All posts by Paula Bostwick

Learn how to negotiate lower credit card interest rates with proven scripts and tips to reduce your APR and save on credit card debt.

Last week I made a case for why you need to start investing, even if you have a fear of investing in small amounts because you do not think you have enough savings to do so. The other big fear I mentioned, but did not dive in to, involved the “how” of investing. Before going …

At a recent social gathering, I was introduced to a pediatric surgeon – a younger guy, probably in his early 30s. We got to chatting about what we do for a living, as strangers often do. After discovering that I was a personal finance writer, he offered the following admission and question: “I have a …

Fresh off of a second huge stock market rally from a frightening decline in the past year, I thought it would be timely to do a bit of reflecting. For those with very short memories (or news avoiders), the stock market took an absolute nosedive in January through early February as oil prices bottomed out …

I recently highlighted a few different alternatives to stocks and low-interest cash savings. One of the options I mentioned was a money market fund (also known as a money market mutual fund). Money market funds are often confused for similar-sounding money market accounts – a type of savings account that banks offer, but they are …

Long-time readers here know that personal savings rate is one of my favorite personal finance metrics (along with safe withdrawal rate, crossover point, net worth, and “usable net worth”, to name a few). No other metric is as apt at diagnosing your current “personal business” of household cash flow management. In its simplest form, Personal …

On September 18th, the U.S. Federal Reserve lowered its targeted Effective Federal Funds Rate (EFFR) – the rate at which banks borrow and lend each other money- by 0.5% from 5.25-5.50% to 4.75%-5.00%. The Fed also signaled a potential additional 0.5% rate decrease at the next Federal Reserve meeting, which takes place in early November. …

Compare debt snowball and avalanche methods to see which pays off $20K credit card debt faster and saves more interest for your situation.

Most people track net worth wrong. They add up their 401(k), their house equity, their car value, subtract credit card debt and student loans, and stare at a single number like it’s a report card for their life. That number, on its own, is almost useless. Here’s why: a net worth of $50,000 means very …