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- Free-Money Offers Can Be Alluring, but Watch for Snags
Thursday - 08/17/2017 - 03:27 PMWhen you read about ways to get free money, it can be tempting to ignore the fine-print requirements and hidden drawbacks, especially when you’re short on cash. But some of these deals aren’t truly free; instead they require considerable amounts of time and effort.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- How to Stop Being the Family ATM
Thursday - 08/17/2017 - 12:01 PMIf you want someone to stop asking you for money, the worst thing you can do is say no and then give in after persistent pleading. Such “intermittent reinforcement” — granting a reward after an unpredictable number of requests — makes it more likely the person will ask for another handout than if you just...
More | Talk | Read It Later | Share - Rock-Solid Tips for Buying a Diamond Online
Wednesday - 08/16/2017 - 06:24 PMYou can buy just about anything online. Even some purchases that seem best suited for an in-store experience have crossed over into the cyberworld. That includes a girl’s best friend — diamonds.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- Mortgage Rates Wednesday, Aug. 16: Barely Budging
Wednesday - 08/16/2017 - 11:06 AMMortgage rates for 30-year fixed loans fell slightly, while 15-year fixed and 5/1 ARMs ticked a notch or two higher today, according to a NerdWallet survey of daily mortgage rates published by national lenders Wednesday morning.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- How to Honeymoon in Style, Not Debt
Tuesday - 08/15/2017 - 01:29 PMCouples spend an average of $28,000 on a wedding and another $4,000 on a honeymoon, according to a 2017 study by WeddingWire. These back-to-back expenses test some newlyweds’ “for richer or poorer” vows as wedding guests still nurse their hangovers.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- How to Find a Good Savings Account for Kids
Friday - 08/11/2017 - 02:00 PMJust as you wouldn’t send your kids to school without the right supplies, you wouldn’t expect them to learn about smart savings strategies without a few helpful tools. Enter savings accounts.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- Young and Overspent? How to Tackle Credit Card Debt
Tuesday - 08/15/2017 - 12:00 AMAfter Emilie Burke, 24, graduated from Princeton University in 2015 and moved to Baltimore, her expenses began piling up. “I had to put a down payment and security deposit on an apartment.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- Take This Car Insurance Quiz to See if You’re Savvy or Stumped
Friday - 08/11/2017 - 02:00 PMA car insurance policy can consist of multiple parts, each paying for a different type of problem. If you don’t understand all the parts, you might not know what your current policy covers.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- Ask Brianna: How Do I Afford College as an Older Student?
Monday - 08/14/2017 - 09:15 AM“Ask Brianna” is a column from NerdWallet for 20-somethings or anyone else starting out. I’m here to help you manage your money, find a job and pay off student loans — all the real-world stuff no one taught us how to do in college.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- How to Make Sense of Your Credit Card Number
Thursday - 08/10/2017 - 05:17 PMHere’s a fun trick to entertain friends and win bar bets: Guess the first number on somebody’s credit card tucked away in their wallet. You can do that because credit card numbers aren’t random.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- 5 Things Your Credit Reports Won’t Reveal
Thursday - 08/17/2017 - 02:02 PMThe credit bureaus know a lot about you, but they don’t know everything. The bureaus gather data about your past use of credit into reports, and that information makes up your credit scores.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- Mortgage Rates Thursday, Aug. 17: Steady Following Fed Comments
Thursday - 08/17/2017 - 11:46 AMMortgage rates for 30-year fixed loans ticked up slightly, while 15-year fixed and 5/1 ARMs remained unchanged, according to a NerdWallet survey of daily mortgage rates published by national lenders Thursday morning.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- How to Make Money With YouTube
Wednesday - 08/16/2017 - 10:59 AMFor many people, YouTube is a site where they can spend endless hours watching cat videos, product reviews or other people playing video games. For others, it’s a way to make money.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- Strategies for Lowering Your Closing Costs
Tuesday - 08/15/2017 - 06:47 PMThe bill for closing costs is the final hurdle between home buyers and their new homes, and it can represent a surprising chunk of money. Closing fees run between 3% and 6% of the mortgage; that’s around $9,000 to $18,000 on a $300,000 home.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- Simple Portfolios to Get You to Your Retirement Goals
Tuesday - 08/15/2017 - 02:01 PMYou know you need to save for retirement, and you know that generally means investing. The tough question is: Where should you invest your money? There are more than 8,000 mutual funds from which to choose.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- Mortgage Rates Tuesday, Aug. 15: Higher on Rallying Retail Sales
Tuesday - 08/15/2017 - 10:56 AMMortgage rates for 30-year and 15-year fixed home loans, as well as 5/1 ARMs, rose today, according to a NerdWallet survey of daily mortgage rates published by national lenders Tuesday morning.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- Our Family Vacation: 7 People, 3 Nights and $1,500 in D.C.
