Finance Globe

A credit card is a wonderfully convenient way to pay for nearly anything. It can be a handy tool to help you track your spending and manage your budget, and offers more protection than if you paid in cash. A credit card is also the downfall for many consumers who don’t grasp the consequences of their unwise credit habits until it’s too late. To get the most from your credit cards, be sure to use that...

Do you have a wallet full of credit cards you don’t use, multiple cards with a balance, or cards that are costing you more than they are worth? It may be time for a credit card spring cleaning. Take a good look at your cardholder agreements and most recent credit card statements and figure out what you're really paying to keep your credit cards. Then ask yourself these questions when deciding which cards are keepers and...

Federal agencies on Tuesday warned to consumers of a new computer malware that can take hold of personal files and literally hold them for ransom.The Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Bureau of Investigation said that the malware, “Cryptolocker,” encrypts your personal documents, photos, and other files. You can’t get it back unless you pay a fee of about $300 and the clock is ticking until it’s gone for good. And there’s no other way to...

Green home building is projected to continue to climb in the next few years as Americans increasingly search out energy-efficient and environmentally responsible homes, industry experts reported this week.McGraw Hill Construction reported that last year, the green home-building industry accounted for 23% of residential construction and is projected to grow to between 26% to 33% by 2016. This increase would more than double the value of the industry, growing from $36 billion in 2013 to $83-$105...

Americans should be on alert for scammers posing as government workers, the Better Business Bureau advises. The purpose of the scam is to fool you into sharing your personal information, which can then be used to commit identity theft.The scam starts with a phone call from the con artists who claims that you have been selected to receive insurance cards through the Affordable Care Act - also known as “Obamacare.” In order to receive your insurance...

Last week the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service announced that all legal same-sex marriages will be recognized for federal tax purposes. This move invalidated a key provision of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which specifically required that couples must be heterosexual to be recognized as married.The ruling will apply to couples who were married in jurisdictions that recognize their marriage regardless of whether or not the marriage is recognized by the jurisdiction the couple...

Last week, Earth Day was celebrated by more than a billion people across 190 countries, the Energy Department reported. First started in 1970 to encourage environmental reform, Earth Day is a time for each of us to take steps to protect the planet’s natural resources so they will be available for future generations. And as an added benefit, these actions also save us money.ElectricalUpgrade old appliances to energy efficient appliances - look for the Energy Star...

Victims who were tricked by an alleged health care scam will be receiving refund checks in the mail thanks to efforts by the Federal Trade Commission.The FTC is sending out $1.1 million worth of checks to over 50,000 consumers, and recipients of the checks have 60 days to cash them. Victims of the purported scam fell were tricked into believing they were buying government-endorsed health insurance, when in fact they were paying for a worthless medical...

The IRS tax refund tracker tool has become so popular for people expecting a tax refund that the IRS has put out a notice asking taxpayers to limit their inquiries to no more than once per day. As more returns come in, the IRS said it is experiencing high traffic on “Where’s My Refund?” at irs.gov. The large large traffic volume is expected to limit the availability of the tool on both the website and the...

The U.S. Postal Service announced on Wednesday its plans to drop Saturday letter delivery to street addresses beginning in August. The move is expected to save the financially ailing agency an estimated $2 billion per year. “The Postal Service is advancing an important new approach to delivery that reflects the strong growth of our package business and responds to the financial realities resulting from America’s changing mailing habits,” said Patrick R. Donahoe, Postmaster General and CEO....