Customer loyalty knows no bounds.
NFL baller Chad Ochocinco took to Twitter this week in a rant about the loss of his Starbucks coffee card. Someone broke into his SUV May 23 and stole his iPod and wallet containing his driver's license and two credit cards.
Ochocinco wasn't sweating the loss of those things, though. He expresses the real outrage in a video he taped inside his SUV: He lost his Starbucks card. And not just any Starbucks card.
I love my mom for many reasons. Just one reason is because she raised me to be so responsible, especially when it comes to my finances. Did your mom help give you a good financial start?
Continue reading for this week's roundup of my favorite personal finance blog posts.
It's not quite to the point where I'll pop over to London for a spot o' tea. But the capital city has become part of my regular vacation routine, thanks to the kindness of friends who welcome me into their home.
Last year I was arrived just days after the royal nuptials of William and Kate, and Westminster Abbey was still mobbed with tourists, perhaps hoping to find a stray grain of rice or wilted petal from the bridal bouquet.
This year my visit comes weeks before the start of the London 2012 Olympics. I'll be gone before the torch lights the lamp, but as a longtime London visitor, I do have some money-saving tips for those who are attending the games.
: Living with credit 467 New , interesting products 103 Research , regulation , industry reports 237 Rewards 45 Protecting yourself 171 The fine print 77 Credit card miscellany 383 Celebrity Money Watch 5 Print Email Emily's list : Back to Costa Rica edition Emily Starbuck Crone May 25, 2012 Living with credit Did you miss me last week I was busy in Costa Rica holding monkeys and practicing archery with an indigenous tribe in the jungle . No , . really I live a double life as a travel blogger , and the Costa Rican Tourism Board generously sent me there for a week to see an authentic and eco-friendly side of the country . After falling in love with the country when I went for the first time in October , I jumped at the . chance I spent time on both coasts . One of the highlights was
Digital wallets are becoming more common as the weeks go by however there is still some confusion about their use. If you have been looking for a digital wallet but aren't sure which one is right for you, this article should help clear up the facts.
Hello . Sign in to get personalized recommendations . New visitor Start here Follow Us Frontpage Topics Editorial Staff Archives Subscribe Credit.com Credit Cards for Excellent Credit Credit Cards for Good Credit Credit Cards for Bad Credit Secured Cards Prepaid Cards Credit Reports Personal Loans 3 Credit Cards That Just Wanna Have Fun by Beverly Blair Harzog on 05 30 2012 If your kids aren’t already out of school , they will be soon . And now the fun begins , right At first , it’s easy keeping everyone busy . But summer lasts a long time and trying to keep families entertained can be a tall order . And even if you don’t have kids , the long , hot days can get tiring and make even the best of us . cranky Thank goodness a few credit cards have come to your rescue . One of these cards canHello . Sign in to get personalized recommendations . New visitor Start here Follow Us Frontpage Topics Editorial Staff Archives Subscribe Credit.com Credit Cards for Excellent Credit Credit Cards for Good Credit Credit Cards for Bad Credit Secured Cards Prepaid Cards Credit Reports Personal Loans Why a Rewards Credit Card Might Not Be Right for You by Credit.com on 05 30 2012 Since the end of the recession , millions of consumers have tried to get a toe back in the water when it comes to dealing with their credit cards and the way in which many may choose to do so is through rewards accounts that incentivize their . purchases Rewards credit cards can be extremely beneficial to borrowers because for every dollar they spend , the account will grant them a small amount of money back in theHello . Sign in to get personalized recommendations . New visitor Start here Follow Us Frontpage Topics Editorial Staff Archives Subscribe Credit.com Credit Cards for Excellent Credit Credit Cards for Good Credit Credit Cards for Bad Credit Secured Cards Prepaid Cards Credit Reports Personal Loans How to Buy a House Without Using a Bank by Neal Frankle on 05 30 2012 As you probably already know , it can be almost impossible to obtain a bank mortgage with bad credit If you otherwise can’t get a loan because you have a troubled credit history , one alternative to a traditional bank mortgage is to obtain one from the seller . 