Sebastian Oliveira

Washington, D.C., United States

Featured in: Favicon

usnews.com

Articles

Here's How Much Money You Need in Your Savings Account

3 days ago | usnews.com | Jessica Merritt |Sebastian Oliveira |Mark Evitt

Key Takeaways Though it depends on your financial situation, you should try to have enough savings to cover three to six months of expenses in case of an emergency. Stashing 20% of your monthly income is a good way to start building your savings. You can continue to grow your savings by using a budget, automating your savings and managing your debt.
How to Use PayPal

1 week ago | usnews.com | Dawn Papandrea |Sebastian Oliveira |Mark Evitt

Key Takeaways PayPal is the most popular digital payment system in the world, mostly used to send and receive money or make online purchases. Setting up a PayPal account is easy and free, and can be accessed online or via the PayPal app. PayPal also has other features and services, including Pay in 4, business accounts and its own debit and credit cards. What Is PayPal?
How to Use Venmo

1 week ago | usnews.com | Dawn Papandrea |Sebastian Oliveira |Mark Evitt

Key Takeaways Venmo is one of the most popular payment apps in the United States. You can use Venmo to send and receive cash from friends, or even make some purchases with participating merchants or with the Venmo debit card. The app has a social media feed component that makes it popular with younger users. Part payment app, part social media, Venmo offers a convenient way for friends to request and send payments.
Can I Keep Transferring Credit Card Balances? Yes, but Proceed With Caution

2 weeks ago | money.usnews.com | Rebecca Safier |Sebastian Oliveira |Ray Frager

Getty ImagesThere’s a lot of information available online for comparing balance transfer credit cards. Key Takeaways Balance transfers can help you avoid or reduce interest while you pay off credit card debt. Multiple balance transfers can be a useful strategy for debt repayment, but watch out for high fees and a potentially negative impact on your credit. Rather than relying too heavily on balance transfers, focus on paying off debt by a certain date and curbing overspending habits.
What You Need to Know About Bridge Loans

3 weeks ago | money.usnews.com | Sarah Brodsky |Sebastian Oliveira |Ray Frager

Getty ImagesYou'll have to make interest-only monthly payments on the bridge loan until you sell your old home. Key Takeaways A bridge loan is a type of short-term financing that can help you buy a new home before selling your current home. Bridge loans are generally more expensive than first-lien mortgages, and qualifying can be harder. Before deciding on a bridge loan, consider alternatives like a HELOC or personal loan.
This Unusual Loan Can Help You Boost Your Credit Score

3 weeks ago | money.usnews.com | Bob Musinski |Melanie Lockert |Sebastian Oliveira |Whitney Blair Wyckoff

Key Takeaways A credit-builder loan helps consumers with a limited or blemished payment history establish credit. Customers make monthly payments, which are reported to credit bureaus. At the end of the term, they receive the loan proceeds. Credit-builder loans aren't widely available at major banks, but there are a range of options at credit unions and online lenders. Building a credit history isn't as simple as securing a conventional loan and paying it off.
How to Set Up Direct Deposit at Your Bank

1 month ago | usnews.com | John Egan |Sebastian Oliveira |Mark Evitt

Key Takeaways Direct deposit is a type of electronic money transfer that automatically sends funds from a payer to your bank account. You can set up direct deposit with an employer or government entity by obtaining, completing and submitting a direct deposit authorization form. Direct deposit provides quick access to funds and less risk of theft or loss than paper checks.
How to Know When You Should Pay for a Better Credit Card

1 month ago | money.usnews.com | Lee Huffman |Sebastian Oliveira |Ray Frager

Getty ImagesBefore upgrading your credit card, make sure you spend some time researching your options. Some of the links on this site contain offers from our partners. The offers in this article may be expired or currently unavailable. Key Takeaways If you are looking to upgrade your credit card, research your options before contacting your issuer to see which cards you are eligible for. You may want to upgrade your credit card if you want to earn more rewards or access better benefits.
Breaking Down When to Use a Cashier's Check or a Money Order

1 month ago | usnews.com | Ellen Chang |Casey Bond |Sebastian Oliveira |Mark Evitt

Key Takeaways A cashier's check is a check written and signed by your bank, usually used to verify funds for larger purchases. A money order is an alternative to cash or personal checks that you can purchase from convenience stores, post offices and banks. Cashier's checks offer extra security for larger amounts, while money orders tend to be more accessible with lower fees.