Personal Finance and Money Management

Ryan Guina is an entrepreneur and writer. He has worked for Fortune 500 companies and served six years in the USAF. He writes about money management and small business topics at Cash Money Life and military money topics at Military Finance Network. You can follow his twitter feed.

Credit cards are great tools when used appropriately, but sometimes you find yourself getting in over your head. Before you get too deep, take a few minutes to make a phone call that could save you hundreds, or even thousands of dollars. I’m talking about negotiating lower credit card interest rates.

Learning how to negotiate lower credit card interest rates doesn’t have to be intimidating.

Full Article

Lawmakers on Capital Hill continue to look for ways to lower credit card interest rates and fees for consumers. Hundreds of proposals that would restrict credit card companies have been offered that will appeal to consumers, especially when finances are tight. Coming almost exclusively from liberal Democrats and so soon after the enactment of the CARD Act less than a year ago, the prospect of passing new legislation is questionable.

But one, bi-partisan, proposed regulatory bill has the support of financial experts. It would give states the right to impose interest rate caps on out-of-state companies who lend to their residents; in affect, closing a loophole created in 1978 by a ruling of the Supreme Court that the laws of a bank’s home state take precedence and govern transactions across state lines. S

Full Article

Hey there summer boys and girls! The heat is in full swing up here in Boston so if you are looking for something to do inside, consider checking your credit for free.

Did you know that every private student loan requires a good credit score and stable history? Even things like renting an apartment, buying a car or getting a cellphone can require credit to be approved. Therefore, it’s really important to keep on top of your score and make sure you are free of fraud and delinquency on your accounts.

So pull up a chair, bask in that amazing air conditioning (you know it feels good!) and head over to FreeCreditScore.com. M

Full Article

Retail credit cards are not known for their advantages over traditional credit cards. They often come with low limits, excessive fees or high interest rates. However, some retail credit cards stand out among the rest for their notable perks and features.

It’s never advisable to open a retail card account just to enjoy a one-time discount at the register because of the long-term effects that card could have on your credit. That said, if you’re a frequent shopper at one of the following stores that makes our top three, the corresponding card may be a good option for you.

Sears MasterCard

One of the biggest advantages of this retail credit card is the co-branding.

Full Article