Here’s Why Nearly Every Purchase Should Be On a Credit Card
Experts: Here’s Why Nearly Every Purchase Should Be On a Credit Card
October 4, 2023 By Heather Taylor
How do you know which purchases, whether they’re big or small, should be put on a credit card? This decision often depends on the type of purchase and how responsible the cardholder is with their credit card use. GOBankingRates asked experts to list the purchases you should put on a credit card versus those where you may need to exercise caution.
Put These Purchases on a Credit Card
Experts agreed that when used responsibly, credit cards should be the go-to form of payment for most everyday purchases as well as some larger ones.
New Grocery Store Scams: Watch Out for These Money Traps at the Checkout Line
New Grocery Store Scams: Watch Out for These Money Traps at the Checkout Line
Andrew Lisa Fri, October 27, 2023
Between shoplifting, return scams and even acts of violence, crime is on the rise at grocery stores. But now, criminals are targeting not just supermarkets, but unsuspecting shoppers who are simply there to buy food.
The next time you’re in the grocery store, stay alert, be aware of your surroundings and watch out for these scams — which often take place at or near the checkout line.
Beware of These Supermarket Scams
This Easy Step Is An Essential Part Of Any Plan B
This Easy Step Is An Essential Part Of Any Plan B
Notes From The Field By Simon Black October 26, 2023
Sigrid Paul was living in East Berlin in 1961 when she gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. Unfortunately, though, her son was born with major health problems... and Sigrid had to seek out the best possible medical care to treat him. This was more than fifteen years after World War II, and Germany had already been split between East and West for more than a decade.
Unsurprisingly, the capitalist West had substantially higher quality healthcare than the socialist East (which was really just a Soviet puppet state). In fact, the West had higher quality everything... and that’s why over three million East Germans defected to the West between 1945 and 1961.
Congress Forecasts America’s Fiscal Train Wreck For 2031. Here’s How A Plan B Can Help
Congress Forecasts America’s Fiscal Train Wreck For 2031. Here’s How A Plan B Can Help
Notes From the Field By Simon Black October 24, 2023
Yesterday I wrote a comprehensive explanation of the extreme fiscal catastrophe that the US faces thanks to the federal government’s relentless spending addiction.
I wrote, for example, that the US national debt is now $33.6 trillion… and it has increased more than HALF A TRILLION DOLLARS just so far this MONTH. Astonishing.
19 Dangerous Scam Phone Numbers and Area Codes To Avoid
19 Dangerous Scam Phone Numbers and Area Codes To Avoid
By Joshua Rodriguez
Area Codes To Avoid About Scam Numbers Common Phone Scams
Scams are becoming more and more prevalent. They’re so common that experts have coined the term “scam economy.” Unfortunately, it’s easy to change a phone number, and scammers often do so to avoid getting caught. The good news is that scams operate in many known area codes, so you can avoid being the next victim simply by watching for known scam phone numbers.
Wouldn’t it be great to have a list of scam phone numbers handy to avoid them altogether? Keep reading to learn more.
Frugal Living Tips for a Balanced and Stress-Free Life
Frugal Living Tips for a Balanced and Stress-Free Life
By Denisse Garcia Updated October 10, 2023
Frugal living is not just about saving money, it’s a way of life that encourages you to spend wisely and live well to lead a happier life. Frugal living is all about spending your money on the things that actually matter to you. Take your first steps towards frugal living with these tips in mind.
What Is Frugal Living?
Frugal living is a lifestyle of being mindful of your spending and focusing on your top financial priorities. It’s about being resourceful and avoiding waste, not being cheap or depriving yourself of what you enjoy; instead, it’s about finding ways to live a fulfilling life while spending less money.
Here's What 'Wealthy' Means In 2023 America, In Five Numbers
Here's What 'Wealthy' Means In 2023 America, In Five Numbers
Daniel de Visé, USA TODAY Mon, October 23, 2023
What does it take to be wealthy in 2023? A million dollars in the bank? Two million? How about a salary in the high six figures? In different ways, the average American family feels both wealthier and poorer now than a few years ago.
Median household wealth hit $192,900 last year, up 37% since 2019, the largest jump in the history of the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances.
Don’t Mail a Check or Other Financial Docs on This Day of the Week
Don’t Mail a Check or Other Financial Docs on This Day of the Week
Angela Mae Wed, October 18, 2023
Many people send important financial documents — such as checks, money orders and tax returns — in the mail. While this method might not be as fast as, say, emailing them, it may be more secure. This is because personal information sent via email is more vulnerable to hackers than physical ones. Emailing documents also might leave you more susceptible to identity theft or fraud.
But even mailing out documents isn’t a foolproof method of getting them where they need to be. After all, your documents and the information in them still could get lost or stolen. There also could be delays when sending them, particularly if you choose a busy time of the day or week.
This Strategy Cuts the Tax Bill of American Entrepreneurs in Half
This Strategy Cuts the Tax Bill of American Entrepreneurs in Half
October 18, 2023 Notes From The Field By Simon Black
One of the many Orwellian habits of politicians is give cute acronyms to their idiotic legislation.
The CARES Act from 2020, for example, stood for “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security”.
The CARES Act was one of the most destructive pieces of legislation in US history; it paid people to stay home and NOT work, which decimated the US labor market. And it also cost tax payers hundreds of billions of dollars in fraud from the “Paycheck Protection Program”.
Financial Expert Warns You’re Missing Out on Wealth by Hoarding Money
Financial Expert Warns You’re Missing Out on Wealth by Hoarding Money — Here’s How
Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy Tue, October 17, 2023
While inflation is cooling down — standing at 3.7% in September, according to the Oct. 12 Consumer Price Index (CPI) — it is still a far cry from the Federal Reserve’s 2% target goal. In turn, the Fed seems poised to raise rates at least once more this year — which would continue to put pressure on Americans’ wallets.
Against this backdrop, it’s no wonder that some may find the “cash is king” mantra attractive. Yet, experts warn that you could be missing out on wealth by hoarding money.
Silicon Valley Bank Part II Starts Tomorrow At 6:45am
Silicon Valley Bank Part II Starts Tomorrow At 6:45am
Notes From the Field By Simon Black October 16, 2023
It’s been seven months now since Silicon Valley Bank went bust. And so much has happened in the world since then that SVB’s collapse almost feels like ancient history. But something is going to happen tomorrow-- at precisely 6:45am Eastern time-- that could rekindle anxiety in the banking system once again.
And it’s not hard to understand why; the problems in the banking system… the problems that brought down Silicon Valley Bank and others… didn’t go away. In fact they got worse. And now several other large US banks are getting dangerously close to the edge.