160 Seller financing has its benefits , as well as its risks . You also need to know how to find the right seller to meet your . needs Why sellers might considerHello . Sign in to get personalized recommendations . New visitor Start here Follow Us Frontpage Topics Editorial Staff Archives Subscribe Credit.com Credit Cards for Excellent Credit Credit Cards for Good Credit Credit Cards for Bad Credit Secured Cards Prepaid Cards Credit Reports Personal Loans Neal Frankle How to Buy a House Without Using a Bank by Neal Frankle on 05 30 2012 As you probably already know , it can be almost impossible to obtain a bank mortgage with bad credit . If you 3 comments by Neal Frankle on 05 30 2012 Neal Frankle The following is a guest post from Neal Frankle . He is CFP in Los Angeles and he is also the owner of Wealth Pilgrim a top personal finance blogs and one which has been around for . years Recent Posts About Us Credit.com News Advice provides readersHello . Sign in to get personalized recommendations . New visitor Start here Follow Us Frontpage Topics Editorial Staff Archives Subscribe Credit.com Credit Cards for Excellent Credit Credit Cards for Good Credit Credit Cards for Bad Credit Secured Cards Prepaid Cards Credit Reports Personal Loans Travel Rewards Credit Cards Are Taking Off by Credit.com on 05 30 2012 These days , many consumers are looking for ways to increase the value of their credit card accounts in various ways , and one method that has grown increasingly popular is the use of these cards to rack up miles or points that can be used to make travel more . affordable Credit cards that grant consumers airline miles or hotel rewards points are now playing a large part in a considerable boom for the lending industry , asHello . Sign in to get personalized recommendations . New visitor Start here Follow Us Frontpage Topics Editorial Staff Archives Subscribe Credit.com Credit Cards for Excellent Credit Credit Cards for Good Credit Credit Cards for Bad Credit Secured Cards Prepaid Cards Credit Reports Personal Loans Is Using Your Credit Card to Save on Gas Smart by Credit.com on 05 30 2012 These days , the cost for a gallon of gas is well above 4 per gallon in many parts of the country , and that’s having a significant negative impact on consumers’ family budgets . However , using certain types of rewards credit cards that are now available will typically give borrowers the ability to slash their fuel . budgets As gas prices continue to hold at the high levels observed for most of the last few months , moreHello . Sign in to get personalized recommendations . New visitor Start here Follow Us Frontpage Topics Editorial Staff Archives Subscribe Credit.com Credit Cards for Excellent Credit Credit Cards for Good Credit Credit Cards for Bad Credit Secured Cards Prepaid Cards Credit Reports Personal Loans Is Using Your Credit Card to Save on Gas Smart by Credit.com on 05 30 2012 These days , the cost for a gallon of gas is well above 4 per gallon in many parts of the country , and that’s having a significant negative impact on consumers’ family budgets . However , using certain types of rewards credit cards that are now available will typically give borrowers the ability to slash their fuel . budgets As gas prices continue to hold at the high levels observed for most of the last few months , more: Hello . Sign in to get personalized recommendations . New visitor Start here Follow Us Frontpage Topics Editorial Staff Archives Subscribe Credit.com Credit Cards for Excellent Credit Credit Cards for Good Credit Credit Cards for Bad Credit Secured Cards Prepaid Cards Credit Reports Personal Loans The Stages of Debt : Which One Are You In by Steve Rhode on 05 29 2012 Many years ago I wrote my original Seven Stages of Debt as modified from the Five Stages of Death and Dying by Dr . Elisabeth . Kubler-Ross Both experiencing the emotional loss of a loved one and the emotional loss of your financial life are similar in some distinct ways . However , the emotional stages of debt also have two additional components that a mortal death does not . And these stages are almost magical as they canHello . Sign in to get personalized recommendations . New visitor Start here Follow Us Frontpage Topics Editorial Staff Archives Subscribe Credit.com Credit Cards for Excellent Credit Credit Cards for Good Credit Credit Cards for Bad Credit Secured Cards Prepaid Cards Credit Reports Personal Loans 7 Serious Tuition Saving Tips by Christopher Maag on 05 29 2012 There was a time that getting a college degree was considered a necessity for a financially successful life , and while it may hold true that college graduates earn more than high school graduates , skyrocketing tuition the accompanying student loan bubble and an anemic economy means that higher education can pose a financial risk . A big . one We’re at a point where student debt is crowding out other kinds of spending , making itHello . Sign in to get personalized recommendations . New visitor Start here Follow Us Frontpage Topics Editorial Staff Archives Subscribe Credit.com Credit Cards for Excellent Credit Credit Cards for Good Credit Credit Cards for Bad Credit Secured Cards Prepaid Cards Credit Reports Personal Loans 2 More Student Loan Rate Hike Bills Hit Wall by Credit.com on 05 29 2012 There has been much discussion in recent months about the coming increase in interest rates on federal student loans , and lawmakers’ attempts to keep that jump from happening have largely . stalled Last week , two more attempts on the part of Republicans and Democrats in the U.S . Senate to freeze the interest rates on federally-issued student loans were stalled because lawmakers could not hit the 60-vote threshold that
