Ben Edwards's Blog: Money Smart Life, page 26
July 1, 2013
Are You as Financially Literate as You Think You Are?
As a financial writer, I see all the hand-wringing about the low financial literacy in America. It’s not just those immersed in finances that see the problem, though. Many regular Americans agree that financial literacy is somewhat lacking.
However, many Americans think thatthey aren’t the problem; it’s always someone else who needs to know more about finances. Are you financially literate?
Unfortunately, the latest National Financial Capability Survey from FINRA highlights the fact that most A...
June 28, 2013
Capital One Quicksilver Rewards vs. American Express Blue Cash Everyday
When big banks fight for their share of the cash rewards market, credit card users will always come out on top. Capital One just released its new Quicksilver Rewards card that sets a new standard for flat rate cash back rewards. But at the same time, stalwart American Express still has an attractive option in its Blue Cash Everyday card. Both products offer excellent levels of cash back, but with no annual fee. Let’s take a look at these two cards and figure out which one is best for you.
Capi...
June 27, 2013
Reverse Mortgages 101
Reverse mortgages have gained popularity in recent years among people in the retirement phase of their life.Reverse mortgagesare attractive to retirees living on fixed incomes because they don’t have to make any payments while they’re living in their house.
However, it is important to remember that although you’re not making payments, a reverse mortgage is a loan and at some point it will have to be paid back – along with fees and interest.
How Does a Reverse Mortgage Work?
Applying for a revers...
June 26, 2013
How to Get Free Apps on Your iPhone Without Hidden Costs
Apple’s App Store has seen over 50billion downloads since its inception. Some of those apps are paid, other iPhone apps are free with ads, and aminusculeamount are free without ads. Considering Apple gets a 30% cut of any paid app download they’ve made quite a bit of money thanks to the developers that publish those apps.
With over 900,000 apps in the App Store (and about 375,000 of them optimized for the iPad) there is truly a staggering amount of options. While some paid apps are truly worth...
June 25, 2013
Want that Job? The Little Things Matter More Than You Think
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been watching my husband as he applies for university jobs. He’s had two years’ teaching experience (including graduate level classes) as an adjunct professor, and now he’s ready to try for a full-time job. His teaching evaluations have been overwhelmingly positive, and some of the students he’s worked with have done great things, like present at conferences and have their papers accepted for publication.
Because academia moves slow sometimes, he’s only now just h...
June 24, 2013
Money or Time: What’s More Valuable?
In the quest to save money or make money, it’s easy to get caught up in the strictly financial aspects of what you’re doing. After all, if you want money – whether you are trying to get the best deal on something, or trying to earn a few extra bucks – it doesn’t matter how long it takes you to get that money. You’ll do what it takes when it comes to the bottom line.
But what are you giving up?
While money, to some degree, is a necessity when it comes to survival, is it the most important thing?...
June 21, 2013
Top 10 Ways to Beat Your Bills Big Time
Don’t let your bills get the best of you. You can save money, get a better deal, and still enjoy many of the things you enjoy in your daily life. Here are some tips on how to overcome your monthly bills.
10 Ways to Save on Monthly Costs
1. Don’t have bills.
The easiest way to beat you bills? Don’t have them. If you have extra cash left over each month then you have more freedom to splurge on monthly bills. But if you are drowning in debt you need to cut back to the basics: a roof over your head,...
June 20, 2013
Home Equity Loans vs Home Equity Lines of Credit
Your home equity is the market value of yourproperty minus the amount you own on your home loan. Home equity is typically built up over time through your principal payments and real estate appreciation. During periods when home prices are appreciating quickly your home equity will likely increase but in years when the market is down you will probably lose home equity.
Some banks will let you borrow against the accumulated value of your home if you have enough equity built up. These types of lo...
June 19, 2013
Fair Debt Collection Practices: Your Rights
If you find yourself trying to get out of debt it can be overwhelming to know that you owe a great deal of money. It can be even more overwhelming when collectors contact you repeatedly in order to try and get you to pay. The good news is that you do have some rights.
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is designed to protect consumers from harassing behaviors on the part of debt collectors. It is important to know your rights under the FDCPA, and be ready to report violations of th...
June 18, 2013
A Checklist for Quitting Your Job
One of the most pervasive dreams in our culture is that of quitting your job. Whether you plan to quit and retire to some beach somewhere, or quit and start your own business so you can be your own boss, leaving a mind-numbing job might be at the top of your bucket list.
It’s important to realize, though, that quitting your job isn’t something that you can just do on a whim. You need to be ready to take that step. Here is a checklist that can help you as you get ready to move on to a new stage...
