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If you need to make a payment, but don’t want to use cash or a personal check, you’re not alone. Sometimes sending cash or checks just doesn’t feel secure enough. So what are your options? Nowadays, electronic payments are becoming more widely accepted. But sometimes a seller may ask for a money order instead. What is a money order exactly? Read More...
Deciding where to move for work can be a daunting challenge. Is moving to a less affordable area in order to take a higher income going to end up doing more damage to your budget than its worth? And what about the long term? Where is the best place to foster a great lifelong career? Below SmartAsset tackles these questions to find the best cities for career opportunities. Read More...
If you’ve never opened a bank account before, you’re probably wondering how the process goes. For one, what do you need to open a bank account exactly? Whether you’re a bank account newbie or it’s just been awhile since you opened a new account, we’ve got you covered. It’s better to be prepared with the right information than show up empty-handed and unprepared. Read More...
Do you have a budget? Do you follow it? If you answered no, you’re not alone. According to NAPFA, 60% of U.S. adults don’t have a budget and less than 50% of Americans have a purposeful savings plan. Luckily, financial advisors exist and can help you get out of your budget-less rut. You’ll have to be careful about who you pick, though, since not all financial advisors act in your best interest. Some act in their self-interest instead to make more money. Read More...
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Aug 31, 2015 The rising cost of tuition and fees at US colleges has rendered college unaffordable for many families. The average US college student now…
Feb 03, 2017 Most teenagers dream about the day the get their driver’s license and are able to take their first car out for a spin by themselves. For…
Aug 03, 2017 If you’re young and you're looking to purchase a new home to live in, maybe you should consider turning your first home into an investment…
Oct 21, 2015 Across the country, real estate markets are much healthier than they were a few short years ago, when a housing bubble precipitated a much…
Jan 28, 2016 Negotiating a loan with a friend or family member can be a great alternative to high-interest forms of consumer credit. Formalizing that…
Data Articles and Studies
The fight for equal rights for working women remains an uphill battle. That’s one reason why about 3 million people around the world recently participated in women’s marches and thousands took part in demonstrations on International Women’s Day. An analysis from the Center of American Progress estimated that A Day Without a Woman could have cost the U.S. GDP $21 billion if every woman who worked outside the house went on strike. Read More...
Credit card complaints can be difficult to address. Sometimes credit card companies are hard to reach or it’s not clear who you should be complaining to. In the wake of the financial crisis of 2008, the federal government set up the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to help protect consumers. The CFPB government agency helps consumers address complaints they have with banks, credit unions, credit card companies, payday lenders and other financial companies. Read More...
Home is where the heart is, so the saying goes. For homeowners, their home is also where they probably invested a large chunk of their money. In some places homeownership has proved to be a worthwhile investment, as the home values skyrocket. But in other places, depressed home values and high property taxes may have made owning a home less worth it. Read More...
Videos
Patrice Washington says she is an accidental personal finance blogger. Regardless, it’s a role she seems born to play, and one she’s certainly making the most of! Patrice is now much more than a personal finance blogger, she is a personal finance educator, author and advocate. You can see, hear and read Patrice pretty much everywhere from the Steve Harvey TV and radio show to her own books on personal finance. We caught up with Patrice in New Orleans for this edition of SmartAsset Talks. Read More...
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