Tag: Finance 101
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When it Comes to Investing, Confidence is Key
Here’s why you should care about investing: because stashing your money under a mattress is ridiculous. Not only because it doesn’t make you money, but because you actually lose money. Yes, you lose money. No, I’m not surmising that a robber will come and steal your cash—but a little thing called “inflation” will. Even if you are more sophisticated than…
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7 Ways to Spot Unwanted Charges on Your Credit Card
We talk a lot around here about monitoring your spending for your wallet’s sake—but it’s a security thing, too. Sometimes, errors happen by accident: the store clerk entered the wrong amount before swiping your card, for example. Other times, it’s flat out fraud by a thief who has gotten their hands on your credit card number. No…
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If You Only Do 6 Things to Protect Your Financial Future, Do These!
As Rich Bitches, we love to plan: our outfits, our weekends, and (of course) our killer career moves. But we’re not always as on-the-ball about planning for our finances down the road. Luckily, you don’t even need to get into a 401(k) debate (in fact, I argue that those aren’t for everyone!). Just try these…
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How Often Should You REALLY Be Checking Your Budget?
A recent study showed that 19% of women think of sex daily, if not several times per day, and two-thirds of women surveyed were thinkin’ about it at least on a weekly basis. If only we were thinking about our money that much! It might not be as sexy, but tracking your finances is crucial. It’s…
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New Year New You Financial Bootcamp
According to the recent Millennial Mindset on Money Survey conducted by Capital One, more than a quarter (27%) of Millennials say that establishing a solid nest egg would give them the biggest feeling of financial accomplishment. And in order to get that nest egg growing, you’ve got to have your finances in order, right? With…
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How To: Recover From a Spending Hangover
It’s an easy thing to do: blow your entire month’s budget on holiday shopping, festive outfits, and dining out. Trust me: I’ve been there, too. It wasn’t until I had graduated from college and landed my dream job at CNN that I got my first credit card. I know, I know…I was a bit behind…
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How To: Organize Your Paper Trail STAT!
If you’re a cash-only person and you don’t hang on to old bills, stop it! Ask for receipts to help you track where the money is really going. And don’t crumple them and toss them into your purse, only to find them smooshed up with gum at the bottom of your purse (not that I would know anything about that…). At…
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3 Things You Don’t Know About Your Income (But Should)
Money might not be so easy to earn, but it is easy to calculate. What comes in is your “income” (duh). But, as you’ve probably noticed from your pay stubs, the money you bring home isn’t the actual salary you signed up for. So here are three things to know NOW about how much money you’re actually making:…
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What’s the Deal With Those Banking Booths, Anyway?! (And How to Choose One That’s Right For You)
If you’ve been getting the feeling that those pop-up banking booths are everywhere on college and university campuses lately, you’re not seeing things. Banks prey upon college students. Why? Because they’re potential new customers who are still building brand loyalty and forming their financial identities. Just don’t give in to the pressure: as with Biology…
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3 Things You Should Know About Retirement…NOW
You know you should get going on saving for retirement, but you think “there’s time.” Well, maybe. But that depends on what kind of life you want to live when you retire. Want to take that trip to Fiji? Or are you good just doing crossword puzzles and living at your grown kid’s house? The answers are yours, and…
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7 Bitches Who Are Always Broke
Are you one of these people, or know someone who is? Let me be clear. Being a Rich Bitch is good. (Rich Bitches are the good kinda bitches, like Glinda in The Wizard of Oz, not the bad bitches like the Wicked Witch of the West.) It’s about empowerment. It’s about taking control. Being a…
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3 Financial Tricks to Watch Out For
True story: I didn’t check my credit report until I was 25 years old. Not one single time. As a budding financial journalist reporting from the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, I knew a thing or two about credit and I knew that a credit report was like a financial report card of how…
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The Case for Your Morning Pumpkin Spice Latte
If there is one investment I suggest over and over again, it’s this: invest in yourself. Of course, bonds and mutual funds can be great ways to grow your money over time. But few investments will pay dividends down the road like investing in you. And that’s why I make the case for your morning…
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Are You a Financial Scaredy-Cat?
