100-Level (Novice)
Begin here if you are newer to personal finance and want to start on the right foot. You'll find a broad variety of informational articles and how-to instructions on topics such as creating a budget, getting out of debt, increasing your income, or saving money on housing costs.
The most recent articles are at the top of each category below.
Have a money question you'd like answered here? Send us a note!
Earn Money
What Are the Pros and Cons of Job Hopping?
How to Start a New Job Successfully
Biggest Online Interview Mistakes [+how to avoid them]
How Continual Professional Development Benefits You and Your Finances
Can Multiple Part-Time Jobs vs. a Full-Time One Make Sense?
What Are the Best Sites to Increase My Skills?
Should I Quit My Job If It Stresses Me Out?
What Are The Most Significant Employee Benefits?
Should I Get A Seasonal Job To Earn Extra Money?
Is Side Hustling To Make More Money Really A Good Idea?
What Is Job Burnout And What Should I Do If I Have It?
Going Freelance? Do These Things Before Diving In
I Hate My 9-5 Should I Quit To Freelance? [Yes & No]
How Can I Tell if a Work-From-Home Job is a Scam?
Invest Money
Should You Pay Down Debt First Or Start Investing?
How Can You Invest with Five Dollars (or less)?
Compound Interest: What It Is And Why You Need To Understand It
Save Money
Do Bill Negotiation Services Really Help?
How Can Community College Save You Money?
What are the Best Budget-Friendly Party Planning Tips?
What's the Best Way to Build a Budget-Friendly Work Wardrobe?
What Are Some Unique, Affordable Wedding Gift Ideas?
How Do I Start An Affordable Home Garden?
How Can Public Libraries Save You Money?
In What Ways Can You Cut Monthly Expenses And Reduce Spending?
Is Joining A Warehouse Club Worth the Money?
What Are the Best Ways to Save Money On Car Maintenance?
How Can You Save Money When You Move?
How Do I Prepare For My New Baby On A Budget?
What Is The Value In Buying An Extended Warranty?
What Are The Best Ways To Save Money On Dental Care?
How Can I Save Money On Prescription Medications?
Is Opening A Store Credit Card The Best Way To Save Money?
What Is The Best Way To Budget For A New Pet?
How Can I Save Money On Glasses, Contacts, And Eye Care?
How Can I Save Money But Have A Happy Halloween?
What Is The Best Way To Budget For The Holidays?
What Are The Best Ways To Furnish A Home On A Budget?
The Best Ways To Save On Back-to-School Shopping
How Can I Avoid Paying PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance)?
What Home DIY Projects Are The Best To Tackle?
How Can A Staycation Be Just As Good As A Vacation?
How Can A Flexible Spending Account For Child Care Save Me Money?
What Are The Best Ways To Start Building An Emergency Fund?
What Are Some Of The Best Reasons To Lease A Car?
Are Low-Cost Cell Phone Plans Really Worth the Savings?
How Do I Start Saving Money Living Paycheck to Paycheck?
Manage Debt / Credit
Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) Services: What they are and should you use them
Paying Off Debt? Be Wary of this Advice
Why Do Banks and Lenders Reduce Credit Limits?
Are Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Loans A Good Option For Borrowing Money?
What Are My Options If I Need To Borrow Money?
Predatory Loans: What Are They and How Do I Avoid Them?
How Does The Debt Collection Process Work?
How Do I Order, Read and Understand My Credit Report?
What is Revolving Credit and Is It Good To Use?
Why Is Taking On Debt (Even “Good” Debt) Such A Problem?
Is Cosigning For A Loan Ever A Good Idea?
What Should I Do About Fraudulent Credit Card Activity?
What Happens If I Cannot Pay My Hospital Bills?
Is It Smart To Freeze My Credit (And How Do I)?
In What Ways Can a Bad Credit Score Hurt You?
How Do I Take A Vacation While Still Paying Down Debt?
How Are Secured And Unsecured Debt Different?
How Can I Pay Off My Credit Card Debt For Good?
Money In Everyday Life
Setting Up Your Financial Life After College
Common Budgeting Mistakes and Tips to Avoid Them
Is Having Multiple Bank Accounts a Good Idea?
What Type of Budget Method is Best for Me?
What is a Class-Action Lawsuit and Should I Join One?
How Can You Make Managing Your Money More Fun?
How Do You Really Make A Budget Work?[Tips for Overcoming Obstacles]
What is Unclaimed Money & How Do I Find It?
What is the 52 Week Savings Challenge? [+ Ways to Spice it up!]
What Is A Money Story And How Can It Affect Your Finances?
What Should An Emergency Budget Include? [Adjusting Finances in a Time of Crisis]
How Can I Organize Google Drive? With These Easy Steps!
The Pink Tax: What Does It Cost Me and How Do I Fight It?
How Can I Practice Self-Care Affordably? [Budget-Friendly Ideas to Improve Your Wellbeing]
My Wallet Is Lost (Or Stolen) What Should I Do?
How Can You Use Values To Make the Best Money Decisions?
Important Financial Rules of Thumb: What To Know [And Ignore]?
What Apps Can Help Me Manage My Money Better?
Am I Frugal Or Cheap? [How To Tell And Why It Matters]
How Do You Know If You’re Financially Healthy?
Tipping: Should I Tip? When And How Much?
How Can I Save Money When Attending Weddings? (Without Being A Cheapskate)
How Can I Make (and Save) Money With Spring Cleaning?
What Common Tax Mistakes Are Made When Filing Returns?
How Do I Budget With A Variable Income?
What Savings Goals Should I Focus On First?
Is A Gym Membership Worth It Or A Waste Of Money?
Should I Make Resolutions, Set Goals, Or Build Positive Habits?
What's A Good Way To Get Started With Budgeting?
Are Gift Cards Or Cash The Better Gift?
Is A Credit Union The Best Place For My Money?
Is Cell Phone Insurance Really Worth The Money?
What Should I Watch Out For When Buying A New Car?
What Do New Changes to the Tax Code Mean for Women?
What Is My Net Worth And How Can I Grow It?
Money and Relationships
Getting Your Voice Heard in Your Family’s Finances
Hiding Money From Your Spouse/Partner – Is It Ever Okay?
What Financial Protections Do Stay At Home Parents Need?
How Can I Get Out of a Financially Abusive Relationship?
How Can I Find Financial Bliss With My Partner?
Should You Borrow Money From Friends or Family?
How Do I Maintain Friendships When Incomes And Money Values Differ?
How Do I Handle Office Gifting And Soliciting To Not Go Broke?
What is the Best Way To Share Expenses When Living Together?
Is The Savings From Living With Roommates Worth It?
What Are The Best Money Books For Teens And Young Adults?
What Money Games And Activities Are Best For Teens?
How Do I Budget When My Partner Is A Spender?
Should I Pay My Kids To Get Better Grades In School?
Housing
Common Home Buying Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Should You Move Back Home to Save Money?
Buying a House: What Do You Need To Consider and What Are the Best First Steps?
Starter House Or Forever Home? Considerations When Buying Your First Place
Insurance
Is Your Home Protected? What your insurance might not cover
Why Is It Important For Women To Get Life Insurance? [And How Much Should They Get?]
What Is Open Enrollment And Do I Need To Do Something?
What Coverage Do I Really Need When Insuring An Older Car?
Renters Insurance, Do I Really Need To Spend Money On It?
What Does My Car Insurance Cover?
Estate Planning
What Happens If I Die Without Creating A Will?
What Should People Know If Something Bad Happens To Me?
Why Is Having A Power of Attorney Document So Important?
Have a money question you'd like answered here? Send us a note!