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MoneyTips Is your mortgage lender insisting you get mortgage insurance? In our exclusive video above, Mortgage Advisor Casey Fleming explains how your premiums will be calculated and shares tips on how to get the lowest premiums possible. The higher your credit score, the lower your premiums will be. You can check your credit score and read your credit report for free within minutes using Credit Manager by MoneyTips . Advertising Disclosure from MoneyTips https://ift.tt/3ddNVkv

MoneyTips What do you plan to do with your tax refund? Maybe you have your eye on upgrading your phone, buying a new computer, or splurging on a long overdue vacation. Have you considered using your tax refund to build your credit? Granted, credit building doesn't compare with lying on the beach enjoying the sunshine, but you'll get long-term benefits that go beyond good memories and a tan. Last year's federal tax refunds averaged $2,707, which could go a long way toward establishing new credit or restoring damaged credit. If you don't have any credit at all, your tax refund could help you get a secured credit card. Traditional credit cards require a minimum credit score, but secured credit cards usually don't because they're backed by a cash deposit that determines your credit limit. By making small regular charges and paying them off on time and in full each month, you'll b... from MoneyTips https://ift.tt/348i8k3

MoneyTips To paraphrase the old adage, there are only three absolutes in life: death, taxes, and the rise of scams during tax season. A major tax scam since 2013 involves phone calls by fictional IRS agents that demand immediate payment for alleged tax debts, threatening lawsuits or even jail time to those who refused to comply. The more sophisticated version of this includes spoofing a legitimate IRS phone number to fool caller-ID systems. The callers also have Social Security numbers and enough personal information to convince the taxpayer that the call is legitimate. From October 2013 to March 2020, the Treasury Inspector General's office identified 15,800 confirmed victims, who were swindled out of more than $80 million through this particular scam. Other scammers use a carrot instead of a stick. Another significant scam claimed that consumers had been awarded a government g... from MoneyTips https://ift.tt/2OLRvJl

MoneyTips When your identity is stolen, you have so many potential issues to deal with — changing passwords, closing accounts, dealing with fraudulent charges, and placing fraud alerts with the credit reporting agencies — that you may forget about potential tax fraud. Armed with your personal information, identity thieves can file a fraudulent tax return in your name and receive a refund before you realize your information has been compromised. Sometimes taxpayers are unaware of the breach until they have problems filing their taxes. What do you do if you fall victim to tax-related identity theft ? Start by responding to any IRS notice as instructed. Your first hint that there is an issue could be a notice from the IRS asking you to verify your identity because of a suspicious tax return with your Social Security number. Remember that almost all legitimate IRS contact will be through a letter in the ... from MoneyTips https://ift.tt/2RXQTSS

MoneyTips By Andrea Woroch Money is a top concern for most Americans these days and, with so much uncertainty still ahead, it's important to create financial security for yourself and your family as we enter into this new year. Improving your finances may seem like a daunting process, but getting started is half the battle. Here are five money moves you can tackle now to get the momentum going. 1. Plug budget leaks. Considering that 35% of Americans have less savings now than before the coronavirus took hold of our country, according to a recent survey from Bankrate.com, finding areas in your budget to rebuild savings should be a priority for the new year. Rebuilding an emergency fund may seem impossible now, but you may be surprised ho... from MoneyTips https://ift.tt/3sJkfoh

MoneyTips Some people swipe credit cards haphazardly during the holidays and accrue debt with little thought to the aftermath. It is also common for folks to blow their year-end bonuses on big ticket items before ever receiving them. People get swept up in the emotions of the holidays without considering the financial ramifications. In an effort to help curve these spending habits and assist folks in eliminating debt in 2016, MoneyTips took to Blab.im on December 18th for the latest installment in the MoneyTips Finance Friday discussions. Host Justin Simon was joined by sage financial experts Miranda Marquit and John Schneider of the Debt Free Guys . Watch the full replay below for all of their insights. Miranda Marquit is the financial blogging... from MoneyTips https://ift.tt/3bl4VaY

MoneyTips Some people swipe credit cards haphazardly during the holidays and accrue debt with little thought to the aftermath. It is also common for folks to blow their year-end bonuses on big ticket items before ever receiving them. People get swept up in the emotions of the holidays without considering the financial ramifications. In an effort to help curve these spending habits and assist folks in eliminating debt in 2016, MoneyTips took to Blab.im on December 18th for the latest installment in the MoneyTips Finance Friday discussions. Host Justin Simon was joined by sage financial experts Miranda Marquit and John Schneider of the Debt Free Guys . Watch the full replay below for all of their insights. Miranda Marquit is the financial blogging... from MoneyTips https://ift.tt/3bl4VaY

