Savings secrets do not exist in Europe and Asia, but in the good ole U.S.A trying to put together a savings jar of $400 or $500 is elusive. With most families today, it is matter of falling back on credit cards for emergency expenses, which easily leads many into the great credit card trap. Senior…
Professor Cardworthy, the “Money Explainer” of all things financial, was resurrected by Senior Payments Analyst Robert McKinley, reprising his role first developed in 2007 as the actor in a series of 50 “Cardworthy” YouTube consumer instructional videos. The 2007 project was shelved while Mr. McKinley was in a cancer battle and later placed on hold…
Home sharing is becoming more expensive than a hotel stay as greedy homeowners slip in exorbitant cleaning fees and service fees. At the same hotels are migrating to the gig economy for cleaning services an apps for room service from local restaurants, according to Bankcenter and CardBuzz. Senior Analyst Robert McKinley for CardTrak says as…
Grads prefer cash or gift cards as a token of appreciation for their accomplishment this year. For thirteen consecutive years their preferences have remained unchanged. This year the average person buying graduation gifts will spend $102.51, on par with last year’s $104.92. The National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics reports its recent survey…
Mortgages and retirement can strangle a tight budget and require special planning to be successful. More than a third of older homeowners are approaching retirement saddled, to some degree, with a home with a mortgage. Compounding the struggle is half of retirees without a pension, just drawing mainly on Social Security benefits, will receive less…
Grandparents today share in the financial and cultural support of their grandchildren, like never before. A new survey estimates grandparents spend $179 billion dollars per year on their grandchildren. The average age of becoming a first-time grandparent is 50 and the average number of grandchildren is four to five. The AARP’s Grandparents Today National Survey…
More than half of Americans associate retirement with the words “freedom” and “enjoyment,” and a sizable portion associate retirement with the word “stress-free.” However, the reality is many are forced, out of necessity, to work during retirement, are deeply worried about their future Social Security & Medicare benefits, rising costs of medications, and other unforeseen…
Robocall scammers continue to grow in sophistication such as “neighborhood spoofing” allowing robocalls to look like local calls. Stressed out student loan borrowers are prominent on the radar of scammers. The scams are also fooling some people because it is open enrollment for many health insurance plans. Healthcare Robo Scam The scams are fooling some…
Nine out of ten Americans believe the biggest roadblock to achieving financial independence is paying off credit card debt. By the same token, seven in ten Americans believe that being debt-free is an essential component to financial independence. Only 22% believe they’ve achieved independence themselves. A recent survey from Consolidated Credit found the next biggest roadblock…
If you are 62 or older it’s time to get off your rocker and grab a lifetime pass to 2,000 U.S. National Parks for $10 if purchased in-person or $20 online. Last December, Congress authorized the price increase for the pass, which is good for a lifetime for U.S. citizens and permanent residents 62 and…
