Personal Finance

What You Need to Know About Roth IRAs in 2010

According to a September 29, 2009 Fidelity Investments study, 88% of respondents are unaware of the 2010 Roth conversion opportunity. The what opportunity? With only 12% who are aw

How to Deal with Tax-Deductible Receipts Quickly and Easily

How do you deal with tax-deductible receipts that you collect on the fly? Are they stuffed into your wallet until it becomes so distended that you are forced to do something abo

How to Botch Up, Then Peddle Back to Good Credit

As a young adult, I thought I had a firm grasp on being financially responsible. But I never really understood my credit score, or even why it was important to build a good score.

‘Tis The Season To Get A Speeding Ticket! Are You Next?

Yes, speeding tickets suck. And yes, they’re also a necessary deterrent; they come not just with fines and points on your license, but insurance rate hikes. This is also the time o

Gift-Giving Ideas That Can Change Lives

Giving a gift that doesn't suck is not easy. Instead of focusing on the same old gift ideas, how about trying something that has the potential to change the person's life? It can b

Best of Personal Finance Roundup: How to Hide Naughty Credit Card Purchases

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best of Personal Finance roundup. In this article, we show you what "naughty" purchases you should avoid putting on your credit card, how to cook a pork roa

Guest Post: Living off Capital

I have a guest post up on The Simple Dollar that talks about Living Off Capital.

Best Money Tips: 5 More Ways to Screw Your Credit Card Company

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips roundup. In this article, we’ll look at 5 legal ways to get your way with your credit card companies, the 5 grammatical errors that make

How to Make the Most of Your 401K

Most of us have a 401k account with our employer. But there are people who've decided not to participate in their employer's retirement program for a variety of reasons. But imagi

The Best Way to Avoid the Worst Financial Problems

Simple living should be about enjoying the good stuff. So, rather than go into a bunch of things you can do to head off possible problems, I'm going to give you just one tool for a

Living Cheaply for the Long Term

Frugality sites are full of advice for cutting your expenses right away. Living cheaply for the long term is different. Call it "strategic frugality."

I’ve Lived Both Sides of the Healthcare System. This Is What I've Learned.

This debate has been furiously argued on both sides for several months, so I thought I’d throw my hat in the ring. I lived with the British National Health Service (NHS) until I wa

Book Review: Get Financially Naked: How to Talk Money with Your Honey

It has been reported over and over that money is the number one cause of conflict and stress in relationships. This is precisely the reason authors Manisha Thakor and Sharon Kedar

The Joy of Buying a New Car: 9 Car Buying Tips

There are a few key areas and tips that prospective car shoppers must keep in mind when looking to buy a new or used vehicle.

Become a Frequent Flyer Master and Earn a Free Flight Every Year

Ssshh: don’t bother me. I’m busy doing my Christmas shopping and accumulating enough frequent flyer miles to pay for two overseas flights – in business class. I’m doing it with the

My Bank Stole My Grocery Money

My bank charged me almost $100 in overdraft fees, even though my bank statement never went negative. As one of my colleagues here at Wise Bread reported last week, banks use this s

6 Basic Tips for Buying a Bank Owned Home

Currently many homes for sale are owned by banks. These properties are also known as real estate owned or REO and they have gone through the foreclosure process. Some of them are i

Why the Affordable Home Really Isn't

I've taken a look at home affordability calculators that are available from many reputable sites offering personal finance advice. "Affordability" is based on bank lending guidelin

Can Your Spending Patterns Affect Your Credit?

Regardless of how fiscally cautious and responsible you are as a credit card holder, you may still be curious to know just how much credit card companies know about you through you

5 Tips for Easy College Savings

Saving for college isn't always easy when the day-to-day costs of living are taking what income you have. Here is a simple idea to start saving small for your kids higher education

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.