The Financially Free Blog
7 Reasons You Might be Denied a High-Yield Savings Account
You work hard for your money, but what if your money could work for you? This idea is what motivates people to pursue investment options with their savings, one of the most secure being a high-yield savings account.
Selecting a high-yield savings account allows investors the chance to earn some interest with very little risk. If you’re denied a high-yield savings account, the reason could be anything from a problem in your ChexSystems report to a bank’s inability to verify your identity.
Have you been denied from opening a high-yield savings account? Find out the most common reasons for rejection below.
6 Best High-Yield Savings Accounts to Open
Interest rates have been very low so the past few years which isn’t ideal for deposit accounts. Slowly, interest rates have increased to a modest level. Although investing your money in a savings account won’t yield you the more competitive returns, it’s a good way to help your money grow while still maintaining your cash liquidity.
But not just any savings account will do. According to the FDIC, savings account rates averaged 0.09% as of the week of August 29, 2019. With savings rates at less than 0.1%, you might think twice about opening a new savings account. There’s a better alternative, however; the best high-yield savings account rates are often provided by online banks.
Here are the best high-yield savings account products to compare, before depositing your savings.
How to File a Health Insurance Claim
Health insurance can be confusing. When talking about your health insurance, the conversation usually involves whether or not you have it, or if your plan has good benefits. But how do you actually file a health insurance claim if you need to? Beginning the process of filing a claim can be daunting, but there are four easy steps to get the job done.
7 Ways to Save Money on Dining Out
The common mantra when it comes to overspending at restaurants is brown-bagging your lunch. But let’s face it — meal prepping isn’t always a feasible solution. Whether you’re headed to a new restaurant hotspot to network with coworkers or simply meet up with friends, you might worry about blowing your budget. Here are a few money-saving tips to keep in mind that can help you curb spending when dining out.
6 Ways to Avoid Debit Card Fraud
You’ve heard of debit card fraud, but are you familiar with how it works and how to protect yourself from experiencing this financial headache? Debit card fraud represents a huge challenge to consumers because it means your money literally goes missing from your bank account.
While banks do work to protect their customers when it comes to this kind of theft, protecting your own account is of the utmost importance.
7 Expert Tips to Book Cheap Holiday Flights
Peak travel season is just around the corner which means may be among the millions of Americans planning domestic flights for the holidays. With the high demand for plane seats this time of year, you’ll need to be extra vigilant about keeping airfare expenses within budget.
Top travel experts have a few secrets up their sleeves that help keep holiday fight costs down. Here are six ways to secure cheap flight tickets starting next week.
9 Easy Ways to Make Money Fast This Labor Day
Every year on the first Monday of September, the United States Department of Labor celebrates the American worker by giving them the day off. Often celebrated with barbecues and weekend trips, Labor Day is a national holiday designed to give the public a chance to breathe and enjoy the fleeting days of summer.
That being said, when businesses close their doors on Labor Day, their workers can be left in need of some extra cash. If you’re looking for easy ways to make money this Labor Day, we’ve got you covered. Check out the ideas below to catch up on your finances while observing the national holiday.
How to Find the Best Car Loan This Labor Day
Labor Day is right around the corner and if you’re like most people, you might be looking for holiday sales. If you need a new set of wheels, this is a popular time to find Labor Day car sales. We’ve compiled tips on how to find the best car loans and lowest auto loan rates this long weekend.
4 Side Hustles You Can Do From Your Phone
Nowadays, starting a side hustle is easier than most people expect. You don’t even have to babysit the neighbor's kid, or create an Upwork account in the hopes that out of the thousands of freelancers on the platform, an employer will notice you.
Here are some of the best side hustle ideas you can do straight through your phone while you’re out and about.
Women's Equality Day: How to Negotiate for the Pay You Deserve
A century ago, women still didn’t have the right to vote. But 99 years ago that all changed with the 19th amendment. The 19th amendment, which gave women the right to vote was signed into law on August 26, 1920, allowing women to use their voice and vote. As of 1973, in honor of this, Congress marked August 26th as Women’s Equality Day.
Though on this day, women achieved equality through having the right to vote, we know that there is still inequality that women face, especially when it comes to earning.
According to Payscale’s report, The State of the Gender Pay Gap 2019, women make 79 cents to every dollar a man makes. That number is worse for women of color. Systemic changes need to happen to achieve equality but what can you do now to move the needle forward?
