by The Penny Hoarder Staff You’ve done it. You’ve built up a little cushion in your bank account — $1,500! It feels good, right? Those days of checking your account balance in a panic are behind you.Congrats! You’re on the right path, but should you keep that money in your checking account? Frankly, now it’s time to think about some longer-term goals. What do you want to accomplish next with
by Quinten Plummer Nobody plans to go into debt. But things happen. Maybe you lost your job, or got divorced or just had a rough stretch of luck.The next thing you know, you’re struggling to make your payments, your credit score is taking a hit and it feels like you’ll never be able to climb your way out of this hole.You may think you only have a few options: bankruptcy,
Varo BankBest for Cash Back3.00% APYAxos Bank Essential Checking AccountBest for Unlimited ATM AccessUp to 1.25%Chime SpendingBest for Digital Features0.50% APYAlly Interest CheckingBest for No Fee PerksUp to 0.25%by Kathleen GarvinContributor Do you remember why you chose your current checking account? If you got started early, your parents might have helped you open a kids’ checking or savings account at their bank’s branch. Or maybe you went with the credit
What if you lost your job today and needed a new job in a week? Could you do it?What if you just wanted some advice for a tough career decision? Is there someone you could ask?Or what if you wanted to make a big career change, like switching industries? Is there anyone you could call for help?The secret to solving all of these challenges is the same: informational interviews. You’ve
At IWT, we talk about 401ks – a lot. (See here, here, or here for proof)And, that’s with good reason. If you want to be rich, the 401k is one of the most powerful investment tools at your disposal, especially for retirement planning. It is also one of the most misunderstood money-maximizing vehicles, starting with how much you should have in your 401k.That is a solid question, but it doesn’t
by Robert BruceSenior WriterThe student loan servicing industry has had better days.Over the last several months, many servicers – companies that contract with the federal government to manage billing, customer service, etc – are stepping out of the loan servicing business.Here’s a quick breakdown: Richard Cordray, COO of Federal Student Aid, recently gave a policy speech to the Education Finance Council. His remarks were given to Politico.He said in the
When you have debts everywhere you turn, it can feel like you’re completely swamped. Your hands are tied every payday as you funnel money into paying off debts, leaving you with no room to save. That’s why a lot of people turn to debt consolidation, which is when you use a loan to pay off all of your debt — and it can seem like a godsend.But wait, how is ANOTHER debt supposed to
by Mike BrassfieldSenior WriterIn times like these, we could all use a little self-care. Things like getting a massage, maintaining good sleeping habits, eating a vegetable or two, curling up with a good book and sticking with a somewhat regular workout could do us all some good.Ah, but what about financial self-care? We’re always being reminded to take care of our mental, emotional and physical health. But what about your
God, can we please stop with guilting people over the morning pages, the journaling, the meditation, the drinking 18 gallons of mint-infused water, and the yoga?If you want to do those, GREAT! But you don’t have to.My rules for the perfect morning:A post shared by Ramit Sethi (@ramit)There’s a new cottage industry of people telling you all the thing you “should” do every morning. But as it gets more absurdly
Being put on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) can feel like a kick to the gut, especially if it comes out of the blue and you don’t understand why. However, in most cases, it’s not a surprise. It usually comes after an employee has been struggling in their role or with some other issue at work.If you’re faced with a PIP and don’t know what to do, don’t panic! Below, you’ll
