Finance Globe

With tax season around the corner, many Americans are anticipating an income tax refund. Some are so anxious about their refund that they are willing to take out an exorbitant loan at a cost equivalent to the APR of up to 300%, and higher. The loan will only get the money in their hands a couple of weeks sooner, but millions of taxpayers a year are somehow convinced that it is necessary to pay a huge...

Overpaying your taxes all year long to get a tax refund the next year is a terrible way to save money. Do you really want the government to be in charge of your savings plan? Intentionally overpaying your taxes literally takes money out of your pocket, and out of your control.Some people like to get a big tax refund because they think they don't miss the money that was withheld from each paycheck since they never...

What should you do with your tax refund?Anyone who anticipates a big tax refund usually starts the year daydreaming about what they are going to do with all that money. Why not start the year off right, and put that money to good use? It's easy to spend that big chunk of cash like it was a gift from the government if you don't make plans for the money before you receive your tax refund.First of...

Smart shoppers know to look for good deals. We look for ads in the Sunday paper, listen for commercials on the radio, and hear from our friends about our favorite stores having a sale.When you find that perfect item at the perfect price, do you pay for it in cash? Do you use a credit card with a zero percent introductory rate, and then pay it all off before the introductory period ends? Or do you...

Credit cards can be a valuable money management tool if used properly. We have many choices in card features, perks, and rewards. Getting the most out of any credit card starts with choosing the one (or several) that best suits your needs. Credit cards offer more than a convenient way to pay, and if you manage your credit card accounts well, you can be sure to get the most out of your credit card while paying...

Smart consumers know to shop for credit cards based on the cost of using that credit. The card's annual percentage rate, or APR, is often one of the first factors many consider when choosing a card.All credit cards either have a fixed or variable rate, and understanding the difference between the two can prepare consumers for the possibility of a change in their credit card's current APR.Some credit cards may be a combination of both; it...

We are all aware that lenders routinely consider our credit report when we apply for credit. We would only expect them to. But do you realize that your credit report can be seen by others without you even being aware of it? According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), anyone with a "legitimate business need" can see your credit report. Who looks at credit reportsLenders need to know the financial risk in granting credit; that...

Your credit score is the three-digit number that lenders obtain from a credit bureau in an attempt to sum up your credit risk. Your credit score gives lenders a snapshot of your credit and debt situation and plays a big part in whether or not credit will be granted, as well as the terms and conditions of your loan or credit card. Your credit score is determined solely by the information found in your credit report...

Chase Bank History Chase Bank is the consumer and commercial division of JP Morgan Chase, and has a history in the banking business of over two hundred years. The first predecessor in Chase’s history was The Bank of The Manhattan Company, formed in 1799. Chase National Bank, formed in 1877, merged with The Bank of The Manhattan Company in 1955, and became known as The Chase Manhattan Bank. Many other companies over the many years played...

It’s funny that many of us moved out of our parent’s home and proceeded to live our grown-up lives without ever learning much about financial responsibility and money management.I remember taking a semester in high school about budgeting, opening a bank account, and balancing a checkbook. We learned about it from a book, without the experience to go with it.With that very little bit of money education, we were expected to have all the information we...