On my very first day reporting from the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, I wasn’t nervous. I had done all of my homework, researched the market trends for that year, month, week, and day and outlining all of my talking points. I was primed to show those Wall Street boys who was boss. But…
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What You Don’t Know About Student Loans…But Should
Student loans. You likely have them; consider yourself extremely lucky if you don’t. Student loans are also technically considered “good debt” because in taking them out, you’re investing in yourself, which, in theory, will give you the tools to pay the debt off many times over. Think of student loans as the avocados of the…
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The “C” Word: 5 Things to Know About Your Credit Score
It’s like an old boyfriend: can’t live with it, can’t live without it. “It” is your credit score, and if you plan to borrow money at some point in life—whether for a car loan, mortgage, or student loan—you’d be wise to keep an eye on it. Wait, what is a credit score, you ask?? Let…
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Your Credit: Which Score is ACTUALLY the Loneliest Number?
While your credit score ranges from 300 to 850, there is one exception to the rule: a credit score of 0. Yep, goose egg. Nada. You get one of these from having no credit history: no lines of credit, no debt, likely paying for everything with just cold hard cash. Sure, you get the “I just use cash” badge of…
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6 Common What-Ifs for Newbie Investors (and How to Handle ’em)
You want to be emotional? Be that way about your man, your children, yourself, your shoes—anything but your money. Here are some common fears when it comes to investing, and how to stare them down: What if I become obsessed? When I first started investing with a brokerage account, I found myself checking it 24/7 (just like…
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How to Invest in Real Estate (Without Owning Actual Property!)
Real estate is either a great investment or a terrible investment, depending on who you ask. It all depends on what you are buying and where you are buying it. Whether you buy a property with hopes of selling it for a profit or renting it out as a commercial space, it’s dicey as a business endeavor. There are…
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3 Ways to Slay Your Debt Once and For All
I was so freaked out that I would be broke forever when I was 20 years old making 20k/year and in almost as much credit card debt. But, I got through it and so can you. And, I’ll tell you: if I can do it, being first-generation American and having zero knowledge of finance at…
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What the Heck is the Difference Between a 401(k) and an IRA, Anyway??
Both a 401(k) and an IRA are great retirement vehicles, but here’s the deal: there’s no one way to get to your dream Endgame. Sure, the 401(k) has long been touted as the best way to save, but it may not be for you! Time to rethink conventional wisdom and think for yourself. First, you…
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3 Pieces of Unconventional Financial Advice You Can’t Live Without
It’s time to rethink convention and learn to think for yourself. Stop being brainwashed and start making financial decisions for you. Conventional Wisdom #1: Invest in a 401(k). Period. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: it is not gospel that you should invest in a 401(k). To clarify, that doesn’t mean it’s…
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How to Handle a Credit Card Dispute Like a Pro
We’ve all been there. You’re going through your online banking statement like the responsible Rich Bitch that you are, when WHAMM-O: you catch a strange charge for $42.50 to some company that you’ve never even heard of. It’s easy to panic, but if you want to see your money again, DON’T. Try these five steps…
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HELP — I Can’t Afford My Taxes!
So you’ve teased out all possible deductions, sidestepped all of the myths out there and filed your taxes, ON TIME. Go you! Now all you need to do is sit back and wait for your fat refund to come back…right? Well, maybe wrong. If you’re like 2 out of every 10 Americans this year, you’re not…
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Don’t Miss These 3 Common Tax Deductions!
YES YOU CAN – get a real tax refund this year. But you have to know how to play the game, and that means going for every possible deduction that makes sense for you. Here’s what to look out for to get the most out of your taxes this year: Child and Dependent Care Credit.…
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5 Common Tax Myths, Debunked
“Taxes” isn’t a 4-letter word, but it might as well be. Yes, it happens every year, but every year seems to feel more confusing and complicated. You’d think we would “know better” as we do our taxes more often, right? Stop breaking out into hives one of these days? Well, chances are, won’t ever feel…
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5 Corporate Scams You Should Slay Today
Even financial experts like myself can fall pray to scams. A few years ago, I was doing research on the best ways to rehab your credit score. I signed up for a few different websites to check my score online…but one in particular, freecreditreport.com, made it so difficult to cancel that before I knew it…
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7 Ways to Boost Your Finances for Under $7
It can feel daunting trying to tackle those financial New Years resolutions, and the last thing you want to do is blow a ton of money getting your budget organized and under control. But sometimes it’s the little (and inexpensive!) things that can make a huge impact. Try these 7 nifty ideas for a new…