Five Cent Nickel

Is there really such a thing as a second chance in the world of personal finance? Some banks seem to think so. In fact, certain institutions are willing to help people with troubled credit histories start to build up their financial futures by offering second-chance checking accounts. Of course, these accounts don’t come with all the features of traditional checking accounts. […]

I’ve talked at length in the past about how your credit score is determined and why it’s important. Aside from paying your bills on time, one of the biggest things you can do to protect your credit score is to keep a close eye on your credit report. While you’re entitled to one free credit report per year from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus, sometimes that just doesn’t cut it. […]

Do you drink beer? Smoke cigarettes? Do you love your morning latte on the way to work? Maybe you really enjoy lunch out with your coworkers a few times a week? Of course you do. However, these little habits may be costing you more than you think. More importantly, they could be doing serious damage to your financial future. I’m not knocking your vices. We all have them. […]

One of the most important aspects of personal finance success is spending responsibly. Some experts preach that avoiding credit cards altogether is a terrific way to make sure you’re never in debt. Others suggest leaning on credit cards as often as possible to improve your credit and earn rewards. I personally espouse the latter advice. […]