Emmanuel Nyame

3 weeks ago | bankrate.com | Karen Bennett |Marc A. Wojno |Emmanuel Nyame

To use a debit card, you’ll need to open a checking account and may need to provide valid identification and a form of payment to do so. Debit cards are linked to checking accounts, so it’s important to keep track of your balance and avoid overspending. Credit cards can offer more fraud liability protection than debit cards, and cash can help you avoid overspending. Once upon a time, cash was king. These days, however, many prefer the convenience of using a debit card to make purchases.

1 month ago | bankrate.com | Andrew Dehan |Emmanuel Nyame

Because a mortgage is one of the most substantial financial commitments you’ll make in a lifetime, it’s important to do your due diligence and ensure you’ve investigated all of your options thoroughly. Before you choose a mortgage lender, though, you must shop around and compare multiple offers to get the best deal. Regular payments on the same sized loan can vary by $100 a month, according to a survey by the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau.

1 month ago | bankrate.com | Denny Ceizyk |Kellye Guinan |Emmanuel Nyame

72 percent of credit card debt holders make at least some effort to earn credit card rewards, according to data from a recent Bankrate survey. More than half (54 percent) of credit card debtors say it’s gotten harder to pay off their credit card debt in the past year. 41 percent of Americans who maxed out or came close to maxing out their cards saw their credit scores decline. 33 percent of U.S. adults have more credit card debt than emergency savings.

1 month ago | bankrate.com | Jim Probasco |Michele Petry |Emmanuel Nyame

“How much can I afford to pay for a house?” It’s a question all hopeful homebuyers ask themselves. Coming up with a monthly payment that works for you might be easy — simply subtract your monthly expenses from your gross monthly income. Unfortunately, that number might not align with the amount of money a bank will lend you. That’s because banks and other lending institutions have a formula they often use to determine what you can afford: the 28/36 rule. What is the 28/36 rule?

1 month ago | bankrate.com | Meaghan Hunt |Pippin Wilbers |Emmanuel Nyame

Student loans can be used to cover certain living expenses, but borrowers should use caution in doing so. Creating a budget and discerning wants from needs can help students to minimize debt and comply with borrowing guidelines. Misuse of student loan funds can result in serious consequences, including the future inability to borrow. Part-time employment, scholarships and grant opportunities can help cover expenses in place of student loans and won’t require repayment down the line.