Blog Posts

If you want to give a graduation gift that is always appreciated, give cash. If you want to give a gift that will help your grad save cash, though, you’ll need to give it a little more thought. Any of the following gifts would be appropriate for a college graduate heading out into the world, and most  Continue Reading »

Many basic principles about saving and investing don’t change. But plenty of other things do, including the economy, tax law and employment trends. So we asked leading personal finance experts to share with us the best money advice they ever received, as well as what they would tell today’s new graduates. Here are their responses,  Continue Reading »

When shopping for a new car, many people overlook one important step: getting preapproved for an auto loan. It’s a simple process that can make car-buying go more smoothly and save you money. Preapproval is a quick assessment of your ability to pay off a loan based on your credit history and current financial state.  Continue Reading »

The overflowing expectations around the holidays can entice us to spend more than we can afford. Not only do we have bills to face once the decorations are put away, but 43% of respondents to an Experian survey say extra expenses also make the holidays hard to enjoy. Now’s the time to plan so your December  Continue Reading »

Shopping for school supplies, electronics and clothing can be a chore — and an expensive one at that. Families with children in grades K-12 plan to spend an average of $687.72 on back-to-school shopping, about $14 more than last year’s average of $673.57, according to the National Retail Federation. College students and their families plan  Continue Reading »

Heading out on a vacation road trip? Watch out at the fuel pump for a threat to your debit or credit card: skimmers. Gas stations, among the last retailers to install fraud-reducing EMV-chip card readers, remain an attractive target this summer for card-skimming crews. Skimmers can be hidden in and around gas pumps’ card readers,  Continue Reading »

For many people, debit cards are the perfect plastic. They offer most of the conveniences of credit cards with no risk of accumulating debt. But like credit cards, debit cards are vulnerable to rip-off artists. And debit card fraud is particularly scary because thieves can withdraw money directly from your checking account. Here’s how debit  Continue Reading »

In seeking the best deal on your next car, you might’ve stumbled upon advertisements or offers to get a 0% interest auto loan. As great as this sounds, you may not save as much as you expect with this type of incentive. Since auto loans can come through either a dealer or a lender, such  Continue Reading »

A new year brings a chance to start fresh with just about anything. If your midnight toast includes a resolution to improve your financial health, here’s how to make it happen. Get on a budget To get ahead, it’s important to know where you stand and to create a plan with realistic goals such as  Continue Reading »

There’s no question that saving money is a wise plan, but where to put your savings isn’t always so cut and dried. Does a regular savings account fit your needs best, or would a money market account be a smarter choice? And what about saving certificates? Which option is right for you depends largely on  Continue Reading »