My 5 Favorite Bank Accounts

December 11, 2014

Last week, I wrote about my favorite credit cards for rewards. This week, let’s take on another unpopular financial institution: the bank. With typically poor customer service, rock bottom interest rates, and an endless stream of fees, most people probably look at their bank as a necessary evil. But if you’re willing to look beyond the local branch, there are some good banking accounts out there. Here are my personal favorites: (for the sake of avoiding repetition, all of these banks charge no maintenance or minimum balance fees) Continue reading “My 5 Favorite Bank Accounts”

Financial Twinkies

December 16, 2011

As a dad, one of my jobs is to make sure that my kids learn some foundational nutrition guidelines. So any time I see a story like this, that talks about how many of the popular cereals (some of which I really like…) have more sugar in them than a Twinkie, it catches my eye. Some of the cereals on the list (Honey Smacks, for instance, just sounds sweet and sugary, so that’s not a real shocker!) wouldn’t immediately conjure up thoughts of “I should worry about the amount of sugar in this.” The article goes on to say that, like we do in my family, especially since my middle child has Type 1 Diabetes, reading labels is important and it gives some tips on what to look for, as well as some alternatives to cereal that are fast and easy. I know I’m always looking for quick breakfast ideas before school for the kids, and work for me. Thinking about how reading the labels on food is important made me think about “reading the label” with some financial products, as well. Continue reading “Financial Twinkies”

Should I Pay Down My Debt or Save More for the Future?

March 10, 2011

There are questions in life where sometimes the best answer is “it depends” (how many times did we hear that when we were growing up?).  This is one of those questions, but I do have some solid guidelines that can help you make a decision on this question.

First, take a hard look at the interest rates you’re currently paying on your debt as well as what you are getting on your savings accounts.  In most cases Continue reading “Should I Pay Down My Debt or Save More for the Future?”