Personal Finance

Book Review: Complicit - How Greed and Collusion Made the Credit Crisis Unstoppable

This week a government committee is investigating the cause of the financial crisis by interrogating bank titans what exactly went wrong. Complicit: How Greed and Collusion Made th

How to Prepare for a Home Purchase in 2010

The housing and mortgage industries took a giant leap backwards last year. Read about what you need to do if you are finally ready to buy the home you've been looking for.

Home Loans

Getting a home loan is a necessary part of the process of buying a home for most people. It can take extra work to get a good loan, but if you're familiar with the process and know

Best of Personal Finance Roundup: Make Sure Your Haiti Donation goes to Quake Aid

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best of Personal Finance roundup. Today, we tell you tips for making sure that your Haiti relief donations are getting where they need to go, 8 great movie

How Cleaning Your Wallet Benefits You Financially

It is not quite time for spring cleaning, but if you are a slightly disorganized person like me you may benefit financially by cleaning your wallet or purse. Here are some reasons

Best of Personal Finance Roundup: How to Make Homemade Poptarts

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best of Personal Finance roundup. Today, we share a recipe for homemade poptarts, the right way to rock a t-shirt, and frugal ways to train for a marathon (

When It's Time to Destroy Debt, Start With a Goal

I'm doing a 90-day series on air and online to help people destroy debt. My first installment concerns the single most important thing you can do: establish goals. Read and watch f

Best Money Tips: 5 Beloved Tax Perks with Ugly Downsides

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips roundup. We look at five yummy tax breaks that could have dire consequences, how to make the most scrumptious Italian beef stew, and how

How Debt Fools People

People who have a natural aversion to debt often wonder how some people get themselves into such terrible problems with debt. Don't they know how much it costs? Don't they understa

2010 Predictions from Wall Street and Main Street: Who's Smarter?

Every December for the last five years Money Talks News has hooked up with David Wyss, the chief economist for giant research firm Standard & Poors. We sit him down in a studio and

Learn to Invest in 2010: 4 Steps to Educating Yourself

Interested in learning to invest this year but not sure how to accomplish that? By following 4 steps, you can take your knowledge to the next level (and the next, and the next) and

Contributing to a Roth Versus Paying Down Debt

This post was prompted by a reader question, but it's an issue that many people face—we see versions of it all the time in the forums.

Best of Personal Finance Roundup: 5 Ways to Reduce How Much You Need to Retire by $300,000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best of Personal Finance roundup. Today, we look at how you can reduce your necessary retirement bill by $300,000, 12 tips for being the best thrift store s

5 Reasons Not to Apply for a Loan Modification in the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP)

The Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) rolled out last year currently has over 700,000 people in trial modifications and a little over 30,000 in "permanent" modifications.

Credit Scores

Maintaining a good credit score is important, no matter what your financial goals are.

Are You Saving For Your Child's College Education?

Not all parents are intending to save for their children's education. There may be various reasons why this is the case and it's something I'd like to explore a little, to determi

Best Money Tips: 8 Money Tips I Learned from Clark Griswold and Christmas Vacation

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips roundup. This time, we examine 8 money tips learned from the movie "Christmas Vacation," how to buy a blu-ray player, and 75 Twitter tips

Uglify Your Stuff To Keep It Safe

I buy things based on how they look as well as what they do. But what attracts you to objects also attracts thieves. And so, has the time come to "uglify your stuff?"

Getting Kids Started with the Stock Market

Recently, a reader asked how to give stock to kids in her life in an effort to inspire a life-long interest in investing. Here are ideas on ways to get the younger generation start

Get a Grip on Your Debt: How to Obtain a Clear, Concise Financial Snapshot

Before we can tackle our debt problems, we need to know from where we are starting.

Latest Articles in Personal Finance

How to Dispute Mistakes On Your Credit Report

Notice something amiss on your credit report? Don't fret. This is how you can dispute any mistakes.

The 8 Most Eye-Opening Money Attractions in the U.S.

Make your next vacation money-themed, and check out these eight amazing attractions across the U.S.

Someone Took Out a Loan in Your Name. Now What?

A fraudulent loan can have dire consequences for your personal finances. Here's how you can fix the problem, stat.

5 Things to Know Before Adding Someone to the Deed

Before you add someone to the deed on your home, you should be aware of these five things.

Banks Still Offering Free Checking and Savings with Great Interest Rates

Tired of fee-gouging from your old bank? Here are the banks with the best checking and savings terms.

Capital One 360: A Competitive Banking Option

CapOne 360 is a great option for those looking for low fees and great interest rates!

5 Best Online Checking Accounts

Whether you're looking to earn interest or for great customer service and reasonable fees, these five online checking account are all wise choices.

5 Ways Gig Economy Workers Can Save for Retirement

Even if your full-time job consists of several gig economy jobs, you can successfully save for retirement — here's how.

5 Renovations That Don't Increase Your Resale Value

Before you get started on a new home renovation, make sure you know if it'll increase your resale value.

How to Protect Yourself From Credit Card Theft

Don't let a scammer get a hold of your credit card number. Here's how to keep your account secure.

5 Reasons Not to Use Debit Cards When You Shop Online

Before you place an order through your favorite online retailer, consider these reasons to use credit instead of debit.

How Cosigning On a Student Loan Could Impact Your Finances

Before you cosign on a student loan, these are four important things to keep in mind.

16 Small Steps You Can Take Now to Improve Your Finances

Believe it or not, you can improve your finances in a big way by making several small money moves.

How to Maximize Rewards on Everyday Spending

If you're not using your travel or cash back card for certain expenses, you're leaving valuable rewards on the table.

How to Stay Calm During a Market Fluctuation

If you're tempted to bail on investments when you hear scary financial predictions, it's important you learn how to keep your cool.

The Pros and Cons of Refinancing an Auto Loan

Before you refinance your auto loan, here's what you need to know.

How to Make Better Financial Decisions

Focusing all your efforts into reaching one financial goal is a fairly straightforward process. But what about when you have more than one financial goal? This guide will help.

The Pros and Cons of Paying Off Your Debt Early

You dream of being debt-free, but is it all it's cracked up to be?

5 Things Keeping You From a Life of Financial Independence

These are common obstacles that could be standing between you and sweet financial freedom.

Should You Use a Personal Loan or a Home Equity Loan to Remodel Your Home?

Looking to remodel your home? Here's how to decide between a personal loan and a home equity loan to pay for it.