Money & Finance Tips

As I’ve interviewed hundreds of people about money over the years – both people with money and those with not so much – there is always an obvious difference: The people with money are investors. What makes them different? Rather than simply spending every penny, investors use their money to acquire things that offer the potential for profitable returns, either through interest, income, or the appreciation of value. As you approach managing money, you’ll learn to devote your limited resources to the things with the largest potential for returns. That may be paying down debt, going back to school, or fixing up a two-family house. Of course, it may also mean buying stocks and bonds — either individually or as mutual funds or exchange-traded funds. Thanks to technology, the investing world offers enormous possibilities to anybody with a few bucks and an internet connection. It’s our job to help you filter out the noise, learn the basics, and make good investment decisions from

With elevated  gas prices  affecting the cost of owning a car, it’s also worth looking into ways to cut other related operating expenses. One place to start is car insurance. All drivers must carry insurance protection, but many people just pick an insurer after they buy their first car and don’t look at the details of the policy for years, which could leave money on the table. Below are some ways to find the right policy and cut your premiums. 1.    Do an annual rate check. Check rates from other companies to make sure you are getting the best deal. Many state insurance departments offer guides to available services, and while online you can find  insurance comparison tools . Of course, personalized quotes aren’t immediate and often require a call back from an agent, but comparison shopping online can be a time-efficient way to find a better deal. 2.     Pick a top-rated insurer. When we last surveyed readers/subscribers on their auto insurers, we found that a

Introduction Low credit is generally defined as a score under 629. You can have low credit for a variety of reasons, including a history of making late payments to lenders, identity theft or simply not having enough years of credit history. Your credit score dictates what type of interest you’ll end up paying on your car loan, and a low score means a higher interest rate.