May 16th, 2012
Sound Advice from Unlikely Sources: The Avengers and Credit Card Debt
Last Saturday, I went to see my first superhero movie ever. Yes, you read that right. I have never seen “Superman,” “Spiderman” or any other superhero film. But when my friend invited me to go see “The Avengers,” I figured that there would not be a better superhero movie to start with; it’s chock- full of superheroes, like the Hulk, Iron Man and Captain America. The movie did not disappoint!
But not only is “The Avengers” full of jaw-dropping special effects and hilarious one-liners, it’s also a great source of financial advice. (That’s what we do here, after all; seek financial advice from unlikely sources.) Here are a few ways to wage war on credit card debt, Avengers’ style.
(Note: Contains spoilers!)
Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
The context: As soon as bad-guy Loki steals the Tesseract, a cube of pure energy with the power to destroy the Earth, S.H.I.E.L.D leader Nick Fury doesn’t hesitate to ask for help from the Avengers. He immediately realizes that the situation is over his head.
The lesson: You don’t have to battle debt alone. Don’t be too proud to ask for help.
How to do it: Some credit card issuers will be willing to lower your interest rate to help you pay off debt sooner. But you’ll never know if you don’t ask.
You can also ask your friends to keep you accountable. Love posting every life detail on Facebook? Skip Instagramming what you’re eating for lunch one day and instead update your status to something like “I’m going to save $50 this month. Keep me accountable!”
If you don’t want to broadcast your financial goals to your friends, reach out to the Credit Karma community. Credit Karma’s Advice and Learning Center is an amazing way to ask and answer questions. You aren’t alone on your financial journey.
May 16th, 2012
What Is a Good Credit Score? Part 2
Last time we talked about how, in general, a credit score of 720 is good enough to get your the best rates on most loans. Now we're back, talking in more detail about what exactly makes a credit score "good."May 15th, 2012
Tuesday Roundup: Six Things The Bachelorette Can Teach Us About Money
Six Things The Bachelorette Can Teach Us About Money. "Being married to the fairer sex, one often finds themselves watching television shows that don’t normally show up on their radar in order to spend quality time with said partner. Funny, as when Star Wars comes on I find myself quickly alone in the room." Weakonomics
May 14th, 2012
Could an Online Savings Account be Right for You?
May 12th, 2012
3 Financial Things NOT to Say to Mom on Mother’s Day
May 10th, 2012
Thursday Roundup: Are You Ready to be a Homeowner?
Are You Ready to be a Homeowner? "Most of us would probably buy at least one house during our lifetime. For some, buying a home is a dream; for some, it is a definition of their success in society; for some, it is simply a shelter where they don’t have to pay rent." Million Dollar Journey
May 9th, 2012
What Is a Good Credit Score? Part 1
In the latest Credit Karma video series, Bethy and Ezra take a brief look at one of our most commonly asked questions in the Credit Advice Center: What is a good credit score?May 8th, 2012
4 Ways You Could Be Hurting Your Credit
May 8th, 2012
Tuesday Roundup: 6 Fun and Frugal Activities to Do With Mom on Mother’s Day
6 Fun and Frugal Activities to Do With Mom on Mother's Day. "Mother's Day is coming up this Sunday and if you're thinking of spending the day with her but want to do something more intimate and personal, here are a few fun and frugal ideas." SavvySugar
May 7th, 2012
Savings Habits of Americans & Barclays New Online Savings Account