MoneyTips You're determined to make 2021 the year you raise your credit score. Why not get off to a good start with these five New Year's resolutions to send your credit score in the right direction? 1. Resolve to Check Your Credit Report – All your efforts will go to waste if identity thieves have already ruined your credit by opening accounts in your name and racking up unpaid bills. Check your credit report and look for any errors, rogue accounts, or fraudulent charges on your existing accounts. Address any problems as quickly as possible with the credit reporting agencies to limit the damage. Monitor your credit score regularly to gauge your progress and follow up with at least one more credit report check during the year. You can check your credit score and read your credit report for free within minutes by

MoneyTips Can you avoid a New Year's Day hangover? We're not referring to the traditional hangover that comes from too much alcohol, but the financial hangover that comes from too many charges on your credit card. Of course, you can avoid a New Year's credit hangover – especially with some help. Consider these eleven ways to keep holiday purchases under control. 1. Set a Holiday Budget – Review your overall budget , and then decide how much you can afford to spend for holiday gifts given your other expenses (including end-of-year expenses like property taxes and annual subscriptions). Don't let gift expectations drive your budget – let your budget set gift choices. 2. Make a Gift List – Divide up your gift budget among all your recipients and find gifts that fit within the desired budget. Start early, so you have time to look for the best pri... from MoneyTips https://ift.tt/2zTPhzM

MoneyTips Practice Safe Shopping What does Black Friday protection mean to you? Maybe it's helmets and elbow pads as you battle your fellow consumers for doorbuster deals. Maybe it's protecting your space in line. Maybe it should be taking precautions to prevent identity theft. The holidays represent peak season for identity thieves – probably because there are more transactions and more opportunities for theft. According to 2018 data compiled by ACI Worldwide, the number of "buy online, pick up in-store" (BOPIS) transactions between Thanksgiving Day and December 31 increased by 20% over 2017, while attempted fraud over the same period increased by 13%. Reduce your chances of identity theft over the Thanksgiving weekend by following these common-sense methods for practicing "safe shopping." Seven Ways to Thwart Black Friday Fraudsters 1. Protect Your Purse/Wallet – from MoneyTips https://ift.tt/2TACOJQ

MoneyTips Home sellers and their agents may be limiting their potential base of buyers by ignoring a growing pool of them. Mortgage industry software company Ellie Mae reports that loans acquired through the Veterans Affairs (VA) Department account for 10% of all primary insured home loans. It is easy to see why VA backing is preferable from a buyer's point of view. If you qualify, you can purchase a house with no money down (up to a particular loan limit that varies by market) and no Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) requirement. Yet, sellers shy away from buyers with VA loans, and seller's agents may serve as a screen to exclude VA-backed offers from ever reaching the seller. Why is this so? It makes little sense, since the risk of default is borne by the lending institution and not the buyer. In addition, foreclosures ... from MoneyTips https://ift.tt/2yFXMQq

MoneyTips By Andrea Woroch The upcoming holiday season may have you feeling joyous and anxious at the same time thanks to all the seasonal expenses, gift purchases and travel costs you will take on in several short weeks. Those who don't prepare ahead may find themselves relying heavily on credit cards and, ultimately, be in debt come January. In fact, a survey shows Americans racked up an average of $1,230 of debt over the holidays in 2018, which they expected to takeat least three months to pay off. Some consumers only planned to make minimum payments, which means they'd be paying off that holiday debt for years to come. Given today's high interest rates, taking on credit card debt over the holidays can become increasingly hard to manage and add up in fees. Luckily, you still have time to prepare ahead and line up your finances in time for the holiday. Just follow these seven money moves to avoid debt this jolly season. 1. Book travel now. Typic... from MoneyTi...

MoneyTips Gone are the days of having to call a 1-800 number to interact with customer service teams. With the rise of social media, support is often available around the clock. If you've ever called out a company on social media for bad service, you know they can be quick to respond. Don't be in a rush to dive in and hand over your details – a relatively new scam called “angler phishing” targets social media users by impersonating legitimate support accounts. You could be at risk. What Exactly is Angler Phishing? Picture this: your bank just bounced a check they shouldn't have, and now your insurance company is claiming you missed a payment . Understandably, you're steamed. You tag your bank in a scathing social media post about the terrible service. Next thing you know, the bank's support account responds inviting you to click a link to chat with them directly to resolve the... from MoneyTips https://ift.tt/2EOH17d

MoneyTips You learned a lot at school. But did your teachers or professors educate you on how to use credit, protect your identity, or maintain a good credit score? Sadly, personal finance education does not rank up there with reading, writing, and 'rithmetic. According to research from the credit bureau Experian, more than one in three Generation Zers (those born roughly between 1997 and 2012) are interested in personal finance topics. Among recent high school graduates, more than three in four agree that a financial management class should be compulsory in schools. Give your kids a better start than you had by signing them up for educational resources from the Get Smart About Credit campaign, an annual initiative sponsored by the American Bankers Association (ABA) Community Engagement Foundation. About 6,000 bankers participated last year. They delivered educational presentations to almost 156,000 teenagers in schools nationwide, covering topics like credit cards, budget... ...