Balance Transfers Can Benefit Consumers But Only If They’re Disciplined by Carol Aliman on May 30, 2012 Many consumers are bombarded with offers for credit card balance transfers and many of the offers seem like a good deal . However , credit card companies do make money from the service , so consumers should be wary of jumping right in . Balance transfers allow consumers to move their high interest balance to a new card with a low interest rate for a fixed amount of time . Card companies make money from the service from customers who cannot pay off their balance before the promotional period . ends First , be sure to look at the terms carefully . Create a plan for paying off the debt before the promotional period ends . Also , be sure to have a full understanding of the penalties and
Barclay’s to Replace Loyalty Program with Two New Programs by Year End by Fran Riconalla on May 30, 2012 It looks as if the Barclaycard just didn’t have as much support as first thought . Barclay just announced it will axe its Freedom loyalty program , although points can still be accumulated until June 21. Points also must be spent before July 26, although if you don’t redeem your points , the money will be credited to your account . If you are unsure of your points balance , be sure to log into your account at . mybarclaycard.com At the time of its launch in March 2010, it was touted as a simple card that had reasonable rates with points that were easy to redeem . The Freedom card was a cash back rewards card which allowed you to earn 1 cash back at participating shops and then you could
American Express Rolls Out FarmVille Prepaid Card by Ben DeMeter on May 30, 2012 While other credit card issuers are still trying to figure out how this Internet machine works , American Express has just opened its doors in one of the most popular towns in social media FarmVille . As part of its ongoing campaign to market itself to young , socially networked consumers , the company launched a new card that will reward FarmVille users with virtual Farm Cash” for their real-world transactions . While this is certainly a clever promotion , is the prepaid debit card really worth America’s time Let’s find . out The FarmVille card is part of American Express’s campaign to market its new Serve” line of prepaid debit cards to young consumers . When you take a look at the novel registration process
Many individuals suffer from bad credit however fortunately there are a number of credit cards that are specifically for people in this situation who want to repair the damage they did in the past.Hello . Sign in to get personalized recommendations . New visitor Start here Follow Us Frontpage Topics Editorial Staff Archives Subscribe Credit.com Credit Cards for Excellent Credit Credit Cards for Good Credit Credit Cards for Bad Credit Secured Cards Prepaid Cards Credit Reports Personal Loans 7 Serious Tuition Saving Tips by Christopher Maag on 05 29 2012 There was a time that getting a college degree was considered a necessity for a financially successful life , and while it may hold true that college graduates earn more than high school graduates , skyrocketing tuition the accompanying student loan bubble and an anemic economy means that higher education can pose a financial risk . A big . one We’re at a point where student debt is crowding out other kinds of spending , making it: Hello . Sign in to get personalized recommendations . New visitor Start here Follow Us Frontpage Topics Editorial Staff Archives Subscribe Credit.com Credit Cards for Excellent Credit Credit Cards for Good Credit Credit Cards for Bad Credit Secured Cards Prepaid Cards Credit Reports Personal Loans The Stages of Debt : Which One Are You In by Steve Rhode on 05 29 2012 Many years ago I wrote my original Seven Stages of Debt as modified from the Five Stages of Death and Dying by Dr . Elisabeth . Kubler-Ross Both experiencing the emotional loss of a loved one and the emotional loss of your financial life are similar in some distinct ways . However , the emotional stages of debt also have two additional components that a mortal death does not . And these stages are almost magical as they canHello . Sign in to get personalized recommendations . New visitor Start here Follow Us Frontpage Topics Editorial Staff Archives Subscribe Credit.com Credit Cards for Excellent Credit Credit Cards for Good Credit Credit Cards for Bad Credit Secured Cards Prepaid Cards Credit Reports Personal Loans 2 More Student Loan Rate Hike Bills Hit Wall by Credit.com on 05 29 2012 There has been much discussion in recent months about the coming increase in interest rates on federal student loans , and lawmakers’ attempts to keep that jump from happening have largely . stalled Last week , two more attempts on the part of Republicans and Democrats in the U.S . Senate to freeze the interest rates on federally-issued student loans were stalled because lawmakers could not hit the 60-vote threshold thatHello . Sign in to get personalized recommendations . New visitor Start here Follow Us Frontpage Topics Editorial Staff Archives Subscribe Credit.com Credit Cards for Excellent Credit Credit Cards for Good Credit Credit Cards for Bad Credit Secured Cards Prepaid Cards Credit Reports