The holidays are a financially stressful time, particularly when you're stretching things paycheck to paycheck. Unfortunately, this is also the time of year when companies are taking vacations, mail is delayed and paychecks may simply not arrive on time. In the last few days before the holiday, you might find yourself with a few more things to pick up and a delayed or missing paycheck. Luckily, there are other ways that you can deal with this situation. [Read More]

Finding a way to get cash fast when you need it can be difficult, unless you have a good friend who happens to have some extra money. If this friend is willing to loan you some money, you might find your solution to your problem quickly. Unfortunately, though, borrowing money from friends is not always the best way to handle cash crunches. Here are three things you may want to do before you ask your friend for a loan. [Read More]

Banks make money by charging fees on products or services it provides customers. Fees can add up and become rather costly if you do not know how much you are assessed, the charges you can be assessed for, and what the differences between the two main categories of fees are. Before you choose to open a new checking account for the first time, it helps to know the difference between the fees one bank charges up front and the compounded fees another bank charges that may surprise you. [Read More]

If you've recently suffered a death in your extended family, you may be witnessing firsthand the potential consequences of failing to adequately plan for one's heirs. If someone dies unexpectedly, without a will, surviving family members may scramble to uncover bank accounts and other potential assets without many clues as to these assets' whereabouts. However, in an age where large-scale security breaches and identity theft happen on seemingly a daily basis, you may be reluctant to leave a list of all your assets and financial accounts without taking precautions against this information falling into the wrong hands. [Read More]