Monday - 08/14/2017 - 02:39 PMThe “Our Family Vacation” series shows how several American families travel on a budget. Family members: Lissa Poirot: Editor/writer Matt Cooper: High school teacher Zach Cooper, 18 Ainsley Cooper, 17 Braeden Cooper, 13 Sophie Poirot, 12 Ethan Poirot, 11 Hometown: Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania Annual household income: $180,000 Destination: Washington, D.C.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- Our Family Vacation: A Mexican Cruise for Five
Monday - 08/14/2017 - 12:30 PMThe “Our Family Vacation” series shows how several American families travel on a budget. Family members: Nicole Thibault: Travel agent Chris Thibault: IT professional Tristan Thibault, 12 Sebastian Thibault, 10 Emerson Thibault, 9 Hometown: Fairport, New York Annual household income: $120,000 Destination: Cozumel, Mexico Vacation dates: Feb.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- Mortgage Rates Friday, Aug. 11: Weak Inflation Anchors Rates
Friday - 08/11/2017 - 11:05 AMMortgage rates for 30-year fixed loans were steady, while 15-year fixed rates and 5/1 ARMs ticked down, according to a NerdWallet survey of daily mortgage rates published by national lenders Friday morning.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- Esurance vs. Allstate: What’s the Difference?
Thursday - 08/10/2017 - 03:00 AMAllstate owns Esurance, but the two insurance companies take very different approaches to business. Here’s a detailed look at what differentiates them. Allstate vs. Esurance: insurance options AllstateEsurance Car insuranceYes, in all statesYes, in 43 states Usage-based car insuranceYesYes, in seven states Insurance for other vehicles (motorcycles, RVs, boats)YesYes (offered through partners in some states)...
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- What to Do When Your Credit Card Issuer Blindsides You
Thursday - 08/17/2017 - 03:51 PMAditya Dwivedula wasn’t happy when his oldest credit card got canceled — especially since it happened without any warning. “I basically got an email saying my card is no longer valid, essentially because I hadn’t used it for two years,” says Dwivedula, of Seattle.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- More Credit Card Issuers Let You Pay Off Debt for Free
Thursday - 08/17/2017 - 08:00 AMIt’s never been easier to dump your high-interest credit card balances without paying a penny in interest or fees. Three credit cards from major issuers — Barclaycard, Bank of America® and Chase — now give you an interest-free and fee-free way to pay down debt — as long as you pay your balance off in...
More | Talk | Read It Later | Share - Average American Saves Less Than 5%; See How You Stack Up
Wednesday - 08/16/2017 - 07:13 AMThe average American saves less than 5% of his or her disposable income. Many financial advisors say that isn’t enough to ensure a comfortable retirement. The personal saving rate, calculated by the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis, has hovered around 5% for the past few years.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- All You Need to Know About Mortgage Loan Modifications
Tuesday - 08/15/2017 - 04:50 PMIf you’re struggling to make your monthly mortgage payments or have fallen behind, you may be at risk of losing your home. But depending on the circumstances, you may be eligible for a loan modification, which can make it easier to stay on top of mortgage payments and avoid foreclosure.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- 1-Minute Read: How to Get Freebies on Your Honeymoon
Tuesday - 08/15/2017 - 01:30 PMThink of honeymoons as trick or treat for newlyweds. Ask nicely, and you might get something sweet. All you have to do is mention your honeymoon to these people: Airline employees. Tell staff at the check-in counter, gate and on the plane like Maryland couple Michelle and Art Saumenig did when they traveled to Hawaii.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- Sharing Expenses With Roommates? How to Make It Work
Tuesday - 08/15/2017 - 09:42 AMAndrew Olsen currently lives with his roommates in financial harmony, but things haven’t always been so pleasant. Olsen, a communications professional in Portland, Oregon, used to run into “bad seeds who would coast off of our goodwill.” Some former roommates failed to cover their share of house expenses, he says, forcing him to pay extra.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- Credit Card U? How Plastic Helps Students Learn Budgeting
Monday - 08/14/2017 - 06:00 PMWhen you send your college student off to school with a credit card, it’s natural to worry about him damaging his credit — or yours. Anyone with a credit card runs some risk of building up debt.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- Mortgage Rates Monday, Aug. 14: Only Minor Repricing
Monday - 08/14/2017 - 10:50 AMMortgage rates for 30-year fixed loans were unchanged, while 15-year fixed rates clicked up a notch and 5/1 ARMs held steady, according to a NerdWallet survey of daily mortgage rates published by national lenders Monday morning.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- 5 Ways Car Ads Lie
Friday - 08/11/2017 - 05:22 PMWhen it comes to car ads, there’s little truth in advertising. However, that little bit of truth could make you a smarter car shopper. So it’s important to separate fact from fiction when shopping for a new car.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- See If These 3 Tax Errors Are Hiding in Your Paycheck
Thursday - 08/10/2017 - 12:37 PMScrutinizing your pay stub sounds about as fun as burning your tongue, but in this case the pain can pay off. More than half of the U.S. workforce has experienced a problem with a paycheck at least once, according to a recent survey by think tank The Workforce Institute at Kronos, a for-profit workforce management...
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