To make the most of your buying power, consider trade-offs. Suppose that you buy a sound system with a credit card instead of waiting until you have saved enough money to pay cash for it. You get the pleasure of having the sound system now. However, you may pay a higher price in the long run because of fees and credit card interest rates the credit card company charges for use of the card. (more…)

Banking in America began in 1791, soon after the United States declared independence. Congress established the nation’s first central bank with eight branches. Today, with more than 11,000 banks, 2,000 savings and consumer credit loan associations, and 12,000 credit unions in the United States, you have a wide array of financial services from which to choose. A trip to the bank may be a visit to an automated teller machine (ATM) in the mall or a quick look at your savings account balance on the Internet. Your choice of financial services will depend on your daily cash needs and your savings goals. (more…)

Paying cash means making some lifestyle sacrifices. However it has a concrete financial benefit: It will keep you from drowning in a sea of red ink on your voyage to the new economic world. But it also has an added emotional benefit: It adds meaning and value to the things you do buy. (more…)

Remove every credit card from your wallet, including gasoline cards. There’s absolutely no reason you need to carry them around. The only things they do is make it easier for you to ignore prices and buy things you don’t need and can’t afford.

Get a pay-as-you-go charge card, like American Express, if you don’t already have one. Keep that with you in case of emergencies. Since you have to pay the entire bill when it arrives at the end of the month, you’ll soon be cured of any mistaken belief it’s just like a credit card. Start paying cash for your gasoline and you’ll soon discover which station has the lowest prices. (more…)