Personal Loans Consumer Credit Getting Back On Track by Credit.com on 05 29 2012 Americans have made considerable strides in getting their finances and credit ratings back on track in the wake of the recession , resulting in better quality credit histories , particularly where credit cards are . concerned At the end of April , the amount of money owed on all bank-issued credit cards slipped to 531 billion , down 28 percent from the record high of more than 730 billion observed in January 2009, indicating thatHello . Sign in to get personalized recommendations . New visitor Start here Follow Us Frontpage Topics Editorial Staff Archives Subscribe Credit.com Credit Cards for Excellent Credit Credit Cards for Good Credit Credit Cards for Bad Credit Secured Cards Prepaid Cards Credit Reports Personal Loans Consumer Credit Getting Back On Track by Credit.com on 05 29 2012 Americans have made considerable strides in getting their finances and credit ratings back on track in the wake of the recession , resulting in better quality credit histories , particularly where credit cards are . concerned At the end of April , the amount of money owed on all bank-issued credit cards slipped to 531 billion , down 28 percent from the record high of more than 730 billion observed in January 2009, indicating that
Most people don't pay much interest to credit card terms unless they find themselves in an unfortunate situation. However understanding more about the terms that credit card companies use will give you more of an insight into the card you are using and its charges., Hello . Sign in to get personalized recommendations . New visitor Start here Follow Us Frontpage Topics Editorial Staff Archives Subscribe Credit.com Credit Cards for Excellent Credit Credit Cards for Good Credit Credit Cards for Bad Credit Secured Cards Prepaid Cards Credit Reports Personal Loans For Middle-Age Students , Is College Worth the Risk by Christopher Maag on 05 25 2012 Deidre Romeo was 40 years old when she started college . Pamela Monroe was 42. Believing that more education would lead inevitably to better-paying jobs and improved lives , both women received bachelor’s degrees , and continued on to graduate . school But their outcomes couldn’t be more different . Just returned from a weeklong vacation in Mexico , Romeo is back at her job as communications director for a, Hello . Sign in to get personalized recommendations . New visitor Start here Follow Us Frontpage Topics Editorial Staff Archives Subscribe Credit.com Credit Cards for Excellent Credit Credit Cards for Good Credit Credit Cards for Bad Credit Secured Cards Prepaid Cards Credit Reports Personal Loans Credit Card Debt Decreases , But Cards Still Used Widely by Credit.com on 05 25 2012 Consumers throughout the nation appear to be bettering their payment habits for credit cards and in turn , improving their credit scores , as a report by Demos indicates average credit card debt dropped in the first few months of 2012 compared to the last report conducted in 2008. According to the report , which yielded responses from nearly 1,000 low- and middle-income Americans with credit cards , averageHello . Sign in to get personalized recommendations . New visitor Start here Follow Us Frontpage Topics Editorial Staff Archives Subscribe Credit.com Credit Cards for Excellent Credit Credit Cards for Good Credit Credit Cards for Bad Credit Secured Cards Prepaid Cards Credit Reports Personal Loans Many Aspects of Housing Market Seeing Improvement by Credit.com on 05 25 2012 The economy has been generally improving for some time now as the effects of the recent recession continue to fade , but for a long time , the housing market seemed unaffected these upticks . However , that may now be changing for the . better While on a quarter-over-quarter and annual basis , home values declined in the first three months of the year , that trend began reversing itself in March , according to the
The credit card industry is huge and when dealing purely with our own finances it can be hard to comprehend just how big it is. In this article we look at some interesting credit card facts and stats that will shed light on things.Hello . Sign in to get personalized recommendations . New visitor Start here Follow Us Frontpage Topics Editorial Staff Archives Subscribe Credit.com Credit Cards for Excellent Credit Credit Cards for Good Credit Credit Cards for Bad Credit Secured Cards Prepaid Cards Credit Reports Personal Loans 10 Mistakes New Homebuyers Make by Kali Geldis on 05 23 2012 Image : Andrew Michaels via Flickr With mortgage rates continually hitting new lows and many real estate forecasters predicting a housing bottom at the end of the year , many renters are getting the urge to . buy That leaves a housing market full of inexperienced , but interested buyers who need a little more help and guidance in navigating what will be for some the biggest purchase they ever . make There are two separate transactions
If you have racked up a sizeable amount of debt you may be considering credit card consolidation. Whilst this is a good idea in some cases there are some downsides to this that could leave you worse off than you were before.
