How I Got an 800+ Credit Score in My 20s
Credit scores are mostly useless pieces of financial trivia that most people should not worry about day to day. Unless you have an auto purchase, home purchase, or mortgage refinance coming …
Credit Cards
125,000 Delta SkyMiles Without Leaving the Ground
NOTE: Click here for the latest American Express Delta credit card offers for military servicemembers available. I’ve applied for dozens of credit cards over the years and cashed in thousands …
When Selecting a Credit Card, APR Doesn’t Matter
This is a bit of a follow up to my article on how credit cards work. APR, or Annual Percentage Rate, is how credit card companies make money. (There’s also …
The Power of the “Bills” Account
I’m a big fan of responsible credit card use. (Unlike some financial “gurus.”) With a few cards offering 5% cash back and most good credit cards offering 1-2% back on …
Releasing a Cosigner from a Navient Student Loan
To be eligible for student loans (especially private loans) a cosigner with a longer and more established credit history is required. Sometimes it makes sense to have a relative as …
What is a landlord looking for when they run a credit check?
This question was recently posed on reddit.com, in the Personal Finance section. The questioner asked what credit score landlords are looking for and how he might improve that score. Unfortunately, …
How Do Credit Cards Work?
I see so many misconceptions and fears about credit cards every day that I feel like I have to set the record straight. This article is based on my 5+ …
5 Real Ways to Make $200+ in Less Than 12 Minutes
There are lots of “work from home” and get-rich-quick schemes out on the web. If you find one that works, let me know and I’ll be the first to sign …
Do I need to buy rental car insurance?
Short answer: In 90% of cases, no, especially if, like many in the military, you’re a USAA member or have the American Express Platinum Card® or the Chase Sapphire Reserve® …
How I Budget My Military Paycheck
Of course, this can be applied to any paycheck, not just military ones. It’s a bit simpler than using software like Mint or Quicken and a bit more complex than …