Author Archive for David Weliver

Mortgage crises or not, it’s still a great time to buy your first home. Be smart, however, and have a pre-approved mortgage in hand before going house hunting. Applying for (and getting approved for) a mortgage before you shop could save you time, money, and heartbreak. Here’s how. Continued

Surprised by new fees to check luggage at the airport? Don’t be. A Boeing 737 burns between 650 and 900 gallons of fuel an hour, so airlines are feeling the pinch of sky-high fuel prices just like the rest of us. That said, we still don’t feel like paying between $15 and $25 per bag—and we don’t have to. Here are some quick tips for learning to love carrying-on, so you can duck that checked bag surcharge. Continued

If you’re stashing away a few thousand dollars for a rainy day, you probably don’t give your savings account’s interest rate much thought. But if you need to save $10,000 or more in an FDIC insured account, you might feel like you deserve better than 3%. The new banking auction site Money Aisle agrees. Continued

Few parts of your car are as important to safety, comfort, and fuel economy as your tires, which should be replaced approximately every 50,000 miles, 5 years, or when they begin to show excessive wear. But with new tires running between $60-$200 each plus installation, replacing four tires can give your wallet a serious whack. To save yourself some dough on tires, follow these tips. Continued

A down payment between 10 and 20% on your first home or condo is more important today than ever before. Following the sub-prime mortgage meltdown, lenders are more cautious with mortgage applications and borrowers have (hopefully) learned some lessons about risky home loans. Of course, socking away $20,000 or more isn’t easy, especially in your twenties. Here are five steps to take to save up your down payment in record time. Continued

Buying a car with cash is stressful enough; finding the right auto loan is even harder. In my car shopping tips from an ex-car salesman, I recommend getting a pre-approved car loan online before heading to the dealership (even with bad credit). Here’s how, plus reviews of online car loan sites. Continued

Want to know how your credit score stacks up? Check out Credit Karma, a new site that lets you check and track your credit score without subscribing to anything. Continued

Stephanie asks: I recently started a new job that will not match 401(k) contributions until I complete one year of service. Should I still contribute prior to being eligible for matching? Continued

On Forbes.com Monday, Charles Biderman of Trim Tabs Investment Services says that if things don’t change, escalating oil prices will topple the U.S. economy. Continued

The July 2008 issue of Consumer Reports dishes out a sobering suggestion regarding consumer rewards programs—namely store-specific rewards credit cards. The advice? Don’t bother. Continued