We cover the basics and more about personal finance, answering frequently asked questions about credit and debt, identity theft, saving for college, retirement, estate planning, insurance, taxes, job hunting, and raising money-savvy kids. Check out the articles, columns, blog posts, radio shows and videos for tons of personal finance advice.
What is a Good Salary? The Answer Will Surprise You
What is a good salary? The answer is surprising. The quality of life you can have on a certain salary varies drastically from city to city. A recent study by GOBankingRates looked at just how far a $100,000 annual salary goes in major cities across the country. Basic expenses, such as housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, [...]
Leaving an Abusive Home: How to Protect Your Assets
Leaving an abusive home: How to protect your assets when you fear for your safety but rely on the ownership interest for your financial future. Q: I pay half the mortgage on the home that I own with my boyfriend. I live there with him and our son. The title of the house is in [...]
2 Moving Tips to Make Your Big Move Easier
Moving tips to make your big move easier. These tips will help you plan a less stressful move, whether you're doing it DIY or hiring professional movers. An estimated 20 million Americans will pack up their lives and move into a new home this summer, according to InsuranceQuotes.com. No matter how organized you are (or [...]
Best Summer Vacation Ideas for Families on A Budget
Best summer vacation ideas for families on a budget. Budget-friendly summer vacation ideas for families who can't afford to travel this summer. Are you struggling to plan a summer vacation on a budget? You’re not alone, according to a recent Bankrate survey 60 percent of Americans who aren’t planning a summer vacation have decided they [...]
Trees, Neighbors and Insurance Coverage: What You Need to Know
Trees, neighbors and insurance coverage: What you need to know when nature strikes and your homeowner's insurance gives you the runaround. Over the past few weeks, we’ve received a number of letters on our recent column about trees, neighbors and insurance coverage. A reader wrote in that a tree fell on his neighbor’s garage and [...]
Mortgage Delinquency is Down, Credit Delinquency is Up
Mortgage delinquency rates are down, credit delinquencies are up. CoreLogic reports 30-day-plus delinquency is the lowest it’s been in over a decade. It’s a good news, not-so-good news situation. First, the good news: More people are paying their mortgages on time. Unfortunately, credit delinquencies are up as more people are having trouble getting their credit [...]
What Is the Purpose of a Home Inventory?
What is the purpose of a home inventory? A home inventory list can make filing an insurance claim in the event of a major loss much easier. Seventy percent of Americans have gone through a natural disaster at some point in their lives, according to research by Farmers Insurance. With that in mind, it’s surprising [...]
How Much Should I Spend on a Valentine’s Day Gift?
How much should I spend on a Valentine’s Day gift? Here are the best DIY Valentine’s Day gift ideas that show you care but won’t break the bank. Love is in the air and so are the sweet scents of chocolates and roses! And, who wouldn’t like either as a Valentine’s Day gift? Valentine’s Day [...]
Do You Need to Renovate an Old Inherited Home Before Selling?
Do you need to renovate an old inherited home before selling? The first step to deciding involves speaking with a local real estate broker to lay down the numbers. Q: Our sister recently passed away leaving the family home that mom left her six years ago. She had no will and left outstanding debts as [...]
4 Personal Finance Resolutions You Need to Make Ahead of a Recession
These are the 4 personal finance resolutions you need to make ahead of a potential recession in 2019. Putting them to work now can help your financial foundation in the future. Here’s something we haven’t heard in a long time: whispers of a looming recession. And those in the know think it could start in [...]