How The US Credit Downgrade Is Affecting Spending

Every person, business and entity has a credit rating. These ratings are a huge part of the economics of lending, borrowing and interest rates. When the United States saw a reduction in their current credit rating, it created ripples throughout the US all the way down the average household and the average consumer. Whether you plan to tuck money away in savings accounts, IRAs or even fixed rate bonds you may be having second thoughts and for good reason. The way people are spending is complet...

15 Creative Ways to Make Money in 2011

Have you ever opened your wallet to pay for gas and you saw a month flying out but no money anywhere in sight? Do not worry; you are not the only one feeling the effects of the current money crunch. When times get a bit rough, here are 15 creative ways to make a few extra dollars. While not every idea will work for every person, these are items that you can think about when the rent is due in a month and you are finding yourself a few dollars short. 1. Start a Part-Time Business from your Hom...

Bolster Your Income with a Side Business; But Don’t Forget to Protect Your Assets

These days, maintaining multiple streams of income is fast becoming the status quo, not only as an earning booster, but also as a hedge of sorts in case one source of income dries up. Though many investors may recognize the need to hedge against a loss by spreading out the investments in their portfolio, if they are planning to bolster their income with a side business that same attitude often inexplicably falls away. While some business ideas may require little overhead, and thus entail low ris...

5 Deceptively Easy Ways to Contribute to Your Savings

With inflation rising faster than the sun and wages falling faster than a lead balloon, almost everyone is looking for ways to trim a budget and save wherever possible. Reducing the number of bills and/or the amount due compose only one half of the equation, though. Simply reducing bills allows the mindset that you have more pocket money to spend. Instead of just cutting bills, which is important—there's no denying that, use these easy ways to contribute more to your savings for better overall f...

Choosing The Right Career In Finance

Everyone has different personality types. Surprisingly, these personality types direct which type of careers are best for you. If you have taken a reliable personality assessment and you have discovered that careers in finance are best suited for you it is time to do your research. There are a number of different finance careers ranging in pay and responsibilities. The good thing is that typically online business degree programs or a business degree in general can help get you a finance job. Som...

Dave Ramsey’s Total Money Makeover: What You Need to Know

If there was ever a financial guru whose advice could be taken in any financial environment and still be considered sound, it is Dave Ramsey. For years through radio, TV, and as a bestselling author, Dave Ramsey has espoused the traditional values of living within your means, personal responsibility for saving, and building wealth slowly but surely. One of his catchphrases, "If you will live like no one else, later you can live like no one else" should have been taken to heart by the geniuses...

Do Credit Checks Really Hurt Your Credit?

It seems there are fewer secretive corners of your financial status than your credit. It’s meticulously hidden, questionably maintained, and scrupulously issued. The credit check is your only real insight to what is going on in the woodwork down below. Typically double checked by a lender or employer do these checks hurt your credit score? And if they do, why? Credit scores are stored and calculated by a few different competing entities, which can cause some discrepancy. The main system for c...

How To Find The Best High Yield Savings

Everyone recognizes the importance of regular saving, even if an increasing number of people are finding it difficult to set aside money in the current climate. If you can manage to save, even a modest amount, a high yield savings account makes a lot of sense. Using a standard savings account will earn you very little, and at a time of high inflation could actually represent an overall loss. So how do you go about identifying the best savings interest rates? Probably the first place to start ...

Five Things You Shouldn’t Do During A Recession

In spite of current rumors, the recession that American is facing at the moment will eventually end. This recession isn't the first time that the American economy has taken a hit, and it most likely won't be the last. Regardless, the truth is that times are financially tough, and many families and businesses alike have suffered from the waning economy, and unfortunately, many suffering in a downturned economy tend to make decisions based on emotion and fear rather than facts and analysis. It'...

Helpful Budgeting Tips For Young Adults

For most young adults, when the time comes to face the facts with finances they are not prepared. The truth is that budgeting is not a no-brainer, but it isn’t necessarily hard either. Unfortunately, personal finance courses are not yet a required course in high school or college, but they should be. Instead, many Americans are left to learn through a bumpy trial and error. This too, is not necessary. If you are willing to do a little bit of reading in order to get all the facts straight, y...