the bank's customers were affected by Citibank and its vendor's deceptive marketing, unfair billing practices, and administration of debt protection and credit monitoring services. Citibank's debt protection services "AccountCare," "Balance Protector," "Credit Protection," "Credit Protector," and "Payment...

It's not hard to find ways to save a few dollars here and there, and those few dollars can easily add up to $100 or more per month. Consider making changes to your routine to find the cash to put into your emergency fund, savings for a down payment on a home, your retirement account, a long overdue vacation, or your children's future education. Look at your daily habits.  Cutting out relatively small expenditures like a daily...

Your credit card issuers gave you a Cardholder Agreement with their terms and conditions when you opened a new account, and it's your responsibility as the card holder to abide by them, or be hit with fees and interest charges. But we're all human and make the occasional mistake, or life happens beyond our control. While a creditor may seem like the last one to be understanding of personal excuses, it never hurts to speak to a customer...

This is the sixth post in our series about building a bad credit score into an excellent score. If you are dedicated to improving your credit score, if you are sure that this is a goal you can reach, you won’t let anything get in your way. To ensure that you are on the right track, it is essential to review your credit report and score on a regular basis. With an annual review, for example,...

This is the fifth post in our series about building a bad credit score into an excellent score. Once you understand which items have the biggest impact on your credit score, it is time to take action. Are you going to pay down debt in a hurry? Will you alter your budget to ensure on-time payments in the future? Regardless of the strategy you implement, you hope your credit score begins to increase soon enough. Time...