Going green when paying your bills not only helps the environment, it can also greatly simplify your life. According to the Federal Reserve, nearly 50% of the checks written in the U.S. are written by consumers to businesses. American businesses mail about 26 billion bills and statements per year, and consumers mail 9 billion payments

Consumer fraud seems to be everywhere these days, coming in a variety of forms: fake check scams, credit repair, free trip offers and sweepstakes. Here are some tips to help you avoid being a victim of consumer fraud: Don’t give out personal information. If someone you don’t know asks for your Social Security number, birthdate,

Financial prudence dictates that we stash away enough cash to cover living expenses for three to six months in case something catastrophic comes our way—a job loss, an unexpected illness or an unpredicted home expense. Some items that also should be covered in such a fund include health and car insurance deductibles, rent or mortgage,

What records and documents should you keep in case the IRS ever decides to audit you—and for how long should you keep them? Here’s some advice to consider: The standard statute of limitations is three years, but the IRS can audit up to six years after a filing if it suspects under-reporting of income by

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

Shopping at your credit union for a CD (certificate of deposit) isn’t quite as easy as going to the local music store for a CD (compact disc). But it’s a lot easier to choose than some other types of investments. By definition, a CD or certificate of deposit is a time deposit. That means you

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

Here are some ways to save money on your homeowner’s 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