MoneyTips Your checking account is a tempting target for thieves. You must stay alert for the many varieties of checking account scams – but first, you must be able to recognize a scam when you see one. Have you ever been targeted by any of the scams below? Free Prizes – This scam usually starts with a postcard or a telephone call notifying you of a prize that you have won. If you respond positively, the telemarketer will ask you for your checking account number, either for verification or to use for direct deposit. Once they have your account number, scammers will be able to apply a "demand draft", allowing them to withdraw funds directly from your account without your signature. Variations of this theme exist, such as a special credit card offer that applies even if your credit history is suspect. In all cases, the end result is the same – the telemarketer will ask for your checking account information. Don't give it to them. Compromise... from MoneyTips http...

MoneyTips You've taken steps to avoid identity theft, and maybe even applied a credit freeze to your credit report. You can sit back and relax, right? Wrong. You may have prevented identity thieves from opening new accounts in your name, but have you kept your existing credit accounts secure? As opposed to identity theft where your information is used to create unauthorized accounts in your name, credit card fraud refers to a single existing account. A thief has stolen your card or has the necessary card information to make unauthorized purchases on that account. How do you prevent credit card fraud? Here, we offer thirteen possible precautions: 1. Avoid P... from MoneyTips https://ift.tt/2upmX5x

MoneyTips You've taken steps to avoid identity theft, and maybe even applied a credit freeze to your credit report. You can sit back and relax, right? Wrong. You may have prevented identity thieves from opening new accounts in your name, but have you kept your existing credit accounts secure? As opposed to identity theft where your information is used to create unauthorized accounts in your name, credit card fraud refers to a single existing account. A thief has stolen your card or has the necessary card information to make unauthorized purchases on that account. How do you prevent credit card fraud? Here, we offer thirteen possible precautions: 1. Avoid P... from MoneyTips https://ift.tt/2upmX5x

MoneyTips Equifax... Uber... Target... Under Armour.... The list of data hacks keeps growing and growing, increasing the odds that someone will steal your identity. Last year, this digital epidemic affected 14.4 million Americans. But the more you know, the better you can protect yourself. We conducted an exclusive MoneyTips Google survey in 2018 to see how much people knew about identity theft and the credit bureaus. Do you know all the answers? We asked people if they knew which data hack was the largest. A whopping 9 out of 10 didn't know or chose incorrectly. Reader, care to guess, before we reveal the answer? Using weighted averages, more than half of us (50.9%) admitted that they had no idea which hack was the worst of the century. More than 1 in 3 (34.4%) guessed the from MoneyTips https://www.moneytips.com/what-we-do-not-know-about-identity-theft-can-hurt-us/786

MoneyTips By Roshni Chowdhry, head of customer experience at SafetyNet Of the roughly 17 million Americans currently enrolled in college, 74 percent qualify as what we used to call " nontraditional " students: One in five is 30 years or older. About half don't rely on their parents for money. One quarter are caring for a child. 47 percent attend college part time at some point. 25 percent took a year off between high school and college. 44 percent have parents without a bachelor's degree. In other words, if you're a college student today, there's a good chance you're not the Hollywood stereotype of an 18-year-old on your own for the first time. Still, whether it's your first year o... from MoneyTips https://ift.tt/2N6Xuoi

MoneyTips With the school season starting again, education is job number one for students and parents alike. A proper education includes an education in personal finance, and one of the best ways to start is to learn how to protect yourself against scams. You can and should learn fast, too, because scams can become more common during the back-to-school buying season. Here are some practical suggestions on how to avoid credit and debit card fraudsters: Only patronize known retailers. Avoid jackpot online deals that offer items like $3,000 laptops for $400. These are often scams. "Good PC hygiene" cannot be overstated for every handheld device, laptop, and phone. Anti-virus and anti-malware programs are key to staying safer online. Avoid pooling or sharing credit card information in a dorm setting. There is no reason for students to share... from MoneyTips https://ift.tt/2MRsQPp