Updated! Popular since we first published this list of some of the best financial iPhone apps in early 2009, we refresh this list periodically to help you keep tabs on at least a few of the best financial apps in the Appstore. -DW Personal … [Read more...]
Using Credit Carefully to Weather Tough Times
November 22, 2012 by
There are several disconnects between financial advice and financial reality that annoy me. One such disconnect revolves around the advice to NEVER carry a credit card balance. No credit card debt, no problem. It’s abstinence-only financial … [Read more...]
Best Tax Software Compared
November 17, 2012 by
Ever wondered what the differences are among tax software programs? Maybe that only keeps nerds like me up at night, but there are differences. Examples: The most popular tax software is also the most expensive. And some cheaper programs charge … [Read more...]
Citi Simplicity Credit Card Review: With No Late Fees, a Card for the Innocently Absent-minded
November 16, 2012 by
Ideally, we’d never carry a balance on our credit cards. The reality is, when you're young, broke, and living paycheck-to-paycheck, sometimes you have little choice but to use credit cards as a stopgap. If that's the case, pay attention to our … [Read more...]
How Much Should You Contribute To Your 401k?
October 21, 2012 by
Ten percent? Twenty percent? More? Recently I wrote about the benefits of both 401ks and IRAs offer. We also looked at the emerging Roth 401k option and when it makes sense for young investors. But everybody’s next question is: “Okay, okay, … [Read more...]
How to Use a Credit Card Responsibly
October 15, 2012 by
This blog was born of stupidity. Between the ages of 18 and 25 I racked up nearly $80,000 of debt -- much of it on credit cards. I wrote this article in 2007 when I was still digging out of debt and struggling with how to quit my bad money habits, … [Read more...]
Mint Alternatives: Adaptu, Personal Capital, and Manilla
October 15, 2012 by
Technology is changing how we handle money. When I got my first bank account as a kid, I had a little passbook with my balance history stamped in it. There were no debit cards. And certainly no iPhone apps. And that was less than 20 years … [Read more...]
5 Mutual Funds to get you Started
October 1, 2012 by
Let’s proceed carefully. Although I’ve done it once or twice before, I try to avoid recommending individual stocks or funds. Such “picks” are a dime a dozen on other blogs, in major financial magazines or on Jim Cramer’s TV shows. At … [Read more...]
CDs Rates: Compare Top Certificates of Deposit
September 27, 2012 by
These days, it's getting harder and harder to find a savings account with a good interest rate. Some banks' CDs (certificates of deposit) offer slighter better returns if you're willing to commit your money to the CD for the term of the certificate … [Read more...]
The Bank Account Buffer (Building a No-Hassle Money Management System, No. 2)
September 17, 2012 by
By the end of this four-post series, you’ll have a map for a hassle-free financial system that puts your day-to-day money issues on autopilot, letting you worry about more important stuff like developing your career, earning more money, and … [Read more...]
