Credit surprises have the potential to creep up on you if you aren’t careful. Your history of on-time bill payment and low account balances were good practices, but a few missteps could have consequences that go well into next year. Here are five ways you might be setting yourself up for a credit nightmare without realizing it. Sharing your New Line of Credit Sharing your good credit with someone...

When it comes to choosing a payment method for everyday transactions, many people still prefer cash. Whether the goal is to reign in credit card use or stick to a budget, cash payments could help reduce overspending and put you back in charge of your finances. However, carrying around paper bills and coins instead of plastic could cost you in other ways. Here are five reasons to choose a debit...

If a home repair or improvement project is on your summer "To Do" list, using the equity in your home to pay for it might make good financial sense. However, choosing between a home equity loan and a home equity line of credit (HELOC) to fund your project isn't always an easy decision. While both loan types use your home as collateral, each has its unique benefits and potential drawbacks. Get...

It's hard to watch friends, or even strangers, living a lifestyle that appears more relaxing or exciting than your own. Whether you label the resulting emotions FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) or a yearning to Keep Up with the Joneses, the sentiment could push you to live beyond your means and interfere with your ability to build a firm financial future. But there are ways to relieve the squeeze on...

It doesn't matter whether you recently completed your last semester of high school or plan on graduating from college in a few weeks, gaining financial independence from your parents isn't always easy. But if you expect to live like an adult, there are actions you can take today to make your transition to adulthood less stressful for everyone. Here are five ways young adults can become financially...

When money is tight, the flexible payment options available with Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) loan programs can be a financial lifesaver. These no-interest, short-term installment loans let you buy clothes, furnishings, and other needed items from well-known retailers now, and pay for them later. But there are risks to entering in to what sounds like a financial wonderland. Consider the pros and cons...

Home inspections can arouse feelings of dread in both sellers and buyers. Both want the process to go smoothly so the home can transfer ownership as soon as possible, but that's not always what happens. Unfortunately, the results of a home inspection report could delay the sale of the property or even cause a deal to fall apart. A detailed home inspection isn't designed to be a roadblock to...

If your weekends are busy with virtual walkarounds or at-home test drives, but this is your first time hearing the term VIN (pronounced "vin"), you might want to put the brakes on used car shopping. Auto manufacturers assign a VIN (vehicle identification number) to every car. It's made up of 17 unique letters and numbers that could unlock a car's troubled past, preventing you from purchasing a...

If there's one decision you should make early in the homebuying process, it's whether you want to buy a newly constructed home or an existing one. They both have pros and cons, but a disadvantage for one buyer might very well be an unexpected bonus for another. Consider these five factors before deciding whether an existing home or new construction is the better choice for you. Design Older homes...

If college graduation is around the corner, you've probably been exploring your employment options. It's likely that one of your biggest concerns at the moment is compensation. After all, you have student loans to repay. But only focusing on the starting salary of each job opportunity may cause you to overlook two factors that could influence the value of those earnings: cost of living and...