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Getting a Car¶
(Idea Vault Blog) - When looking for a new car, you have three main options: buy used, buy new, or lease. There are pros and cons to each method. Your choice will be based on various financial considerations, driving habits, and personal preference.
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Credit Scores¶
(Idea Vault Blog) - A credit score is a number that potential lenders will use to determine whether they should lend you money, how much, and at what interest rate. Your credit score, also called a FICO score, is an actual number, between 300 and 850. The higher the number, the better: a score of…
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Interest¶
(Idea Vault Blog) - Interest plays a role in almost all aspects of personal finance, including savings, investing, credit, and loans. Interest is money that's added to your starting balance. It can be earned or paid and is typically expressed as a percentage. You earn interest by keeping money in a…
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Using Credit¶
(Idea Vault Blog) - Borrowing money makes it possible to afford things that you couldn’t otherwise, but make sure you understand what you’re signing up for to avoid falling into overwhelming debt.
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Health Savings Accounts¶
(Idea Vault Blog) - With a health savings account (HSA), you can set aside pretax income to pay for current or future health care, including deductibles, copayments, and any qualified medical expenses such as dental bills and prescription drugs. Any withdrawals you make from the HSA to cover these…
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Repaying Student Loans¶
(Idea Vault Blog) - More than half of all college graduates have used student loans to pay tuition and other costs. So if the lingering bill for your education makes you nervous, know that you're not alone in facing student debt and there are options that can make repayment easier. If the money you…
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Debit Cards: A College Student's Best Bet¶
() - Debit cards are one of the most common forms of payment. In fact, according to Bankrate, 63% of people between 18 and 29 don’t bother with cash, checks, or a credit card, preferring to use their debit cards. When you use a debit card, the amount of the payment is debited, or subtracted from,…
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College Budget Breakdown¶
(Idea Vault Blog) - Most people ask, "How much does college cost?"—that’s the first mistake. It’s not to say this question isn’t answerable, but grouping college into one huge expense can be a little deceiving. The cost of a degree is so much more than a singular bill—especially if you factor in qu…
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Filling Out the FAFSA¶
(Idea Vault Blog) - The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an application for financial aid made up of scholarships and grants that the government awards to students based on their needs. Unfortunately, many students who would qualify for FAFSA funds don’t even complete the applica…
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The Cost of College Life¶
(Idea Vault Blog) - One of the many mysteries of college, especially freshman year, is what being there is actually going to cost. Sure, you know there’s tuition. But how much will you need to make it through the first semester? The first year? Here’s what to plan for first: the start-up costs of…
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