You may think that not using your credit cards is a good idea when you want to get out of debt however there are some instances when using them can be beneficial. We look at the things to consider before stopping usage immediately.Hello . Sign in to get personalized recommendations . New visitor Start here Follow Us Frontpage Topics Editorial Staff Archives Subscribe Credit.com Credit Cards for Excellent Credit Credit Cards for Good Credit Credit Cards for Bad Credit Secured Cards Prepaid Cards Credit Reports Personal Loans The Case for Alternative Credit” by Steve Ely on 05 21 2012 Unless they are in trouble , most people don’t wake up in the morning thinking about credit . Not even me , and I’ve spent much of my career immersed in it . But for most people , credit is an afterthought , and that’s unfortunate given the impact it has on our lives . Credit is now at a crossroads . It’s evolving right in front of us and that could mean real changes in the way we interact with it . Alternative credit is something we’ll
If you are considering renting out your home to new tenants you might want to ask for their credit card beforehand. Here we look at how to do this and what to do if a potential tenant's credit rating is lower than expected.
We all know how important it is to keep our credit cards safe but not all of us realize where the most high risk places are for credit card theft. We discuss some of these here.
Discover remains one of our favorite card companies, due to their highly-rated customer support, fantastic online account management experience, and — perhaps most important of all — highly competitive 0% introductory rate and a lucrative cash back rewards program. This particular card offers 24/7 access to a U.S.-based Account Manager within 60 seconds, which is a level of support often associated with more expensive cards (there's no annual fee for this card). Click below to see this week's featured Discover Card deal.
Powered By Credit Karma
Notes and disclosures: This web site has a financial relationship with the issuer(s) featured...
If you are applying for a loan for any reason you may be wondering about your current credit score. Here we discuss a few things that you may not have considered that can damage your rating without you even realizing.
Many people have a number of misconceptions when it comes to credit and credit cards. Here we debunk some of the most common.
We quite often see debt experts on TV telling people to cut up their credit cards. But do you actually need to do this or is your credit in check?
If you have ever opened your credit card statement to find unauthorized charges you likely no how stressful a time it can be. Luckily you can dispute these charges and try to find a solution.
Hello . Sign in to get personalized recommendations . New visitor Start here Follow Us Frontpage Topics Editorial Staff Archives Subscribe Credit.com Credit Cards for Excellent Credit Credit Cards for Good Credit Credit Cards for Bad Credit Secured Cards Prepaid Cards Credit Reports Personal Loans Kali Geldis Credit Confusion : Why Is My Issuer Telling Me This by Kali Geldis on 05 07 2012 A Redditer recently posted this message from a credit issuer , warning that the customer would owe nothing and that the 0 comments by Kali Geldis on 05 07 2012 Kali Geldis Credit.com's Deputy Managing Editor . Kali writes on a wide range of personal finance and credit topics . She previously ran MainStreet.com , the personal finance website powered by TheStreet . She has also worked for The Wall Street
It is essential that you contact your credit bureau as soon as you notice a mistake in your credit card report. Although it may look small to you it can significantly harm your credit rating.
Many people are sacked with tens of thousands of dollars of credit card debt with no idea how to get rid of it. The best way is to pay off their debts, but sometimes the situation gets out of control and larger measures, like a home equity loan, must be taken.
It is all too easy to damage your credit score if you don’t know what you are doing. In this article we look at some of the ways that credit can be damaged and how you can avoid falling into these situations.
Pre-paid credit cards are a good option whether you have good or bad credit in general. In this article we take a look at some of the instances in which pre-paid cards are a good idea.