Money Blue Book

Should you start a business on zero percent credit?

Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:44 GMT

I'm not what you'd call a natural entrepreneur. In fact, every venture I've ever tried to set up has turned to dust. But a few years ago, I inherited a small sum of money, and couldn't find anywhere to put it where it would earn a reasonable, relatively risk-free return. So I once again considered s [...]

5 money lessons I learned after graduation

Thu, 16 May 2013 23:56:23 GMT

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, more than 1.7 million students will graduate from college this year. Graduation season is one of my favorite times of year. It reminds me of a time when the future was full of possibility. However, there are some things about life and money [...]

Summer jobs for college students

Thu, 09 May 2013 00:28:43 GMT

This story comes from our partner, Zing! by Quicken Loans As a college student, this time of year was bittersweet. On one hand, the semester was winding down and summer vacation was just a few sleepless nights spent cramming for exams away. On the other hand, the end of the semester also meant it wa [...]

What is a chip-and-PIN credit card?

Tue, 07 May 2013 21:44:39 GMT

At first glance, your U.S. credit card may seem ideal for traveling abroad. You can just bring your foreign-fee-free card on your next overseas trip and cross borders without having to worry about losing spending power to unfavorable exchange rates, right? As many world travelers have found, it isn' [...]

Should you switch to an online-only bank?

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 20:37:57 GMT

Many of us bank online today without a second thought. I use online bill pay to handle the electric bill each month, and regularly check my accounts and transfer funds without leaving my house. And while I haven't accessed my bank account from my mobile phone, according to a recent study from the Fe [...]

Should optimists avoid credit cards?

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 20:37:57 GMT

I like optimists. Who doesn't? Optimism is one of America's defining national characteristics, and was an essential part of this country's rise to greatness. But some academic studies suggest that people with too rosy an outlook can get themselves into trouble, especially financially, and can-do can [...]

Should you switch to an online-only bank?

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 21:07:26 GMT

3 tips for negotiating better credit card terms

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 22:42:27 GMT

A friend of mine recently sat me down and told me that she was in a dismal, one-sided relationship with her credit provider. She had been a responsible customer, never missing a payment and never maxing out her limit, but the terms of her contract hadn't changed since college and she didn't feel lik [...]

How to choose the right tax software

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 19:17:37 GMT

When I wrote 3 tips for avoiding an IRS audit last month, I was amazed by two statistics my research turned up: The National Taxpayer Advocate's 2012 report reckoned that nearly 60 percent of federal filers hire tax preparers, while another 30 percent use commercial software for their filings. In my [...]

The problem with that large tax refund

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 19:32:08 GMT

I excitedly told my father that I was getting a large tax refund, expecting him to be as happy as I was. I was 22 years old. I had been working at my first professional job for less than a year and struggling each month to pay rent. To me, the $4,500 IRS check headed my way was the equivalent of win [...]

7 financial hacks everyone should know about

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 23:28:25 GMT

This article comes from our partner LearnVest. Just before the Enron scandal broke, the company's CEO immediately put his money into annuities—in his wife's name. Why? Because those assets are creditor-protected, so they can't be seized (in this case, by the government). This is just one ex [...]

Can your credit card make you a wiser spender?

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 22:20:57 GMT

Credit cards have made it easier to spend money today than any time in the past. Before credit cards, you had to go to the bank and fill out a withdrawal slip whenever you needed easily spent funds. But now we have our money available to us 24 hours a day, which can be both a blessing and a curse. I [...]

Spring cleaning for your wallet

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 23:33:59 GMT

The spring equinox is approaching, and thousands of people are getting ready to rid themselves of clutter that has piled up over the previous year. While everyone's getting their houses in order, take the time to open the dusty door on the storehouse of your personal finance and credit habits. It mi [...]

Your money habits: nature or nurture?

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 22:28:27 GMT

When we returned from a recent family vacation, my 11-year-old daughter's carry-on bag was crammed with colorful trinkets that she had purchased with her vacation money. My 9-year-old son, on the other hand, boarded the plane with pockets full of cash that he had decided not to spend and instead sav [...]

3 tips for avoiding an IRS audit

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 23:34:27 GMT

One of my favorite films is "Le Dîner de Cons" (The Dinner of Fools). Yes, it's French. But it comes with subtitles, and I can read. And it's about the funniest movie I've ever seen. In it, a group of ghastly, elitist Parisian businessmen meets for dinner every week, and its members take turn [...]

The only savings strategies you really need

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 19:29:15 GMT

According to a 2012 survey by CareerBuilder.com, two in five American households are living paycheck to paycheck. We could blame this on the state of the economy or the scarcity of jobs, but in reality, saving money often has more to do with psychology than it does with external factors. In order to [...]

Review: Citi Dividend Platinum Select Visa Card -- $100 cash-back offer

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 19:12:26 GMT

My niece Jemma called recently, and launched into a long sob story about juggling small kids (it should be an Olympic sport) with trips to the laundromat. Her washer had recently broken down, and couldn't be repaired economically. She was too financially responsible -- something she didn't get from [...]

Review: Citi Dividend Platinum Select Visa Card -- $100 cash-back offer

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 21:39:38 GMT

So you're dead: What happens to your credit card bills?

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 20:52:45 GMT

I was over at the house of some friends a couple of weeks ago when an interesting subject came up: What happens with your credit accounts when you die? Can your unpaid credit card bills affect you or your family once you've departed this mortal coil? The answer, it turns out, is complicated. It depe [...]

Review: CitiBusiness AAdvantage World MasterCard

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 20:46:35 GMT

It could have been a lot worse. But at the time, last Sunday, it felt pretty bad. First, the delayed-take-off announcement. Then, the news that the airport to which we were flying was snowed in, and the flight had to be diverted. Next, on arrival, the three-hour bus trip (in a vehicle that had clear [...]

4 credit card tricks for vacation planning

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 21:33:16 GMT

Instead of complaining about the overcast skies and bitter temperatures, I have spent the last week redeeming frequent flier miles and hotel points to plan our family's summer vacation to Hawaii. While it's satisfying to harvest the perks for our past credit card spending, the best part may be knowi [...]

How to protect your credit card from emergencies

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 21:21:36 GMT

When a costly emergency strikes, is your first instinct to pull out your credit card? If so, you may want to consider the benefits of building an emergency fund. Creating an emergency fund is a vital step toward becoming a responsible credit card user. A credit card can be the perfect tool for many [...]

Review: Chase Freedom MasterCard

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:33:35 GMT

People like their computers for different reasons. Me? It's because mine brings a smidgen of order into a life that would otherwise be unrelentingly chaotic. Calendar alerts, reminder emails, electronic post-it notes -- these are the only reason I deliver work on time and turn up to social events. T [...]

6 steps to erasing holiday credit card bills

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 21:03:52 GMT

It's hard not to be generous during the holiday season, to ourselves as well as to others. The trouble with that generosity, though, is that it can lead to racking up some lofty balance figures on our credit card statements. But starting today, you can formulate a solid plan of attack on that extra [...]

Review: The Business Platinum Card from American Express OPEN

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 21:01:21 GMT

Years ago, I had a platinum American Express card. But it must have issued at a time when AmEx's branding people were going through some sort of collective nervous breakdown, because -- although it looked great -- it was a fairly standard credit card. The Business Platinum Card from American Express [...]