Finance

Many of us have found that binging Netflix and occupying our time with social media might not be the best way to take advantage of the present pandemic situation. For those of you who want to take this opportunity to invest in improving yourself, here are four ways to consider using your additional time towards something beneficial.

For many millions of Americans, this current financial crisis has brought home many fearful scenarios, as almost everyone has faced either a drop in their income or lost their main stream of income entirely. However, every period of difficulty brings the opportunity to make something good out of it. You might even be, for the first time in your life, truly assessing whether you understand the current state of your finances, and if you can manifest your goals into reality. Here are four of the best books on personal finance, retirement, and goal setting you can pick up today:

For millions of Americans and people all over the globe, this has been a period of not only incredible stress but also some much-needed self-reflection. While innovation and advances in digital and remote work have been changing the way our modern workforce communicates and accomplishes work, this current pandemic has potentially sped up the rate of which many jobs afterward will be accomplished either by employees working from their home, or will be outsourced to machinery and software completely.

The honeymoon period after you graduate from college is amazing, and for many people, the first time in your life you truly feel like a real, genuine adult. However, after the honeymoon phase comes the harsh truths about adulthood, especially when it comes time to come face to face with the state of your finances.

For anyone with kids, it's a known fact that entertaining the little ones doesn't come cheap. Trips to the store, the trampoline house, or the arcade can put a dent in your wallet. So what's a parent to do? Well, there are alternatives out there. If you're willing to do a little research and apply some imagination, you may find that the free options can be a hit too!

Taking real, intentional steps towards being responsible for your finances and financial future is a true test of maturity. Far too many Americans let their money lead them astray, instead of taking full command over how their money is utilized. I made many financial mistakes as a young person and going into adulthood, but luckily once I started making a full-time income, I started down the path to financial recovery and eventually towards financial prosperity.

Maybe you’re tired of hearing this, especially if you spent the last couple days or so watching Netflix non-stop, but if you’re financially comfortable and you find yourself with a bunch of extra time on your hands because of recent events, now might be the time to grow as a person to ensure the version of you that comes out of this pandemic is stronger than ever. That means stronger when it comes to your mind, body, soul, and especially your finances.

It's happening more and more. You receive a letter or an email notifying you that you've been pre-approved for an increase in your credit line. But you didn't ask for an increase; it was just offered to you -- out of the blue. What's going on here?

It's the number that bears your creditworthiness -- your credit score. And for tens of millions of Americans, their credit score is about to change. First, some background -- a Credit score is crucial for anyone seeking a loan.  Created and managed by FICO, credit scores attempt to put a number value on each potential borrower's creditworthiness.  To determine a credit score, FICO measures payment history, outstanding debt, length of credit history, and credit utilization.  From this data, the company produces a score ranging from 300 to 850 -- the higher the score, the more creditworthy the borrower.

Whether you listen at the gym, in your car, or riding the subway, podcasts are a great way to pass the time while also learning something new. One of the fastest-growing parts of the podcast industry is Business & Finance.  Need help with your personal finances?  There are podcasts for that.  Need to earn some extra income with a side gig?  There are podcasts for that, too.  But with so many to choose from, which one is right for you?

Banking no longer takes place only in whitewashed buildings with greek porticos. Increasingly, when consumers need to pay a bill, get a loan, or deposit a check, they are doing it in front of a computer or mobile phone screen. In 2020, digital and mobile banking will continue to grow, and these three innovations are likely to lead the way:

As my father always told me, “the best way to learn about money is to lose a lot of money.” While this is not advice I suggest people take literally, the wisdom is that through times of hardship, we become smarter and more resilient with time by learning from our mistakes. Whether you’ve lost a ton of cash or your debt is crushing you and your future financial prosperity, I can without a doubt tell you that you can pull yourself out of it, and you don’t need to buy anything in order to learn and apply this sage money wisdom.”

Your bags are packed, you've dropped your furry friends at "doggy daycare", and your neighbors have happily agreed to collect your mail when you're gone.   You're all set for that trip of a lifetime.  Then, it hits you -- do I need insurance? Ok -- let's be honest -- you probably don't think about that. For most people, insurance is not top of mind when there are delicious cocktails and sandy beaches only a plane ride away.

When the economy is booming, job openings are plentiful, and wages are on the rise. So why then are personal loans growing at such a rapid pace? According to the consumer credit rating agency Equifax, personal loans in 2019 grew 10% from the year before.  Experian and Transunion -- the two other major consumer credit rating agencies -- agree; personal loans are growing at a double-digit pace.

Running a small business poses many challenges -- paying suppliers, advertising, expanding, or improving an existing location.  And for those who own a small business, funding all these challenges can be overwhelming.  A small business loan can help.

So, you've decided to buy that new car.  Now you need to decide -- how am I going to pay for this? The answer?  It's time to get an auto loan. But with so many choices, how do you decide? Let's take some time to go through the options.

Now is the time to either freak out or take a sigh of relief when looking at your emergency savings. Reports from over the last couple of years have shown that 2 out of 3 Americans don’t have at least $1,000 dollars in savings. Now those who did not prepare are feeling the pain as we end the eleven-year bull market and face a very unpredictable recession.

If you're in the market for a personal loan, you are not alone. The personal loan market has surged recently, with the total outstanding debt now over $156 billion. And if you are considering a personal loan, it should be clear that there are more lenders than ever before. Fintech startups, online banks, and traditional lenders are all vying for market share in this growing space.

The beauty of the internet is that it is the ultimate leveling of the traditional market, meaning people of all skills have the ability to make ridiculous amounts of money online with nothing more than a good work ethic and a decent internet connection. Of all the ways to earn some good side-hustle money, basic reading and writing skills are probably all you need in order to start easily earning money online today!

It’s hard to go anywhere or listen to anything right now and not hear of the terrible wave of financial chaos sweeping across the country. From thousands of hard-working Americans being put out of work due to the threat of the Coronavirus or companies scrambling because of panic selling at the stock market, these Wall Street woes alone are making millions of Americans question as to whether they should put long-term investing towards their retirement aside in order to take care of the uncertain short-term challenges, or continue to be disciplined in their finances.