Ever peeked at your kid’s credit score? Here’s why it’s time for a check-up.
Money tip: Easiest way to cancel your unused subscriptions
Is there anything worse than reviewing your monthly bank statement to find your bottom line significantly lower than you thought?
Random subscription services probably get you more often than not. Old streaming accounts, in-app purchases made by accident, and other monthly fees you’d rather leave in the past. Tap or click here for tricks to saving money on streaming services.
If you want to save even more money, try getting rid of rarely used services. We’ve found a tool to help you cancel unwanted subscriptions in the easiest way possible. Keep reading for details.
Can Rocket Money help you save more?
Our sponsor, Rocket Money, is a tool that links with your financial accounts and identifies brands that charge you monthly for things like entertainment and other membership plans. If scouring your statements is an inconvenience you would rather skip, this is precisely what you want.
All you have to do is sign up using the link above. You’ll be asked a few questions, including your financial goals. For example, tracking your spending or simply canceling unused subscriptions. It uses the Plaid service to link to your bank accounts securely.
Rocket Money can isolate every recurring charge it detects, allowing you to view them all simultaneously. If there’s anything on the list you’re happy to be rid of, ask Rocket Money to cancel it.
It also gives you customer support contact information for big companies like Netflix or Instacart. This is great for services you decide to keep but want to change plans.
Here are some features:
- Manage and cancel unwanted subscriptions.
- Lower your bills and let Rocket Money negotiate on your behalf.
- Keep track of monthly bills and avoid overdrafts.
- Create unlimited custom budgets.
- Monitor your credit score.
- Put your savings goals on autopilot.
- Bank-level security and privacy.
Want to save money this year?
Why you should reconsider using buy now, pay later loans
If you have an ongoing subscription service, the easiest way to pay is to set up an autopay plan. If you’re worried about late fees and interest, autopay is one way to avoid those penalties.
While you may be tempted to spread autopayment plans around, some recurring charges are better off being paid as you go. For example, an annual fee may cost less per month than a monthly charge, but it could hit you hard when that annual payment comes due. Tap or click here for five bills you should never put on autopay.
Love meets credit: The new dating app SCORE plays Cupid … if Cupid was also into personal finance. If your credit score is 675 or above, you’re in. The Federal Reserve’s findings say those good credit scores tend to stick together. One way to dodge golddiggers, I guess?
5 warning signs you’re being targeted by an identity thief
Identity theft is scary for good reason: It’s hard to prove, tough to spot and can be devastating. And in many cases, you don’t realize anything is wrong until the damage has been done.
Watching out for warning signs you may be being targeted will bring you some peace of mind.
Signs someone opened a bank account in your name - And what to do about it
Bad credit comes with many problems, like higher interest rates and rejected home and vehicle loans. That’s why you should look out for the one threat that can tank your credit score: identity theft. If a scammer steals your identity, they can drain your accounts and obliterate your financial security.
The one thing that can impact your credit score you never thought of until now
Having good credit can open a lot of avenues for you. In most cases, you can be offered better interest rates, pay lower financial charges on credit cards, or qualify for a bigger loan. Tap or click here to check your credit report for free — and what you need to look for.
Why your score on Credit Karma seems higher than it should
Having a good credit score is something many aspire to, and it can be difficult to achieve. A good score can give you access to bank loans, credit cards with better interest rates or even more housing options.
But what happens when you get two vastly different scores from competing reporting agencies? Which is the one can you trust? Does the one company have more information on you than the others? Tap or click here to get your free annual credit report.
Clever FBI number spoofing scam tricked man out of $100K
If you pick up your phone and hear the FBI on the other end, it’s understandable if you feel your stomach drop. Feds rarely call people — and when they do, it’s usually because you’re part of an investigation.
Unfortunately, most of the time a caller claims to be with the FBI, they’re not telling the truth. As it turns out, it’s a popular scam technique designed to trick people into sharing personal data or sending money. Tap or click here to see how a scam like this is targeting seniors right now.
Your Netflix subscription can raise your credit score - here's how
A solid credit score is important for so many aspects of modern living. From purchasing cars to qualifying for an apartment, a high credit score gives you a distinct advantage that can make your life easier. A low score, on the other hand, means certain purchases and events will cost you more money in the long run.
5 critical settings so hackers can’t access your bank accounts
You need to assume that your passwords aren’t strong enough. You might as well believe that someone, somewhere, is working around the clock to break into your accounts and steal your money, your identity and anything else you have. Because it’s essentially true.
5 things to consider before closing a credit card account
Like many of us, you’ve probably been doing a lot of excess online shopping while stuck at home. It might be time to limit your purchasing, and you can do that by closing some of your credit cards.
But it’s not as simple as just cutting up the cards. You need to properly close a credit card account down to keep it from negatively affecting your credit score — which can happen anyway if you’re not careful with which cards you close.
How to run a free background check on yourself
It seems everyone wants to know what you’ve been up to these days. Your history is everyone’s business, like it or not. Future employers want to know your criminal record. They look at your credit score to see if you’re good with money — after all, they’re trusting you with theirs.
Use your time at home to get 10 tech tasks done
The coronavirus pandemic has completely disrupted the way we live. Want to dine out or hit up the bar? Forget about it. Shopping at the mall? Way too risky and all the stores are closed, anyway.
Instead, most of us are making the smart choice and staying safe at home until further notice. Feeling disconnected from your friends and family? Tap or click to throw a virtual get-together.
Check your credit report for free - and what you need to look for
Do you know the difference between 570 and 780? Yes, they’re 210 digits apart, but these aren’t just numbers; they’re examples of bad and good credit scores, respectively.
While some may not give their credit scores a second thought, others live by them — literally. These consumers are the ones who recognize how difficult life can be with bad credit. In addition to facing high-interest rates, people with poor credit often struggle to get approved for home or vehicle loans.
5 best apps to track credit card rewards
Travelers and shopaholics love their credit cards because of the many perks they come with. You can buy everyday items like groceries or gas and earn miles, cash back and even points for streaming or delivery services.
How to shop for a house, in 3 steps with 6 online tools
Buying a house can be complicated. There are just so many things to check off the list before the process is complete and you’re finally in your cozy new home.
The good news is that you can alleviate part of the stress by doing some of the legwork ahead of time. There are tons of resources online that you can use to get a nice head start.