Credit card and receiptsThe job market has been steadily improving since the recession ended, but did you know the credit card delinquency rate has also been steadily dropping? The delinquency rate calculates the number of loans past due by a month or more measured as a percentage of all loans. The delinquency rate reached an…

The United States operates under a large and relatively persistent trade deficit. Broken down to a basic level, this means that the cost of our imports exceeds the value of our exports. Or, more specifically, our external liabilities outweigh our external assets. The obvious conclusion would be that in the long run, this would lead…

Today we pretty much take it for granted that we’ll need to work as long as possible in order to be able to one day retire; even if that means remaining in the workforce until we’re 70. It didn’t used to be this way, and we believe it shouldn’t have to. You’ll need to make…

If you’ve just begun to use a budget, you’re likely tracking your spending to see where your money is going each month. Are you going over budget? That much is easy to tell, but how do you know where you’re spending too much and where you might benefit by cutting back? We’ll break down the…

It’s a common question at the checkout counter. Are you paying with credit or debit? Does it matter one way or the other? We’ll explain the difference and how to decide which card to use. You probably know that a debit card is attached to your bank account, meaning the money is gone immediately, while…

It’s tricky enough to teach a child common life skills like brushing her teeth or making her bed. So how do you teach a child a skill that many adults haven’t even mastered—the skill of being frugal? It isn’t easy, and what works for one child might not work for another, even in the same…

Years ago, it was standard for adults to set out on one career path and stick to it for the entire duration of their working lives. Those days have come and gone, though, and it’s highly uncommon to meet someone who hasn’t made a career change in some form or another. You might be faced…

Small banks and credit unions are fighting back after major data breaches involving Target and Home Depot. These breaches caused them to incur huge financial losses, the majority of which have not been reimbursed by the retailers. As reported recently by The New York Times, these smaller financial institutions have now banded together to file…

Sales prices for single-family homes grew more slowly in February, according to S&P/Case-Shiller’s National Home Price Index. In January, prices grew 4.4% year over year, while the same figure for February came in slightly lower at 4.2%. America’s largest cities, however, bucked the trend, as prices accelerated faster year over year in 20 major metro…