How Too Many Credit Card Applications In A Short Span Affects Your Credit Score
Applying for new credit can impact your credit score in ways beyond the hard inquiry/ies. Also, some issuers have rules as far as how often you can apply.
Read MoreArchive for June 2024
Back to Archive IndexBanking (5)
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You've Been Warned: Avoid These Common Home Equity Loan Scams
It takes on average five to 10 years to build up sizable equity in a home. Imagine that equity being stolen from you. Be on the lookout for these scam signs.
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What The CFPB's Recent Supreme Court Victory Means For Consumers
On May 16, 2024, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau 7-2, upholding the constitutionality of its funding structure.
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Why You May Want To Think Twice Before Getting A Home Equity Loan
A home equity loan is a common way of accessing your home's built-up equity. This said, you'll want to do the math to know if it's right for you or not.
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The Unexpected Value Of The Rarest $20 Gold Coin
The U.S. circulated gold currency up until 1933, which is where this coin's rarity story begins and why it sold for 945,000 times its value in 2021.
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Budgeting (30)
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You've Been Warned: This Common Airport Mistake Will Cost You
We're always looking for ways to save when traveling, but many of us make this same spending mistake while at the airport. And it's one we can easily avoid.
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Top Things Insurance Companies Don't Want To Cover Anymore
While insurance coverage (for health, home, car, pet, etc.) is a financial decision every consumer needs to make, provider options are becoming fewer.
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How Much Can A 1% Difference In Mortgage Rate Cost Or Save You?
While 1% doesn't seem like a lot, when you're talking about a mortgage, it can make a significant difference. We take a look at the numbers at 7%, 6%, and 5%.
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Does House Of The Dragon Make A Max Subscription Worth It?
Prior to Season 2 of "House of the Dragon," Max raised prices for new subscribers. The timing seemed hopeful in banking on the draw of the "GoT" prequel.
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These Old Kitchen Items Are Worth A Ton Of Money
Those kitchen items passed down by generations hold enormous sentimental value, and in some cases, they hold collectible value, too. Think "Antiques Roadshow."
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Breaking Down The 20/3/8 Car-Buying Rule
Is a rule like 20/3/8 realistic in today's inflationary environment? Here, we see how this budgeting rule would work with today's prices and auto loan rates.
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Are AAA Perks Worth The Membership Price?
AAA dates back 132 years. Today, the federation of 32 motor clubs offers three tiers to its membership and roadside assistance: Classic, Plus, and Premier.
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The Worst States To Work In, According To Research
In 2023, the rate of Americans willing (or able) to move for work fell to 1.6%. Workers are staying put, even if they live in one of the worst states for jobs.
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What You Should Do If A Contractor Loses Your Payment
Depending on how you paid a contractor will determine your next steps should they say they've lost your payment. We take a look at three scenarios.
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Places To Work With Some Of The Best Employee Discounts
When it comes to job perks, things like health insurance and paid time off come to mind, but don't forget about employee discounts and their savings.
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Reasons To Think Twice About A 96-Month Car Loan
While a 96-month loan may present the only way some consumers can afford to add car payments to their budget, such a lengthy loan will also cost you.
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Chipotle Vs. Qdoba: Which Chain Is Cheaper?
Many may be more familiar with Chipotle than Qdoba, given there are four times as many locations. For those with a choice, here's how far your money can go.
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What Does Even Money Mean In Sports Betting?
Anyone new to sports betting, and who plans to make a wager someday, will need to understand the basics, starting with terms like odds, lines, and even money.
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5 Of The Biggest Sports Betting Wins Of All Time
Five of the biggest sports betting wins of all time are all from the 2000s. They also cover four sports: horse racing, golf, baseball, and football.
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Is Kevin O'Leary's Debt-Free-By-45 Advice Realistic?
Several years back, Kevin O'Leary explained why 45, to him, was the "turning point" for becoming debt-free. This, when household debt in America is over $17T.
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College Degrees Most Likely To Pay Off
Per the BLS, the higher the education, the greater the average pay. This said, some college majors offer more of a sure thing when it comes to a good ROI.
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The Surprising Cost Of Raising A Child
When your family grows, it means it's time for some new budgetary math. Knowing how much it costs to raise a child today can help you get things right early on.
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You've Been Warned: Paying Back Debt In The Wrong Order Will Cost You
Debt. A reality for most, how we choose to pay that debt back is key to whether or not we do so in a cost-effective way. A lot depends on the order.
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The Real Reason Your Net Worth Will 'Go Crazy' Once It Passes This Number
When building net worth, there's a milestone financial experts say is the magic number. Once reached, the power of compound interest really takes off.
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The Biggest Payouts In Gambling History
A recent NCAA survey found the most common bet was $10 to $20. That aligns with several of the stories here: modest bets that turned into mega payouts.
