October 2017 Articles - CreditSoup.com Blog

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Articles in October 2017

Are premium credit cards worth it?

Jason Steele October 30, 2017 • 4 Minute Read
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Would you ever consider paying a $450 annual fee for a credit card? Perhaps you should, as premium credit cards can offer exceptional value, even when compared to their soaring annual fees. In fact, the market for premium credit cards is extremely hot.
4 Factors to Consider Before Taking Out a Personal Loan

Kat Tretina October 27, 2017 • 4 Minute Read
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I decided to take out a personal loan to wipe out my credit card debt. My new loan had a much lower interest rate, so more of my payments went towards the principal rather than interest. Taking out that loan helped me become debt-free much faster. While a personal loan was a smart choice for me, they’re not for everyone. Here’s what you need to consider before applying for a loan.
Use Travel Rewards to Stretch Your Honeymoon Budget to Paris and Beyond

Holly Johnson October 25, 2017 • 5 Minute Read
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With the help of certain rewards credit cards, you may be able to travel further, stay longer, and enjoy a heightened level of opulence you couldn’t afford otherwise. Want to learn more? Here are five strategies to help you stretch your honeymoon fund further than you ever dreamed:
Do You Really Need Gap Insurance?

Kat Tretina October 23, 2017 • 4 Minute Read
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If you’ve ever bought a car at a dealership, you may have felt pressured to add gap insurance to your contract. For some people, gap insurance may be a good deal. But for others, it can be a complete waste of money.
Why You Shouldn’t Care About Having an 850 Credit Score (and What to Do Instead)

Holly Johnson October 20, 2017 • 4 Minute Read
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If you’ve been trying to improve your credit, you probably already know that your FICO score is a numeric measure of your credit health. Depending on how your credit looks, your score will fall somewhere between 300 and 850, with a higher score representing better credit over all.
5 Ways to Make Money With Your Car

Kat Tretina October 19, 2017 • 3 Minute Read
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If your savings account is low and you need cash quickly, side hustles can be a smart way to make extra money. And, if you own a car, your earning potential can dramatically increase. Having access to a vehicle can help you earn more money in your spare time, so you can pay for unexpected expenses as they come up without using loans or credit cards.
Why You Shouldn’t Shop Online with Debit Cards

Kirsten Thuringer October 18, 2017 • 5 Minute Read
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Despite the convenience and popularity of debit cards, banks have long warned against using them for online purchases. While many consumers dismiss this advice as overly neurotic, there are plenty of valid reasons to keep your debit cards offline.
5 Reasons My Kids Aren’t “Too Good” for Community College

Holly Johnson October 17, 2017 • 5 Minute Read
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With college costs and student loan debt soaring, I want to help my kids make smart decisions regarding their future. Since our kids were babies, we’ve been socking money away in their 529 savings plans. By the time they reach college, I estimate they’ll both have $50,000 to pay for any school of their choosing.
Airline Credit Cards with No Annual Fee

Jason Steele October 13, 2017 • 4 Minute Read
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Nearly everyone would like to use their credit cards to earn a free flight, but unfortunately most airline credit cards charge an annual fee of $95 or more. Thankfully, there’s a small, but growing number of airline credit cards that have no annual fee.
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card: Earn Delta SkyMiles® without an Annual Fee

Holly Johnson October 9, 2017 • 6 Minute Read
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Recently, Delta Air Lines and American Express partnered up to offer a brand new co-branded credit card – the Blue Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express. While the signup bonus on this card isn’t anything to write home about, it does offer one benefit many rewards consumers look for – no annual fee. Beyond its lack of an annual fee, this card also offers an interesting earning structure that could work well for consumers with certain spending habits.
Free and Discounted Mental Health Resources

Kat Tretina October 5, 2017 • 3 Minute Read
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According to the National Institute of Mental Health, over 43 million adults in the United States have a mental illness. That number is approximately 18 percent of the nation’s population. Yet, mental illnesses are rarely talked about.
Lessons from Hurricane Harvey: Do You Need Flood Insurance?

Holly Johnson October 4, 2017 • 4 Minute Read
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As the water recedes in Houston and various waterfront communities across Texas, a startling financial reality continues to unfold. Where hurricane Harvey hit the hardest, 80 percent of homeowners and property owners lacked flood insurance coverage.
6 Things to Do If Your Identity Was Stolen

Kat Tretina October 3, 2017 • 3 Minute Read
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Finding out that someone has committed fraud in your name can be one of the most stressful moments of your life. You feel violated and anxious, not knowing what else the person might do in your name.