Coupons are a great way to save money — if you use them correctly. The first obstacle to overcome is forgetting to use them. Keep them in a handy spot, like in your wallet. If you have dry-cleaning coupons, pin them to the dirty-laundry bag. If you have one for a restaurant, tack it onto

With summer vacation just around the corner just keep in mind – you don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a good time. Here are tips for keeping costs down on vacation: Fly during the week. Airline rates are generally more expensive over the weekend, so plan your trip from Wednesday to

It seems like it’s become a national craze – using your credit card for everything—even routine or daily purchases. While it’s a bad habit that will be hard to break, it’s better to start sooner rather than later. To break that habit, here’s a simple idea to help get a handle on the situation: Pay

Often, parents cosign for their sons or daughters who have adequate income but a lack of credit or employment history. By cosigning, parents help their offspring get the loan and establish credit in their own names. But many borrowers, be they the cosigner or the primary borrower (also known as the maker), don’t recognize the

So you’ve located an error on your credit report that’s costing you a few precious points on your credit score. It could be that the credit reporting agency confused you with a Jane Doe of the same name or a creditor failed to record a settled account. Regardless of how it got there, there’s a mistake that

Here are some ways to responsibly choose and use a credit card. Read the fine print. If you receive an offer for a pre-approved credit card or if someone says they’ll help you get a credit card, find out the details first. You need to know what interest rate you will be paying and for

Let’s play a game. I’ll give you a word and you tell me what comes to mind. Ready? “Predator.” Did you think of a prehistoric animal with claws and stabbing teeth? Or, a stealthy cheetah prowling for gazelle in the grassy plains of the Serengeti? Perhaps a portly Siamese cat stalking a house sparrow? How

Here are a few ways to save money on car insurance: Shop around. Prices vary from company to company, so it pays to shop around. Get at least three price quotes. You can call companies directly or access information on the Internet. Your state insurance department may also provide comparisons of prices charged by major

You can make your own budget worksheet using either a pen and paper or a computer spreadsheet program. Think of your budget in terms of two things: money and time. Money, of course, is divided into its own two categories: Income and Expenses. Follow these steps to make your budget worksheet: List your income in

Here are a few tips on how to avoid becoming the victim of credit card fraud: Periodically review your credit reports. There are three main credit bureaus. Order your credit report from each of them at least once a year. Request copies of your credit report from TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax. You can also obtain