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Some of the links in this post are from our sponsors. We provide you with accurate, reliable information. Learn more about how we make money and select our advertising partners . Aaron Atkins is tired of paying rent. He lives in Phoenix, Arizona, where the rent just keeps going up. You know how it is. It’s like that everywhere, but especially in Phoenix. “It’s really bad here. I’ve finally gotten serious about buying a house,” said Atkins, 37, who currently rents an apartment with a roommate. He figures he’d do better and get more living space by spending money on a mortgage instead of rent. He immediately had a problem: His credit was pretty lousy. He had a low credit score of only 520. A previous relationship “really wrecked my world, in terms of finances,” Atkins said. Realtors told him that if he wanted to buy a home, especially in this real estate market, then he’d better improve his credit. That’s when he found Credit Sesame , a free website that helps people manage their cre...

Some of the links in this post are from our sponsors. We provide you with accurate, reliable information. Learn more about how we make money and select our advertising partners . It’s confirmed. You aren’t going crazy — inflation is. And if you’re like most of us, your wages aren’t keeping up with this historic inflation we’ve been facing during the pandemic years. Things will eventually settle down as supply will inevitably close ground on demand, though that’s little comfort if 2022’s wild economy is poised to set you back or knock you off track. Gloves up! We’ve got five tips to help you absorb some of the impact, roll with the punches and make it through 2022 in good financial shape: 1. Stick to a Budget If you don’t already have one, a budget might be the single most impactful thing you can do to weather this economy. Following a budget doesn’t mean you’re bad at managing your money. Budgets help you manage your money more efficiently and spend more money on the things that ...

There have always been long-standing rules about real estate ownership, including the three most important ones: location, location, location. But the one constant about real estate investing is that nothing ever stays the same. Even the location rule, because preferred locations change from year to year, and certainly from generation to generation. The first two years of pandemic life saw the real estate market bend strongly in the seller’s direction, as available properties were few and interested buyers were plentiful. There is some belief that, in 2022, more real estate will become available as Millennials make long-term decisions about their homes that they deferred during the pandemic. As we approach 2022, it’s time to consider what the experts expect from the real estate market in the new year. 2021 Trends We’ll Be Up Against First, a little background. Since the arrival of the coronavirus, the real estate market influence has leaned heavily toward the seller and sometimes...

Some of the links in this post are from our sponsors. We provide you with accurate, reliable information. Learn more about how we make money and select our advertising partners . Do you remember why you chose your current checking account? If you got started early, your parents might have helped you open a kids’ checking or savings account at their bank’s branch. Or maybe you went with the credit union down the street from your work after getting your first W2 job. Whatever the reason, location likely played a big part. Thankfully, you’re no longer confined to a financial institution for a checking account because of its proximity to you — or a brick-and-mortar site altogether, for that matter. From higher interest rates to better benefits, it pays to expand your search beyond your local bank or credit union these days. Here’s how to choose the right checking account for you. 10 Best Checking Accounts for January 2022 Account Rewards ATM Access Fees Chime Spend...