A new survey released last week revealed that 10% of Americans haven’t even started their holiday shopping yet, and a majority are not close to being done. As there aren’t many shopping days left, this is the time when panic can start to set in, and bad financial habits can arise. This morning on Today, I provided some tips that will keep you from over-spending as the holidays get closer and closer.
This morning on Money 911, we heard from a viewer who just received a raise and wanted to know how to maximize these new funds. We told him that, if handled the right way, this money could help him become a millionaire by the time he retires. How is this possible? The answer is in the video clip below.
It’s been five years since the start of the recession, and over these five years the shopping habits of Americans seem to have changed. According to a new study, 86% of shoppers are more precise in what they buy. Is the same true for you? To see more new trends in shopping — as well as what happens when men take over shopping duties — check out the video clip below.
Does the declining value of real estate mean that you can reduce your homeowner’s insurance premium? Should you close a credit card with a $59 annual fee? What do you do with a time-share you’re not using? This morning on Money 911, we answered these questions and more. To see our responses, check out the video clip below.
Have you ever received a gift card to a store that you know you’ll never visit? You’re not alone — billions of dollars of gift cards go unused every year. However, there’s a way to turn these unwanted cards into real spending money. Check out the video clip below to see how you can turn Grandma’s Omaha Steaks card into a much-desired Whole Foods card.
When the financial crisis hit in 2008, target date funds (TDFs) had a crisis of their own — an image crisis. Hailed as a “set it and forget it” retirement solution, TDFs were thought to prevent you from losing money as you closed in on your retirement date. This was not the case. In my latest Newsweek column, I check in with these funds. How are they doing now, and what do investors need to know about them? You can find the answers to those questions here.
Is financial infidelity the same as cheating? Is it really okay to have three different bank accounts? To hear the answers to these questions (and others) from this morning’s discussion on the Today show, check out the video clip below.
This morning on Today‘s Money 911, we heard from a woman whose mother-in-law asks her for $50 each month, and has been doing so for about a year now. Should the daughter-in-law continue to say yes? To see what we told her — plus why this might be a good opportunity to have a family finance conversation — check out the video clip below.
It may be a fast solution for those in need of extra cash, but a payday loan isn’t without its pitfalls. The interest rates can be as high as 600%, and studies have shown that the average payday borrower takes out nine different payday loans over the course of a year, so this interest rate, plus additional fees, can add up. For more information on these tricky loans, check out the video clip below.
If you didn’t want to brave the mall on Black Friday, today is your chance to nab some great deals — and you still don’t have to go to the mall! With Cyber Monday comes offers of free shipping, online “doorbuster” deals, and much more. This morning on Today, I spoke with Natalie about how to maximize your savings today. To see what sites to check out — as well as which unexpected sources are offering deals — check out the video clip below.
