Finance Globe

This situation may have happened to you: Your bank account is running low, but you have certain purchases you must make. So, you cleverly make your transactions in such a way that, when they’re posted, you’ll only overdraft the final one or transactions, thereby minimizing your overdraft fees. Unfortunately, you may have been among the many consumers who found out the hard way that outsmarting the bank is tougher than that. Did you check your account...

We know that saving money should be on everyone’s list of financial priorities, yet not many of us are actually saving money. The national personal savings rate as a percentage of disposable income in March 2013 was only 2.7%, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis. That means Americans only saved $2.70 for every $100 of disposable, or after tax, income. If you have big goals to reach, you may have to...

“Would you take a taxi on a cross country trip?” asks the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in an infographic summarizing the findings of their recent white paper on payday loans (and checking account deposit advances). Of course you wouldn’t take a taxi on such a long road trip because it would be expensive. Though they are quite expensive, and heavily warned against, many consumers still take out these dangerous loans. In its white paper, the CFPB...

Growing up, we're repeatedly told, “Mother knows best,” but people don’t believe that’s true in all situations. In a recent survey from the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, a majority of respondents answered negatively about their mother’s personal finance skills. 21% said their mom was intimidated by financial matters and avoided them26% said their mom saw managing money as a necessary evil and didn’t enjoy it18% said their mom has never managed money on their own....

The wedding industry is booming. In 2012, the average wedding cost $25,656, MarketWatch.com cites The Wedding Report. Much focus is placed on helping the bride and groom save on the money spent on their big day, but it’s not just the brides and grooms shelling out cash. Wedding party and attendees also spend several hundred, maybe even thousands of, dollars on the wedding, especially an out of town or destination wedding. Expense of Attending a Wedding...

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...

Some surprises are welcome: a surprise birthday present, a surprise engagement, a surprise job promotion. However, when it comes to your finances, surprises are typically not appreciated. Avoid many surprises by staying in the know with your own money. Read your mail. Banks and other businesses will typically send account notifications to you by mail. Sometimes notices are included with your regular billing statements or they may be mailed separately. Often, important notifications are sent in...

The money in your checking account is for paying your bills and covering everyday expenses. Mismanaging your account can be expensive, resulting in overdrafts, fees, and a myriad of other financial problems. You should keep at least enough money in the account to cover the expenses you have coming due before your next payday. It’s possible to have too much money in your checking account. Any money that you don’t need for bills and regular expenses...

It’s rare to find a good or service for which the price stays the same over a period of time. ATM fees are no exception. If you’ve ever used another bank’s ATM to withdraw cash from your checking or savings account, then you know you pay a surcharge, or fee, for that transaction. According to a recent report from the Government Accountability Office, the average ATM surcharge has increased by 20% over the last five years....

The Federal Trade Commission has released the results of its latest survey on fraud. Conducted in late 2011 and early 2012, the survey reveals there were 25.6 million victims of fraud. Here are the top 10 fraud categories: Weight-loss products, 5.1 million victimsFraudulent prize promotions, 2.4 million victimsUnauthorized billing for buyers’ club membership or internet services, 1.9 victimsWork-at-home programs, 1.8 million victimsCredit repair scam, 1.6 million victimsDebt relief, 1.5 million victimsCredit card insurance, 1.3 million victimsBusiness...