If you are concerned about protecting your valuables, here are several suggestions to consider for protecting them from would-be thieves: Rent a safe deposit box. It may make sense to keep seldom worn jewelry, coins and other important documents in a traditional safe deposit box at your local bank. But beware if you go this route,…

What everyone should know   Negotiating to decrease or zero out a credit card bill or other loan balance can help relieve a tough financial situation, but it can also give way to an unexpected tax bill. Here’s a quick review of various debt cancellation situations and how they impact your your taxes.   Consumer…

Small payments can save you big money when paying off your mortgage. With 30-year fixed rates reaching levels not seen in 25 years, adding even just a little extra to your monthly payment can significantly cut down on the interest you pay over the life of your mortgage. Here are several different scenarios to illustrate…

It’s easy to feel secure about the money you deposit with a bank you’ve come to trust. After all, most banks and credit unions offer certain levels of protection against fraudulent transactions. Banks, however, won’t protect you against all types of fraud. Here’s a look at the protections that banks and credit unions usually provide…