Hi! I'm a personal finance writer covering topics such as mortgages, credit cards, student loans, and more. My work has appeared on Forbes Advisor, Chime, and Money.com, among other publications.
How Any Woman Can Get Over Her Fears of Investing
If you’re a woman paralyzed by a fear of investing, you’re far from alone — many women shy away from the stock market due to insecurity and lack of confidence. But the good news is that with a few strategies, you can gradually overcome your fears and start taking control of your finances through smart investment choices.
$2,000 Quarter? Check Your Pockets Before You Use This 2004 Coin
Find Out: 3 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000
Why Are Women Afraid of Investing?
Women are o...
PenFed Credit Union Review 2023
Checking Accounts
PenFed offers two checking accounts: Free Checking and Access America Checking. Note that you must establish membership at PenFed by opening a savings account with a $5 minimum initial deposit before you can gain access to the credit union’s checking accounts.
Unlike the best checking accounts, the PenFed Credit Union Access America Checking has a $10 monthly service fee. However, you can waive this fee with either a direct deposit of at least $500 per month or by maintainin...
Savings Rates Forecast 2023
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
The Federal Reserve has implemented aggressive tactics to combat rising inflation and stabilize the economy this year. Namely, it has raised rates to increase borrowing costs and slow down consumption. Since March 2022, the effective federal funds rate has risen more than 3.5%—the steepest leap in recent history.
As 2022 comes to a close and interest rates...
6 Best Credit Monitoring Services
Trying to keep track of your credit score and report can feel like a game of cat and mouse. If you’re not vigilant, it can be easy for things to slip through the cracks. According to a survey by Consumer Reports, one-third of Americans found at least one error on their credit report when they checked. And in 2021 alone, nearly 1.4 million reports of identity theft were filed with the Federal Trade Commission.
So what can you do to keep an eye on your credit? One option is to sign up for a cre...
Don’t Panic: What to Do During a Recession
A recession is likely coming if it isn’t here already. But this shouldn’t be a cause for panic. While there may be a lot of hype in headlines, recessions are relatively common and may not last long. The average recession in the U.S. only lasted about ten months in the post-WWII era.
Of course, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t prepare for a possible recession. If you’re worried about your financial security, there are some steps you can take to weather the storm. Chime is here to help you get i...
How To Dispute Credit Report Errors
Nobody’s perfect — not even the people who compile our credit reports. Even if you diligently monitor your credit files, errors can still slip through. According to a recent Consumer Reports study, more than one-third of consumers who participated in an investigation found errors in their credit reports when they checked. Since negative items can lower your credit score, it’s natural to panic when you spot these inaccuracies. But don’t worry – there are steps you can take to fix them. Read on...
College Finance Guide 101
The allure of college lies in discovering your passions, finding your “people,” and charting your course for a better future. But college also comes with new financial challenges and obstacles. 70% of students are stressed about finances, according to a national study by Ohio State University.
Affording a college education shouldn’t take a toll on your mental health and distract you from your studies – here’s your crash course on managing your money while earning your undergrad degree.
How to...
What is Purchase APR?
Credit card companies use your credit card’s purchase APR to calculate the interest added to your remaining balance. You may have a fixed APR, which stays the same from month to month, or a variable APR, which may vary between months, depending on your card’s terms.
If you’re like most people, you probably have a love-hate relationship with your credit card. On one hand, it’s great to have a source of emergency funds when you need it. But on the other hand, those pesky interest charges can ad...
How to Decide Which Credit Card To Pay Off First
Choose which credit card you should pay first by using the avalanche or snowball method. You can also choose to transfer your entire credit card balance to a 0% APR balance transfer card, get a debt consolidation loan, or set up automatic payments to ensure your debts are paid on time.
According to the latest data from Experian, the average household credit card debt in the United States is $5,221. And as of the beginning of 2022, the total credit card debt in the country surpassed a whopping...
8 Best VA Loan Lenders of 2022
Company Highlight
Free credit consulting service
Highest in customer satisfaction for 8 consecutive years
Rate match guarantee
Up to $2,500 in lender credits
Types of VA Loans
Purchase loans, IRRRL, Cash-out refinance, Jumbo
30-year fixed rate, 25-year fixed rate, 15-year fixed rate
Purchase loans, IRRRL, Military Choice loan
30-year fixed rate, 15-year fixed rate
When you’ve sacrificed for your nation, the least the country can do is financially support you on your homeownership journey. Tha...
The Credit Pros Review | Credit Repair
Money Research Collective’s editorial team solely created this content. Opinions are their own, but compensation and in-depth research determine where and how companies may appear. Many featured companies advertise with us. How we make money.
Have you ever checked your credit score only to find that it’s lower than you thought it would be? If so, you’re not alone. According to a Federal Trade Commission study, 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. has incorrect negative items on their credit report that ...
4 Ways to Grow Your Income During Inflation
In This Article
Gas prices are up. Your electric bill is through the roof. A trip to the grocery store can set you back hundreds of dollars. It may seem like you have no other choice but to downsize your life and cancel your Netflix subscription.
What if you could weather the inflation storm without sacrificing your quality of life? Instead of waving the white flag and surrendering to the current situation, look for the silver linings in the dark storm clouds! Here are some creative ways to i...
What is Tax Relief?
Money Research Collective’s editorial team solely created this content. Opinions are their own, but compensation and in-depth research determine where and how companies may appear. Many featured companies advertise with us. How we make money.
Millions of taxpayers in the United States struggle with fulfilling their tax obligations. According to recent data from the Internal Revenue Service, in 2020 alone, Americans owed a staggering $141 billion in back taxes, interests, and penalties.
If you...
Love and Money: When Should I Bring Up a Prenup?
Fairytale wedding dresses, tear-jerking wedding vows, and miraculously blissful honeymoons. When it comes to marriage, these ideas might immediately come to mind for every hopeless romantic. The elephant in the room that many couples aren’t looking forward to dealing with? Prenups (cue a dramatic sound effect).
Talking to the love of your life about how to split your money in the event of a divorce? Yeah, that doesn’t sound so romantic. But there’s no way around it if you want to protect your...
Are Electric Vehicles Cheaper To Own Than Gas Cars?
Electric vehicles vs. gas cars: Which one comes out on top?
The choice of whether to buy EVs or traditional fuel cars is a difficult decision for many current and future car owners.
Some argue that it’s better to go with the electric option because they are eco-friendly and can save you money in the long run. However, others argue that the high initial cost of purchasing an EV makes them not worth the investment. So who’s right and who’s wrong?
The question of whether electric cars are more e...