Saving
Best Ways to Save Money and Earn Interest Safely
The safest way to earn interest on savings is a high-yield savings account insured by the FDIC, currently…
Nathan Cross
Personal Finance Writer
Articles by Nathan Cross
Credit and Debt
How to Build Credit Without a Credit Card or Loan
You can build credit without a credit card using credit builder loans, rent reporting services, authorized user status,…
Credit and Debt
Debt Avalanche vs. Snowball: Which Payoff Method Wins?
The debt avalanche method saves the most money by targeting the highest interest rate first. The debt snowball…
Investing
Index Funds vs. ETFs for Beginners: Which Should You Pick?
For most beginners, ETFs are the better choice. They have no minimum investment, charge lower expense ratios, and…
Budgeting
Sinking Fund Categories for Beginners: How to Set Them Up
A sinking fund is money you save in advance for a known future expense. Unlike an emergency fund,…
Investing
How to Start Investing With $100 a Month Step by Step
Investing $100 per month works best inside a Roth IRA at Fidelity, Schwab, or Vanguard, buying a single…
Budgeting
How to Budget by Pay Schedule: Weekly, Biweekly, or Monthly
The best way to budget across any pay schedule is to list every monthly bill, divide each by…
Saving
HYSA vs. CD vs. Money Market: Which Is Best?
A high-yield savings account is the best choice for emergency funds and short-term goals because it offers competitive…
Credit and Debt
Why Your Credit Score Dropped After Paying Off Debt
Your credit score can drop after paying off debt because closing the account changes your credit utilization ratio,…
Investing
Roth IRA vs. 401(k): Which Should You Fund First?
Fund your 401(k) up to the employer match first — that is a guaranteed 50-100% return. Then max…