It seems like today everyone wants to separate you from your hard-earned money. One way that they attempt to do that is through credit card scams. Here is some advice to avoid becoming a victim of a credit card scam. Credit cards are an easy way to pay for items and also to build up your credit. Banks issue debit cards with Visa and MasterCard logos so that you can make purchases directly from your checking account at stores and online. But with this convenience comes a level of responsibility – the most important thing you can do is...

Read More »

If you think you have been bombarded with credit card offers throughout year, wait until the holiday season rolls around. Holidays bring more credit card offers than at any other time of the year. However, it doesn’t mean that it’s to your benefit. When you receive a credit card application in the mail, it may seem tempting. An offer of 0% APR for six months, combined with several blank checks which you can use for purchases or consolidation of other debts may be irresistible, but your best course of action would be to shred the entire document. If you...

Read More »

Having your possessions stolen is a harrowing experience. Theft obviously deprives you of property, but perhaps even worse, it shakes your confidence in your fellow human being. You may experience such emotions as fear, anger and anxiety. When someone steals a material possession, at least we usually know fairly quickly that it's gone. But when someone steals one's identity, it may go undetected for weeks, months or even years. By the time you realize what has happened, your life may be turned upside down. Picking up the pieces is a long and frustrating process, and it's possible that you may never...

Read More »

Having access to credit can help us get the things we need and want. In addition to borrowing money for purchasing a home we can use it to buy everything from vacations to groceries. And increasingly, our ability to rent an apartment or get a new job hinges on our credit. Information about or credit is maintained by credit reporting agencies, also known as credit bureaus. There are three agencies that keep track of everyone's credit: Experian TransUnion and Equifax. Lenders use the information provided by these bureaus to determine whether or not they are willing to lend to you. What Kind...

Read More »

"No payments for twelve months" screams the ad for that great-looking living room you've been eyeing. If that's the case, you figure, then why not furnish the rest of your home while you're at it? After all, you can enjoy your new furniture for a year without paying a dime. But before you sign the sales agreement, take a moment to look at the fine print. When you see the interest rate, you may do some screaming of your own. Rates of 22% and even more are becoming increasingly common in "no money up front" deals. The same holds true...

Read More »

Debit cards are a good choice if managing money and your credit is a problem for you. Debit cards are linked to your checking account. You can use them as credit cards if they contain a Visa or MasterCard logo on them. They don’t incur annual fees or interest charges like a credit card does because they use the money in your checking account to make payments. With that said, are debit cards as good a choice as they seem? Debit cards teach you to manage money if you had trouble in the past with credit cards....

Read More »

Plastic money is accepted everywhere these days. Many merchants even prefer it to checks. That’s why your new debit Visa or MasterCard is such a convenience. The merchant runs it through like a credit card, but the funds come out of your bank account like a check. And therein lays the danger. If someone else gets hold of your card, they don't need your PIN to use it. They can charge things simply by forging your signature. Before you even know it, the money has disappeared from your checking account. Unlike a disputed credit card bill that you can simply refuse...

Read More »