Key takeaways An automobile lease takeover’s benefits include allowing short-term access to the car, possibly lower monthly payments or even cash incentives from the original lessee. Before taking over a lease, consider drawbacks like added fees, more wear and tear on the car, mileage limitations and no chance of renegotiating…
Key takeaways Emergency savings should be kept somewhere that offers reasonable interest rates without making the money too hard to access. Accounts such as an online savings account and a money market mutual funds are a good place to keep your savings. Avoid keeping emergency savings in cash at your…
Key takeaways To avoid long call center holds, the best time to call customer service is at 7 a.m. Try using callbacks, customer service messages or chat as an alternative to being on hold with your bank. When you call your bank’s customer service line, you may be frustrated hearing…
Key takeaways If you can qualify and afford the monthly payments, transferring your auto loan to a credit card with a 0 percent introductory APR period could help you save on interest. If you can’t pay your entire loan balance off during the introductory period, you may face a higher…
Spotlight This Week
More ArticlesPersonal Finance
A perfect storm is brewing for millions of federal student loan borrowers, who may experience dramatic increases in their monthly…
As the Biden administration exits Washington, President-elect Donald Trump inherits a federal student loan system that looks much different than…
Republican lawmakers in Congress are circulating a number of proposals to cut federal spending as part of a massive bill…
Wildfires in southern California have burned at least 47,000 acres in the Los Angeles area—the largest blaze, the Palisades Fire,…
Featured Articles
Key takeaways Delta’s dedicated business travel branch, aptly named Delta Business, offers members a wide range of perks and benefits — especially if they carry a co-branded Delta SkyMiles credit card. These Delta SkyMiles credit cards give cardholders boosted rewards rates when it comes to…
Dept Managmnt
Key takeaways Car title loans are a convenient way to get fast cash if you own your vehicle outright. These loans are risky…
Banking
No matter how often bank regulators, international standard setters, rating agencies, or financial reform advocates warn banks that climate change is serious, the…
Credit Cards
Key takeaways The Southwest Companion Pass is attainable by using Southwest credit card welcome bonuses to meet the 135,000-point requirement. Applying for a…
All News
Key takeaways Vacant homes have a higher risk of damage or vandalism. Vacant home insurance can be included as an endorsement to a standard homeowners policy or purchased as a standalone policy, but it generally does not cover personal property or water damage. The criteria for a home to be…
Credit Sesame’s personal finance news roundup January 25, 2025. Stories, news, politics, and events impacting personal finance during the past week. Chicago bank first failure of 2025Consumer credit delinquencies still risingMedian weekly earnings growth outpaced inflation in 2024More consumers making minimum credit card paymentsMortgage rates fall a littleMortgage applications stableAll…
Key takeaways Precomputed car loans front-load interest payments much more than simple interest car loans, but you will still pay more interest at the beginning of a loan regardless of the way interest is calculated. While you’ll pay the same amount of interest over the full loan term, precomputed car…
Key takeaways The Southwest Companion Pass lets you designate a companion who can fly with you for free (minus taxes and fees) on any Southwest flight you book with cash or points for up to two years. You can score a Companion Pass by earning 135,000 qualifying points or taking…
Luis Alvarez/Getty Images Key takeaways The 60-day rollover rule typically kicks in when you transfer money between retirement accounts, but this applies to other types of accounts as well. Not rolling over your account within 60 days of receiving your distribution can cost you. A direct rollover is usually your…
Luis Alvarez/Getty Images Zelle is a mobile payment application that enables you to send money electronically from your bank account to the accounts of family members or friends. Conveniently, the money can appear in the recipient’s account almost instantly, and you don’t need to bother handling cash or writing a…
Key takeaways Your ability to pay rent with your credit card depends on your landlord’s rules. If your landlord doesn’t accept credit card payments directly, you might have to use a third-party service like Plastiq — but the processing fees involved will likely cancel out any rewards you earn, so…
Key takeaways Automatic transfers can help grow your savings with no additional effort on your part. There are different types of automatic transfers, including direct deposit split, recurring savings transfers and round-up savings programs. We all know the importance of saving money, but life’s daily demands can make it challenging…
Key takeaways Credit unions commonly offer high rates and low (or no) fees on deposit accounts, along with personalized service and community involvement. While credit unions often have eligibility requirements based on your geographic location or profession, many make it easy for anyone to join by making a small deposit…
Key takeaways Making savings goals is one way to keep your spending in check. Being specific and setting realistic expectations can guide you in the right direction. Automating your savings can help you meet your goals with no extra work required on your part. One of the basics of building…