Best Mortgage Company for 2013
When it comes to saving money, it’s critical to shop the best mortgage company for a low-rate mortgage or refinance. A home loan is typically the largest debt you’ll ever have, therefore there’s a lot at stake–especially when mortgage interest rates are at historic lows. Getting the wrong mortgage or failing to refinance when you should, can really hurt your...
Read MoreA Little-Known Way to Get Cheaper Auto Insurance (and Many Other Financial Services)
Everyone knows veterans receive great financial benefits. But what you may not know is that children of veterans get perks too–even if they were never in the military. Recently, this got my attention because neither my husband nor I have been in the military, but both of our fathers are veterans. I was surprised to find out that a well-respected financial services...
Read MoreThe Best Checking Accounts Allow You to Bank the Benefits
Many of the worst financial mistakes we make aren’t the result of a major slipup… They’re small opportunities that you miss day in and day out that really add up to big losses over time—like paying fees instead of switching to a completely free checking account. I’ll tell you 3 of the best free checking accounts on the planet, why they’re free, and how to switch to one in 5...
Read MoreWays You Save Money by Getting Fit (FOX VIDEO)
Laura is interviewed on FOX News Live about ways you save money by getting fit. Save Money by Getting Fit –...
Read MoreShould I Cancel a Credit Card? (VIDEO)
Laura gives 5 important tips you should know before canceling a credit card. Should I Cancel a Credit Card? – YouTube Many people mistakenly believe that the best way to raise your credit score is to get rid of your credit cards. But that can backfire because you need available credit in order to boost your score. Here are 5 tips you should know about closing a credit card: #1 —...
Read MoreHow to Build Your Credit Score (VIDEO)
Laura gives 4 tips to raise your credit score fast. How to Build Your Credit Score – YouTube Building credit is easy when you understand a few simple rules. You can’t get perfect credit overnight, but as you accumulate a good history on your credit report, your score will rise. Then you’ll get the benefits that come with having good or excellent credit, like: • credit cards with...
Read MorePay Lower Interest Rates on Debt
No one should pay more interest for their debt than they absolutely have to. If you can’t pay off debt using your existing assets, the next best option is to exchange it for lower interest rates until you can pay it off. Shifting your debt from a higher-interest account to lower-interest account is called “optimizing” your debt. Optimizing certainly doesn’t make debt...
Read MoreThe Best High-Yield Checking Accounts for 2012
If you’re still using one of the “big banks” you’re probably not getting the service you deserve … and I can guarantee that it’s costing you. The best high-yield or reward checking accounts are typically online or Internet-only banks. They have low overhead and pass the savings on to their customers. Not only do reward checking accounts give you much better...
Read MoreHow to Get Rid of Your Mortgage PMI
There’s a lot of confusion about how to get rid of Private Mortgage Insurance or PMI. Many homeowners overpay PMI for years because they don’t understand the rules for canceling it. On a $200,000 mortgage your PMI could cost $2,000 per year. That’s serious money that you should be saving or investing for your future, instead of handing over to a lender. I received this question...
Read MoreSave Money and Time Using Financial Web Tools
Do you wish you could accomplish more with your money? People often ask me what financial web tools I really use to earn more, save more, and accomplish more in my life and business. So here they are–20+ of my favorite web tools, resources, software, and services that allow me to be productive on the go and keep my finances super organized: Banking #1 CheckingFinder: This...
Read MoreMake Money Using Online Bank Accounts
Big money mistakes can be disguised in small amounts—like a bank fee here and an ATM fee there. Over time, having to pay your bank, instead your bank paying you, really adds up. I’ve been encouraging people to shun bank fees by using an online bank account long before the recent outcry over Bank of America’s proposed $5 a month debit card fees. BOA did reverse that bad decision—but I...
Read MoreThe Best 5 Money Tips for New Graduates
In “Best Financial Tips for New Graduates” I give 5 financial tips that I wish I had followed when I was fresh out of college. When I think back about how I handled money back then, I made some mistakes that would have been easy to avoid. They weren’t earth-shattering screw-ups that scarred my finances for life—but I could have gotten a faster head start if I’d been wise...
Read MoreWhen to Remodel Your Home
In “When is Home Renovation Worth It?” I give you some ideas about when remodeling a home might pay off. As you know, selling a home these days can take years and leave you holding a bag of worms, instead of a bag of cash! That’s why many home owners have decided to stay where they are and just make some changes instead of selling and buying a different house. But which...
Read MoreConsider Taking a Personal Money Day
“Why You Should Take a Personal Money Day” is a guest article written by J.D. Roth who blogs at GetRichSlowly.org and is the author of Your Money: The Missing Manual. The article and audio podcast have six great recommendations for tasks that are sure to bring you excellent payback for months and years to come when you take a day off from work to work to tackle them. It’s just...
Read MoreThe Best Way to Spend a Tax Refund
If you’re expecting a tax refund this year, it’s an opportunity to do something great for your personal finances. In a recent post for TheMilitaryWallet.com called “What To Do with Your Tax Refund,” you’ll learn the fastest ways to file your taxes (so you get your refund as quickly as possible), five smart ways to spend your refund, and what to do if you consistently...
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