Articles on Personal Finance

Who's Your Data? The Myths and Misnomers of Unemployment Figures

How are jobless numbers tabulated? Are they even accurate in the truest sense? Why do newspeople get it completely wrong? Why do the jobless figures make us so jittery and

Top 5 ETF Tips

ETFs are part stock, part mutual fund — so that means you need to treat them a little differently than if you owned just one of the two. Here are five tips to help you nav

Questions to Answer Before You Get a New Vehicle for Your Business

If you're in the market for a new vehicle that you plan to use at least in part for business, you'll want to make certain decisions before you shop.

Travel and Money: Using Your Debit Card on the Road

Using a debit card is a great way to access cash and pay for items while traveling. But it’s not infallible; let’s explore tips for using your debit card safely.

Commission Free ETFs: A Great Option for Cost Conscious Investors

ETF stands for Exchange Traded Funds. Recently several major brokerages have started to offer their ETFs without a trading commission, and this is great news for those who are j

Why ETFs Suck

By now you've probably heard about ETFs and how awesome they are. Well for the average investor, that's a bunch of crap. ETFs are a great product for traders, but don't let the

3 Easy Steps to Take for a Better 401k

Everyone should know the basics of asset allocation by now, or so you thought. Here's three other things you can do to help your 401k.

How Much After Healthcare Reform?

How much will healthcare reform cost or save your small business? It depends.

You're Going to Get a Traffic Ticket Soon

How soon? Probably within a year, but it depends on what shape your state's economy is in. Learn more, plus suggestions for how to avoid the dreaded lights and sirens.

What You Need to Know About Your FSA

As with many provisions in healthcare, you may not be up-to-date on all of the finer points of an FSA. Even if you are, it never hurts to brush up on the basics.

How a Solid Credit Score Saves You Money

Your FICO credit score has a direct bearing on what kind of interest you can expect to pay on a loan, a mortgage or any other similar product. Many employers and landlords als

How to Decipher Credit Card Advertising

How do you figure out whether a credit card offer is good or bad? We'll break down the terms and conditions for you.

Can’t Afford Your Car Much Longer? Negotiate to Keep It

If you are worried about paying your auto loan note on time and have been having some financial setbacks, there are options you can consider before defaulting on your loan and r

Financial Freedom and Using Passion to Budget

If we are undirected, we are susceptible to all the external forces of consumerism around us, and whamo, we’re a full-on rat in the race, wondering when the wheel will st

Book Review: Hot (Broke) Messes - How to Have Your Latte and Drink it Too

Nancy Trejos is a personal finance writer for the Washington Post. While she was advising readers on financial problems, she was actually so broke that she had to ask her hardwo

Best Money Tips: 25 Factors That Affect Car Insurance Premiums

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips roundup. Today, we share how to really save on car insurance, h

Ultimate Credit Card Perks Checklist: Benefits You Don't Know About

Learn secret credit card perks, including extended warranty and price protection with the ultimate credit card benefits checklist.

How to Examine Your Healthcare Plan and Save

I’ve been examining healthcare plans for a couple of decades. I’ve been covered under employer-based plans and private individual plans. As a result, I've learned mu

Financial Fear Factors

Living in the now is always the hardest part of overcoming fear about anything, especially fear of the lack of money.

Your Job as a Personal Finance Literature Reader

I wish I could tell you exactly what to do, but whether saving a few bucks is worth your time is well, a question only you can answer. It's your job. Do it well.