Charge what you’re worth and ask for more. Read on to learn how to negotiate a salary and get salary negotiation tips.
How to Calculate Your Business' Quarterly Taxes
If you’re self-employed, there’s one major issue that can be a pain: taxes. You get to pay taxes not just once each year, but quarterly! This can be stressful whether you’re just starting out or just trying to stay on top of your taxes.
How do you know how much to pay? How do you ensure you aren’t overpaying or underpaying? It can be a confusing process, to say the least. But we’ve compiled a quick guide on how to calculate business taxes and how to get started with filing business taxes.
9 Insider Secrets to Book an Affordable Hotel Stay
You might be wrapping up your summer travel, but before you know it you’ll be knee-deep in holiday travel planning. A 2018 Holiday Travel Report by Nerdwallet found that nearly half of Americans expected to put an average $1,456 on a credit card to cover holiday season travel.
This year, save money on travel expenses by cutting costs on your hotel stay. Here are a few tips to help you find cheap hotel rooms and have an affordable stay.
5 Tips to Save Money in College
Every year in the United States, about 2.2 million people go to college. College for many people signifies the beginning of a journey of firsts: the first time living away from home and all the responsibilities that come with that, going on college spring break, joining Greek life, etc.
For many people, all these experiences are what make up their college careers, however, all of these things come with a big price tag. Here are five tips to help you make the most of your college years without going broke.
Pros and Cons of a CD vs. High-Yield Savings Account
If you’re ready to start saving, you might wonder what is the best way to get started? There are various savings vehicles to choose from including certificates of deposit (CDs) and high-yield savings accounts. Which one should you choose though? Read on to learn more about the pros and cons of CDs vs. high-yield savings accounts.
10 Items That Are Worth Buying in Bulk
Saving money at the store isn’t just restricted to holiday sales and the clearance bin. Shopping the aisles of bulk warehouse stores, like Sam’s Club, can save you a good amount of cash, too. When it comes to getting the best value, not everything in bulk is created equal. To avoid overspending on your next shopping trip, it’s important to know which bulk wholesale items are worth their volume and cost.
Where to Find the Best Back-to-School Deals
Just like that, summer is coming to an end and it’s that time again — back to school. That means it’s time to prepare and buy clothes, school supplies, electronics and more. All of that can bust your budget quickly, but we’ve compiled a list of where to find the best back-to-school deals.
How to Practice Good Tipping Etiquette While on Vacation
Whether you’re en route on a two-week vacation or creating a budget for your next big trip, there’s one cost that’s commonly forgotten in the process: gratuity. Although you might’ve just spent hundreds or thousands of dollars booking your flight and accommodations, you’ll likely encounter staff throughout your vacation who merit a tip.
As you’re enjoying your relaxing getaway, consider expressing thanks to the people who’ve made your vacation an experience to remember. Here’s how to practice good tipping etiquette on your next trip.
9 Ways to Maximize Your Savings at Target
Nothing feels better than a productive Target run. The red and white bullseye predated online shopping as the place to go for good products at reasonable prices. Even now, in the age of Amazon Prime, it’s not uncommon to walk out of Target spending way more than you planned on items you didn’t know you needed.
If you’re wondering how to save money at Target, finding the right Target discount or Target coupon can help maximize your savings. This is especially important when spending more is inevitable, such as during back-to-school season.
3 Cards We Love for Travel Hacking
Traveling is a rewarding experience that refreshes your day-to-day routine. The cost of traveling, however, can put a strain on your budget. Whether your wanderlust is calling for a week-long vacation or you’re traveling for business, you’ll want to make sure you’re saving money as much as possible on travel purchases.
Fortunately, there are several popular travel rewards credit cards on the market that can help curb travel expenses along the way. Here are three cards that we recommend, if you’re looking to get more value when planning your travel.
How Do Deactivated Checking Accounts and Debit Cards Affect Your Credit Score?
If you want to stay on top of your credit, it’s important to know how your actions affect your credit score. You might be thinking about ditching your current checking account or debit card for something better, and wonder how it affects your credit. Perhaps you’ve already closed your checking account and want to know if it’s had an impact at all on your credit score.
Read on to learn what affects your credit score and how deactivated checking accounts factor into it.