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Most of us have a plan. A plan for our family, career, adventures, and–most importantly–our money. To make sure that life goes according to your plan, carefully consider where you choose to live, and where you earn your money. Choosing poorly–and without knowing all the facts–could put a real strain on your wallet. MoneyRates.com recently released its list of the 10 best and worst states to make a living…

Anxiety bubbles up in your stomach as you check your bank account. Your latest paycheck barely covers rent and food for this month. Hopes of enjoying the night out with your friends this weekend are dashed. How are you supposed to make ends meet and enjoy your life at the same time? This situation may sound dire, but according to a 2018 study from CNBC, nearly one-third of Americans…

The two main components of personal finance are saving and earning. How to save and earn the most can be as complicated as you want it to be. Starting with the wrong understanding of basic personal finance concepts can be like digging a hole with a rake instead of a shovel. Income Tax Brackets It is foolish to avoid making extra money because it might bump your income into…

Personal finance takes discipline. Many people have the delusion they can control their spending and maximize the use of their income without tracking anything. If they take time to write down and add up all their expenses vs. their income, people usually realize they are overspending and not working efficiently toward their goals. Make a Budget To get control of spending and reach financial goals, a budget can be…

Frugal people have lots of habits. They don't have to be extreme to be effective. People don't have to hang up used dental floss to dry. Sometimes, the cheap version of a product is the worst deal because it will only last half as long as the more expensive version. Thinking before spending can do amazing things for a person's personal finances. Maintain a Conservative Lifestyle One trick to…

Debt collectors want you to think that they can harass you whenever they want, and often in whatever way they want. Some of them will even outright lie to you, or try to scare you, in order to get you to pay off the debt or make a payment. There is good news for you – you no longer need to put up with it. Here is what you…

There are a few types of credit inquiries individuals will encounter in life. Not all of them affect credit scores, but none of them improves credit scores. Like Google and its algorithm, the Fair Isaac Corp. does not divulge the details of how FICO scores are derived. The major reporting agencies only give out general criteria. Although the factors are the same for each individual, the weight they are…

Anyone is subject to identity theft these days.  And when it happens, your credit can be damaged. That’s because criminals steal your ID to commit fraud and forgery in your name. Basically, ID theft is when someone takes your personal information without your knowledge or consent and uses the data for ill-gotten financial gain. Your personal information includes your name, address, birthday, credit card numbers, bank accounts, medical records…

It’s 2016 and the reality is, there are a lot of people looking for jobs.  The unemployment rate is hovering right around 5%, and according to Careerbuilder as many as 75% of full-time employees are considering new employment opportunities. If you’re one of the many scouting out a new opportunity, you might want to add one more step to your to-do list when you apply.  Consider checking your credit.…

Although credit cards sometimes cause more problems than they solve, when it comes to rebuilding your credit, they can be helpful. Depending on your credit, you may not be able to get an unsecured credit card. In that situation, you should consider a secured credit card. The benefit of these cards is that your credit limit is based on the deposit you make. So, for most of them, if…