Nov 06, 2009 -
Yes, unused gift cards are still a waste. It's hard to hit the magic number when spending and I'm often guilty of shoving them in a wallet or drawer to remember to use . .
- 14 Comments
May 01, 2009 -
One of my best girlfriends is in the market to purchase her first home with her new husband, and before applying for their loan she called to ask a question about her credit score. She wanted to know whether or not it was a good idea to open a new Amex card — she and her husband are antsy to start earning points. I answered her question the best I could; the answer is below, along with three other facts about credit scores.
- 1 Comment
Nov 10, 2008 -
Job hunting might be the only thing on your mind after losing a job, but don't let your 401(k) from your previous employer slip through the cracks. Deal with wrapping up those loose ends before diving into the job search head first, otherwise you're more likely to indefinitely postpone the task.
Your 401(k) savings can be rolled into a Traditional IRA account without penalty.
- 4 Comments
Oct 29, 2008 -
Hey now, look who's making a comeback! The dollar has strengthened significantly compared to most currencies except the yen, and this month alone it has gained 11 percent against the euro. It could be a temporary trend that disappears as quickly as it happened, but The Wall Street Journal helps us understand how the current comeback affects Americans.
- 4 Comments
Oct 09, 2008 -
Banks offering plans that deposit money into a savings account every time you spend money are encouraging their customers to build up their savings account, which is a good thing. But when the Consumer Reports Money Lab researched competing plans it found that most of them aren't the best solution for people serious about saving. Here is a summary breakdown from the November issue.
- 13 Comments
Oct 02, 2008 -
While there's no doubt the heads on Capitol Hill are spinning with what's been happening in our economy, it's not exactly a picnic for those of us feeling like we have a million and one unanswered questions. Watching big banks collapse and listening to what the news tells us was a horrendous day for the market, followed by the worst day ever, doesn't do much for the people anxiously sitting on the sidelines. Here are three things you can do right now to get a grip on your finances.
- 4 Comments
Sep 30, 2008 -
When the market closed yesterday, the confusion and exhaustion caused by the recent events on Wall Street were escalated even more. The market suffered its biggest single-day loss in about 20 years after the House rejected the $700 billion bailout bill and stumbled back to the drawing board. The New York Times reacted to the news by providing a Q&A for the average saver and investor, and I've selected what I consider the four most relevant topics they covered.
- 1 Comment
Sep 27, 2008 -
It's been a rough couple of weeks on Wall Street, in Washington, and around the US (and the world) as we all worry about the unsteady US economy and the proposed $700 billion "bailout" effort of the nation’s financial markets. Here's a look back on what we've been talking about on Savvy.
What Happened on Wall Street?
- 3 Comments
Sep 26, 2008 -
Sorting through the news lately has been an emotional, stressful experience that has everyone worked up. While it's important to understand how things came to be and the who's who of what's happening now, it's just as worthwhile (and maybe more so) to know how the Wall Street mess affects you and me. Here are some points to consider when trying to make sense of the various moving pieces.
- 6 Comments
Sep 17, 2008 -
Bad banking news has many people fearing their life savings will suddenly vanish and has created a somewhat panic-ridden population. Questions are flying about pulling money from the bank in case it collapses, but that's the most counter-productive thing to do in this scenario. Keeping your money under your mattress is not the way to go!
- 10 Comments