How is Your Emergency F...

The Wall Street Journal discussed emergency funds recently and noted the following: The oft-quoted rule of thumb is to save three to six months of living expenses in your emergency fund. But many people these days will need nine months to a year of expenses covered just to get by....

My Credit Card Rewards ...

Last year was a banner year for me in credit card rewards. Why? Because I hit the trifecta: I increased the amount I spent using my credit cards, I got some cards with terrific cash back levels, and I received some very nice bonuses for getting new cards. Before we get into the specifics...

What Is the CoreScore â...

In the world of consumer credit scoring, there’s always something new, more “accurate,” and even more intrusive than the credit reporting that has preceded it. One of the latest attempts to delve into consumer behaviors and reduce them to a single number is the...

Reader Profile: JN...

The following is the latest post in my “Reader Profiles” series. Each post in this series details the financial situation and challenges of an FMF reader. The purpose of this series is to help us all identify with people like us (in similar situations — not all will be,...

Reader Profile: MJD...

The following is the latest post in my “Reader Profiles” series. Each post in this series details the financial situation and challenges of an FMF reader. The purpose of this series is to help us all identify with people like us (in similar situations — not all will be,...

Help a Reader: Money Mo...

Here’s an email I recently received from a reader: My mom just asked me to help her look through her retirement accounts and develop a strategy going forward.  Long story short, a divorce ruined both of my parents’ finances and now my mom is trying desperately to get to...

Debit Cards Versus Cred...

Smart Money has a piece on how debit cards and credit cards are fighting it out to be the preferred choice for American consumers. A summary of their thoughts: Until recently, debit cards have been popular among consumers, offering convenience without the risk of going into debt and,...

Update on My Credit Uni...

It’s been a few months since I joined a credit union and I thought I’d give you all an update on the progress. For those of you who don’t remember, I joined a local credit union because they had a 4% interest checking account that’s good on the first $15,000 in...

11 Ways to Teach Kids H...

My son loves saving money. He loves to watch the pile of coins and dollar bills grow in his big, re-purposed pickle jar and he loves emptying out this ceramic “cash cow” to take his money to the credit union – and receive a prize. Watching his money pile grow and...

Is Your Wallet Too Fat?...

Smart Money laments the size of Americans’ wallets with the following comments: Here, on the posterior of many an American professional, lies one of the more unexpected twists in the evolution of personal finance. At a time when people seem increasingly reliant on their smartphones...