For some people, tax refunds can be a nice addition to a bank account each year. However, if you have a list of urgent bills, overdue debts, or large purchases, your tax refund might be more of a financial necessity than padding for your savings account. Once you file your taxes, refunds can take weeks…
Posts Categorized: Consumer Tips
For most Americans, owning your own home is a dream that can come true. At credit.org, we’ve always advocated that homeownership should be part of your long-term financial plan, helping to build overall wealth and stability while improving your financial security during retirement years. Making the decision to pursue and ultimately become a homeowner is…
We wrote yesterday about the pros and cons of going paperless, and switching from mailed bank & billing statements to electronic ones. If you do decide to make the switch, we’ve got some advice for how to do it: Save a permanent copy. Paper statements are permanent, but some creditors and banks won’t keep your…
February is American Heart Month, and we’d love to help you find ways to improve your heart health without jeopardizing your financial fitness. A gym membership can be a great way to keep active and do heart-healthy exercise, but we know from over 40 years of financial counseling that gym memberships can be a painful…
A lot of budgeting for the holidays centers on buying gifts and the like, but holiday meals and gatherings can present a real challenge for those who are trying to get by on a tight budget. We’ve got 6 tips for saving money on this year’s Thanksgiving Dinner: Borrow what you need. Check with your nearby…
It can be tough for military members to transition to civilian life. Letty Stevens suggests a military approach to this problem through Military Saves. Our focus is on financial literacy education, so we want to help everyone who needs this kind of help to transition without excessive debt. Servicemembers are used to a steady paycheck,…
How often have you checked your mail or answered your phone only to find another prescreened credit card offer? Blank envelopes and phone calls from unnamed phone numbers may seem like official notifications. More often than not, answering these notices leads you to find yet another offer claiming that you have been prescreened for a…
If you’ve got a credit card in your wallet right now, chances are there is a message on the back right under the signature field that says “not valid unless signed.” The major credit card companies, Visa and MasterCard, require an authorized signature before the card may be processed. Of course, not all of us…
It’s important to know what various consumer credit act provisions and laws exist to protect consumers. Too many people who don’t know their rights don’t take advantage of the laws that protect them. We routinely talk to consumers about how to ensure that they aren’t being victimized by debt collectors and other financial predators. There…
If you’re a parent looking for a college savings calculator to help plan your family’s education funding, you should be thinking about 529 plans. A 529 plan allows you to save for future college expenses. You can start saving at any time and build up funds as your child grows. You can use a college…
When it comes to “opting out,” we’ve long advised consumers to opt out of receiving pre-screened credit card offers using Opt Out Prescreen and from other offers that entice you to spend outside of your budget. Use this quick-reference guide to get your name off these marketing list Opt Out Prescreen Opt Out Prescreen allows…
Parents across the country are having the talk with their young adult as he or she heads out the door to college. This year, however, the talk isn’t about sex, drugs and rock and roll. Instead, it’s about whether or not the student should apply for a credit card before the new regulations go into…
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