Finance Globe

If your checking account balance frequently approaches or zips below $0, you’re not managing your account well. Low checking account balances can be stressful and put you at a high risk of overdrafting. Maintaining a minimum balance in your checking account, a buffer so to speak, can benefit you in several ways. Avoid monthly account maintenance fees. Gone are the days of free checking accounts. Many banks now charge a monthly fee on even the most...

Credit cards offers get better and every year. With longer introductory rates and more generous sign up bonuses, you may be tempted to apply for every great credit card you see. However, there are times that applying for a credit card isn’t in your best interest.  1. When you don’t have a steady source of income. Credit card issuers are required to ask for your monthly income before approving you for a credit card. But, if you...

If you find yourself searching for credit card offers, you know one thing to be true: you’ll be presented with hundreds upon hundreds of options. By considering every offer, you put yourself in better position to make an informed and confident decision. Like many, you may be worried about making the right choice. For this reason, you need to learn as much as possible about each category of credit card. By doing this, you’ll find yourself...

Are you thinking about canceling your credit card due to a high annual fee? Before you call your credit card company, keep one thing in mind: you may be able to negotiate. Here are three tips to follow when negotiating an annual fee: •    Show that you are a good customer. Credit card companies give the best perks to the best customers. If you use your card regularly, if you’ve been a customer for many years,...

Major corporations are losing massive amounts of consumer information due to data breaches. Most recently, Yahoo reported a breach of more than 500 million accounts. It is the biggest data breach in history (as of September 2016). The impact of having your information exposed in a data breach depends on the type of information stolen. Basic information alone – email addresses, usernames, and passwords – typically enough to commit fraud or identity theft. But if hackers...

Whether or not you carry more than one credit card is a personal decision. While some people like the thought of doing so, others don’t see a point in cluttering their wallet (or purse) with more plastic. Below, we’re going to examine some of the benefits of having multiple cards: •    You can have a separate credit card for emergencies, online shopping, or any other type of activity that you want to more easily track. •   ...

Can you think of anything worse than finding that you owe the IRS a large chunk of money? If you find yourself in this position, you can’t dwell on the past. Instead, you need to determine what went wrong and decide how you’re going to pay the money you owe. The best option is to pay your taxes in full, with cash, and then move on. Of course, this is not possible for many people. At...

With so many gas credit cards to choose from, there’s a good chance that you’ll find one that suits your every requirement. Of course, you don’t want to apply for the first offer you find. Instead, you want to compare your options to ensure that you’re making the right decision. Above all else, your gas credit card should save you money at the pump. For example, you could receive 5 cents back on every gallon of...

Have you come to the conclusion that your credit card interest rate is entirely too high? If so, you have a few options. First and foremost, you can close the credit card and move on. If this doesn’t work for you, think about paying off your balance and not using the card. Of course, there is one last idea to consider: negotiate a lower credit card rate. This is easier said than done, but it’s definitely...

Are you in the process of applying for a credit card? Are you ready to make your big move in the near future? If you find yourself in this position, there are things you should and should not be doing. Here are five things to avoid at all costs if you’ll be applying for a credit card soon. 1. Let your credit score drop. All in all, this is the one thing that credit card companies...