Category Archives: Personal Finance

Mastering the Art of Picking a Bank: 8 Essential Moves

Quick Highlights Begin by pinpointing your core banking priorities: checking, savings, CDs, or niche financial services. Digital-only banks often dish out fatter APYs but trail in physical branch presence. Dodge banks loaded with needless fees — average overdraft charges hover around $26.77, yet plenty of institutions provide fee-free alternatives. Explore both traditional banks and credit… Read More »

Creative Ways to Handle Old and Expired Credit Cards

Key Insights to Keep in Mind Shutting down a credit account might dent your credit rating by trimming your credit history and bumping up your credit utilization ratio. Choices for managing outdated cards include downgrading, upgrading to unsecured versions, or leaving the card active for infrequent purchases. Expired debit and credit cards can be safely… Read More »

Decoding the Rule of 78: Its Mechanics and Impact on Your Loan

Essential Insights at a Glimpse The Rule of 78 applies exclusively to loans with durations shorter than 61 months. Borrowers end up shouldering a heavier portion of interest in the earlier months if this method is used. This interest computation method is uncommon today, as several states have prohibited its use. Some lenders sneak in… Read More »