This year was a tumultuous one for banking: Occupy Wall Street protests around the country focused Americans' anger against the financial industry, while widespread outrage over banks' attempts to charge fees for debit card use culminated in a call for Americans to pull their money out of big banks last month on what was dubbed "Bank Transfer Day." But whether your checking account is at a big national bank, small community bank, online bank or credit union, 2012 is a chance to begin afresh.
A few years ago, the personal saving rate had dwindled to barely one percent. Americans were spending nearly all of their disposable incomes. Now, however, the personal saving rate hovers at about five percent. With all this saving going on, many folks are faced with a burning question: How much should we save, anyhow? How much is enough to survive a financial emergency?
Also, this week’s tip roundup offers some peace of mind. We’ve got simple ways to reduce stress brought on by financial predicaments, a list of financial mistakes that even intelligent people make (nice to know you’re not the only one), and wisdom regarding acceptance of the fact that somebody is always going to have more [...]
There’s nothing like found money. Here’s how to find some you never knew you lost.
Banks used to be good not just as holding pens for your money, but as places your money could grow slowly but surely. But considering the evil combo of rising fees and pathetic interest rates, the net result is a slow but sure loss of value even when there’s not much inflation. The main reasons [...]
Plenty of old ideas clearly haven’t been working. So why not consider some new ones, even if they seem a bit impractical and “out there”?
What with the rates of interest-bearing accounts dropping to their lowest levels in more than half a century, it’s nearly as productive to shove your money under a mattress as it is to deposit it at a bank.
Included in this week’s roundup: colleges where tuition is free, best online savings accounts, stuff the cell-phone companies won’t tell you, unconventional ways to find jobs, worst items to buy at drugstores, reasons you might want to totally ignore your credit score, and justifications for why you’re not buying a diamond engagement ring for your [...]