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Genius Ways To Save Money On Your Phone Bill
Unlike, say, our mortgage or rent, what we pay for our phones is negotiable, whether through an adjustment to our data usage or we find a better plan.
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10 States No One Should Ever Retire In
Retirement is the dream for many workers, but choosing the right place to settle down plays a big role in how comfortable you'll be.
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How Much Do Employers Actually Pay For Your Health Insurance?
One of the biggest perks of any job is health insurance. This said, how much companies actually pay largely depends on the type of plan they choose to offer.
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What You Should Never Say When Buying A House
When house shopping, you should avoid saying anything that will leave you in a weaker position when it comes to negotiation. As the buyer, you have power, too.
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How To Try And Get Your Money Back After Being Scammed
The FTC reports consumers lost $10 billion to fraud in 2023. For these people, hopefully they tried getting their money back, as there are steps you can take.
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Wedding Trends That Will Save You So Much Money
With weddings costing on average ~$35,000, many couples are looking for ways to save. Elisse Mills shares with us her take on cost-cutting trends and ideas.
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How Do Sinking Funds Work?
In addition to an emergency fund, sinking funds can help you budget your money for the future. You can think of these funds as targeted savings accounts.
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The Sartorial Rule Many Successful People Follow
Steve Jobs. Mark Zuckerberg. John Paul DeJoria. These are a few names that come to mind with a certain style. You can do the same and save while you're at it.
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Firefighters Make More Money Than You Realize
Firefighters may earn more than you realize but their pay also varies greatly, with a difference of over $62,000 between the 90th and 10th percentiles.
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The Dark Truth Behind RealPage And How It Affects You
If you rent, the chances are you've dealt with RealPage, even if you didn't realize it. The company's algorithm, YieldStar, is at the center of its scrutiny.
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Collectibles (3)
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The Most Valuable Retro Video Games Ever Sold
"Pong" in 1975 was the first video game to capture the attention of gamers. As for the most expensive titles ever sold? Those hail from the 1980s and '90s.
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Your Harry Potter Book Set Could Be Worth A Ton A Money
2023 marked the 25th anniversary for the "Harry Potter" series. The fact that over 500 million books have been sold makes the rare edition even more valuable.
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The Unexpected Value Of A PEP Cereal Box Today
PEP was a whole-wheat breakfast cereal introduced by Kellogg's in 1923 as a rival to Wheaties. And like Wheaties, some PEP boxes are collectible today.
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Earning (3)
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Finding This One Thing Can Make You Happier At Work
Everyone's work situation is different, however, research suggests that finding this one thing in our day to day can result in a happier, motivated outlook.
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The Real Reason Social Media Sites Are Turning To Subscriptions
Since the early days of social media, participation has always been free. Now, however, some sites are turning to subscriptions, and the reasons are twofold.
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The Dark History Behind The World's First Billionaire
The world's first billionaire became a billionaire only after the Supreme Court dissolved his company, Standard Oil, for violating the Sherman Act.
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History (5)
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The Compelling Case For A 4-Day Workweek
A four-day workweek offers employees the ability to avoid burnout without sacrificing productivity -- but the idea must gain mainstream traction.
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Small Bets That Paid Off Big Time
While some all-time betting wins involved putting millions on the line, these five wins resulted from comparatively minuscule bets. The biggest wager? $13.49.
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The Unexpected Value Of Old Video Game Consoles Today
Video gaming at home dates back more than 50 years, to 1972. However, the systems on this list are a bit more recent: three from the 1990s and two from 2000.
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Bill Gates' Worst Tech Predictions
Innovation relies on thinking big. In Bill Gates' case, he's been right about a good many tech ideas, but he's also gotten a few wrong -- at least at first.
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These VHS Tapes Of Classic Movies Are Worth A Ton Of Money
For over two decades, VHS was how we watched movies at home. While the format is obsolete today, certain titles are still selling at auction, for a lot.
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Investing (15)
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What Are Meme Stocks, And How Long Do They Last?
Meme stocks date back to only 2020, but investors can learn a lot from that short history. To start, keep in mind how meme stocks rise in the first place.
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Does Investing Work The Same In China?
Compared to the U.S., which has been trading stocks since 1792, China's stock market is relatively young, only opening up again in mainland China in the 1990s.
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How Fast Can I Withdraw From My Brokerage After Selling A Stock?
Once you sell your stock, is there a waiting period before you can access your new funds? There is; however, the wait time was recently cut in half.
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The Risk That Comes With Stock Lending
In the U.S., the emergence of securities lending dates back to the 1970s. While the practice can be lucrative for retail investors, there's also risk involved.
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Bitcoin Halving: What It Is And How It Works
With stock splits in the news, you might think you know all about bitcoin halving. But it's not about investor value, but rather, the value for bitcoin miners.
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Investing Tips From Cathie Wood We Should Be Paying Closer Attention To
Cathie Wood founded ARK Invest in 2014 and today is said to own at least 50% of the company, while her net worth is estimated to be at least $250 million.
