Articles on Personal Finance

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

Best Money Tips: Does Your Investment Strategy Need to be on Ritalin?

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips roundup. Today, we look at how to get more focus in your investment plans and what you can do to prepare for those anticipated holiday gu

Best Money Tips: The X-Men Guide to Unlocking Your Financial Mutant Powers

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips roundup. This week, we get all X-Men on your finances with an entertaining look at the financial powers that each character may hold. We'

9 Ways to Save on a Move

Moving is one of life's most stressful events. In addition to all that packing, you also have to fork over big bucks for boxes, movers, a truck, and storage. Follow these 9 tips to

The Fallacy of Homeownership as a Sound Investment

Owning a home has become inextricably linked to the American dream, as much a part of the social fabric as baseball and apple pie. But the reality is that most Americans would be b

Get Out of Debt First, Then Focus on Saving

When you’re in debt, it’s nearly impossible to save money. The money you save while paying off debt is not likely to earn as much interest as the interest you pay towards your debt

Urgent: Check Your Withholdings

Your paycheck has probably been bigger this year because the government stimulus package to cut the amount of tax withheld from people who were expected to get the new "Making Work

Tallying the True Cost of Debt

The financial cost is easy to quantify. But the consequences of debt are never isolated. Our debt problem infects every aspect of our lives; it affects our careers, our family, an

What It Really Costs to Own a Home

I’m a mortgage-free homeowner but, despite paying off my loan, I still have plenty of expenses associated with owning and maintaining my house.

3 Ways Technology Makes Personal Finances Easier

From saving money to staying on budget, technology has made it easier than ever to stay on top of my personal finances. Here are 3 ways technology has helped me save money and time

Celebrate Your Life (and Help Others do the Same) with Bcelebrated – Plus a Discount for Wise Bread Readers

Bcelebrated is a unique service that allows you to create your own online autobiographical legacy, communicate your last wishes to those you have something to say to, organize your

Dream Job or Day Job?

Most people I know have a frustrated passion. There's something they'd rather do a lot more of, but making a living gets in the way. Some people simply accept that their passion wi

How Foreclosure, Deed in Lieu, and Short Sale Affect Credit Scores

Currently millions of Americans are delinquent on their home loans or facing foreclosure. Foreclosure, deed in lieu of foreclosure, and short sales are several ways for borrowers t

How to Buy Personal Carbon Credits That Count

Even in this tough economy, there's a booming market in personal carbon credits. Learn how, and where, to buy them.

The Debt Trap: Factors That Have Led Us To Our Debt

We're a nation of borrowers. This reality is quite well illustrated by the personal stories and profiles covered by various media publications on the subject of consumer debt. Rec

Navigating Small Business Rewards Cards

With more cards available to small business owners than ever, it can be difficult to choose the rewards system that will be most beneficial to your business. Will you go with ca