One Step Ahead is a concept that, if allowed it to come into your life, will give you the gift of freedom. As you will come to learn, One Step Ahead can take a thousand different forms, with the end result always the same—more freedom and more choice. What you do with that is always up to you.
Jan
19
You probably know that a debit card (a.k.a. check card) looks almost exactly like a credit card. While it may display a VISA or MasterCard logo on the front, it will also say Check Card or Debit somewhere on the front. When the card is swiped at the register, funds are verified and withdrawn electronically from your bank.
You also know that using a debit card is much faster and easier than writing a check, and that you won’t run the risk of incurring interest fees or late charges (unlike using a credit card). So how is this not the perfect solution for paying at the register? Here are five things that may surprise you about debit cards.
Jan
8
I did some unscheduled research today, thanks to encountering one of my all-time pet peeves in another personal finance blog. The author had written about being a smart car buyer, and a reader had responded with the “conventional wisdom” that says depreciation will cost thousands the minute you drive the new car off the lot.
My immediate urge was to fire off a rebuttal, but then my level-headed side said, “Hey, wait a minute. You’d better have some facts and figures to back up your argument.”
Well, I did the research and gave a short response without getting into too many numbers. I wanted to save those for you.
Jan
4
If you’ve resolved to do better at keeping your finances in top shape, I’ve got some great news. This is the time of year to stock up on office supplies because a lot of stores put them on sale.
As detailed in an earlier article, having the right tools is a great way to invest in yourself. The pittance you spend now will pay dividends starting today and lasting the rest of your life. If you like, think of it as sharpening your axe before heading into the forest.