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What Is Stock Lending And Is It A Good Option?
The key benefit of stock lending is the ability to earn a passive income from your investment. This said, there are some caveats you should be aware of.
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Which States Allow Sports Betting?
Thirty-eight states and the District of Columbia have legalized sports betting. We take a look at the holdouts and which states are soon likely to join the 38.
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What Actually Controls The Price Of Stocks?
As more Americans participate in the stock market, you may wonder what actually controls prices. Beyond supply and demand, we discuss a few other factors.
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Where Do Analysts Forecast Nvidia Stock Will Be A Year From Now?
As Nvidia readies for its stock split on June 7, 2024, its price continues to climb. Nvidia is now the second-most valuable public company, surpassing Apple.
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You've Been Warned: Don't Make These Critical Mistakes With The Stock Market At All-Time Highs
With the stock market trading at all-time highs, investors may actually feel more uncertain, afraid of making a mistake that will lead to long-term regret.
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What Is A Stock Split And How Does It Work?
With Nvidia's upcoming stock split in the news, you may be wondering how exactly a stock split works and why, typically, it's considered a bullish event.
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5 Education Stocks To Watch In 2024
Tech stocks, specifically AI, are powering the market. On that note, education stocks, specifically edtech, also rank high on analyst lists of stocks to watch.
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How To Prepare For A Market Correction
Investors know the market's a volatile place but, still, there are steps you can take to prepare your portfolio to withstand things like a market correction.
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How Do Wars Affect The Stock Market?
When it comes to war and stocks, you may think it means greater volatility. This isn't actually the case, though the market isn't wholly unaffected.
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Shopping (14)
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Realtors Can Land In Jail For These Shady Practices
Most Realtors are honest professionals, but there have been circumstances where shady practices have landed shady characters behind bars.
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The Surprising Amount Americans Spend On Prime Day Each Year
As with Black Friday, Amazon's Prime Day in July is now an anticipated shopping event each year, with other retailers timing their sales for the same period.
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Americans Spend An Astounding Amount Of Money On Fireworks
Fireworks have been part of Independence Day since the first celebration in 1777. This said, spending on consumer fireworks has more recently rocketed.
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How Homeowners Insurance Is Affecting The Housing Market
One part of closing a home with a lender is getting homeowners insurance. Yet, new obstacles stand in the way, including higher rates and even availability.
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Retail Stores With Some Of The Best Coupon Policies
The popularity of coupons continues to rise in the U.S., with nearly 178 million Americans clipping digital savings in 2022, up 22% from 2021, per Statista.
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You've Been Warned: Shopping On An Empty Stomach Could Cost You
Grocery shopping while hungry is a recipe for overspending, but it turns out you're fighting against some strategic marketing tactics at the store, too.
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Things You Should Never Pay For With A Credit Card
Paying for expenses with a credit card can be beneficial for optimizing rewards points or cash back, but cash should be used in certain circumstances.
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Understanding The Sharp Rise Of Cocoa Prices And How It Affects You
Notice chocolate bars costing more? You'd be right, and while you might think it's inflation, the calculus is a bit different when it comes to cocoa prices.
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Are CVS ExtraCare Plus Perks Actually Worth The Price?
CVS' loyalty program is more than 20 years old, though its paid tier is more recent, dating back to 2019. We break down what members get for $5/month.
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How Much Should You Really Pay For High-Speed Internet?
High-speed internet today is an essential utility, but consumers have options when it comes to service. Always keep in mind how much speed you really need.
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TVs: The One Item That Seems To Defy Inflation
Since 2020's 1.2%, the U.S. inflation rate has seen a peak of 8% (in 2022) to the current 3.36%. Despite these ups and downs, TV prices have been unaffected.
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Don't Waste Your Money On These Luxury Brands
With credit card debt at $1.12 trillion, many U.S. consumers are looking for ways to save and pay down their debt. One way? Avoid buying these luxury brands.
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Sam's Club Vs. Costco: Which Membership Perks Are Better?
When it comes to being part of a warehouse club, there really are only two: Sam's Club and Costco. What likely sways members to one or the other are the perks.
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What You Should Never Say When Buying A Car
When buying a car from a dealership, it's often best to remain tight-lipped about things like your personal finances and current vehicle.
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Spending (2)
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You've Been Warned: These Companies Are Collecting And Selling Your Data
Most consumers likely don't realize how much of their data gets collected. They also likely are unaware of how often they green-light its collection.
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You Should Think Twice Before Paying Medical Bills With A Credit Card
Using a credit card to pay medical bills might seem like an easy way to take care of the charges, but it can cost you down the line.
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Taxes (1)
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Do Amish Pay Taxes?
You may have heard that Amish community members aren't required to pay taxes. This, however, isn't exactly true, though they are exempt from certain taxes.
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