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The Simple Dollar

Simple, applicable personal finance advice for the modern world.

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Latest Posts from The Simple Dollar (page 11)

Mortgage Rates Have Dropped Sharply — Should You Refinance?

Published Tuesday, June 18, 2019 - 12:50 by The Simple Dollar

Mortgage rates have dropped sharply over the past few months, giving millions of homeowners an opportunity to refinance into a more affordable loan. The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage fell to 4.04% on June 12, according to Bankrate’s weekly survey of large lenders. […]

The Frugal Snowball

Published Tuesday, June 18, 2019 - 10:00 by The Simple Dollar

One of my favorite articles from the early days of The Simple Dollar was The Snowball Effect. […]

Questions About Auto Insurance, Electric Kettles, Electric Cars, Allergy Medicine, and More!

Published Monday, June 17, 2019 - 10:00 by The Simple Dollar

What’s inside? Here are the questions answered in today’s reader mailbag, boiled down to summaries of five or fewer words. Click on the number to jump straight down to the question. 1. Prioritizing college or retirement? 2. Types of auto insurance 3. Possibly illegal behaviors of boss 4. Kettle efficiency for tea 5. Buy low, sell high? 6. Generic allergy medications on Amazon 7. […]

Shop Your Way to Better Credit? Amazon Introduces a Credit Builder Card

Published Monday, June 17, 2019 - 09:35 by The Simple Dollar

Amazon, the online retailer that wants to be all things to all people, has just rolled out what may be the retail industry’s first secured credit card. Aimed at consumers with subprime credit scores or those who have no credit history at all, the card is a smart move for Amazon on many levels. The Amazon Credit Builder Card is a closed-loop card, meaning it can be used only for purchases on Amazon […]

An Appreciation of My Father

Published Saturday, June 15, 2019 - 10:00 by The Simple Dollar

I’m pretty sure that my father will read this sometime today or tomorrow, or else my mother will read it aloud to him. In either case, I’ll start off with the most important thing: thank you, dad, for everything I’ve written about below and so much more. My father is in his mid seventies now, and simply typing that is almost unbelievable to me. […]

Buyer’s Remorse and Forgotten Things

Published Friday, June 14, 2019 - 10:00 by The Simple Dollar

Open up your closet door, dig past the first things you see, and look at ten things you happen to find in the back (or everything, if you want). Out of those ten things, how many of them fill you with buyer’s remorse? How many of them had you completely forgotten? Look at the last ten purchases on your Amazon account (or all of them, if you want). […]

The Hartford Renters Insurance Review

Published Thursday, June 13, 2019 - 21:25 by The Simple Dollar

If you don’t own your home (or no longer do), but you still have plenty of prized possessions, purchasing a renters insurance policy makes sense. This coverage is very affordable nationwide, with average costs of $188 per year according to the Insurance Information Institute (III). […]

State Farm Renters Insurance Review

Published Thursday, June 13, 2019 - 20:21 by The Simple Dollar

State Farm is well known within the insurance world, mostly due to their popular auto insurance, homeowner’s insurance, and life insurance policies. […]

Nationwide Renters Insurance Review

Published Thursday, June 13, 2019 - 20:02 by The Simple Dollar

While your landlord purchases a homeowners insurance policy that covers the building you live in, it’s important to note that their insurance coverage doesn’t insure your personal belongings. Ultimately, that’s why many tenants purchase renter’s insurance. With this type of policy, you can insure your personal belongings against damage or theft. […]

What to Do When Your Financial Improvements Are Making You Unhappy With Your Life

Published Thursday, June 13, 2019 - 10:00 by The Simple Dollar

For me, one of the most powerful side effects of turning my financial life around was that it made me feel genuinely, though modestly, happier in my day to day life. As we were paying off debts and starting to really save for our future, it felt as if this background layer of stress was slowly removed from my life. […]