You can pay later for goods and services using a credit card, which is one of the main reasons everybody wants one. Moreover, converting high-volume payments into short-term loans that accrue monthly interest is possible. But it would help if you were mindful of its use, as questionable card practices can push you further into debt. Here are the eight bad habits you should break while using a credit card. Not paying the total amount Delaying the full payment only adds to more spending on the accrued interest. It also affects your credit score and can potentially damage your credit history for any future loans. Making late payments Another bad credit card habit is paying past the due date, as the bank will levy penalties and extra fees. The rate of interest on future payments also increases. Overspending through installments Banks charge a nominal interest for every installment, so the bill does not seem like much when you first look at it. But multiple loans can add up due to overspending on installments and severely pressure your planned finances. Not using your card regularly Not using your credit card is a habit as bad as using it too often. Unused credit cards score low in the credit rating system, so banks or credit unions may cancel such cards due to inactivity.

Filing tax returns is one of the most important financial tasks of the year, and if you are distracted during the filing process, you could make mistakes. Any lapse in the filing process can make you miss out on larger refund claims and make you pay additional tax. Further, errors in the paperwork can result in added interest, penalties, and audits from the Internal Revenue Service. So here are tax filing mistakes to avoid: Missing deadlines The most common tax filing mistake to avoid is missing the return filing deadline. This can mean a 5% penalty on the amount due for each month or each partial month the return is delayed. The maximum penalty is capped at 25% of the total due amount. If you are about to miss the deadline, you can request an extension by filing Form 4868 before the tax-filing deadline, and you will receive more time to complete the paperwork. Incorrect Social Security Number Social Security Numbers are used by the IRS to cross-reference information collected from an employee against that received from the employer, bank, and other establishments. So accidentally typing an incorrect SSN can disrupt the process and result in a rejection of returns.

If you’ve visited a bank or credit union for opening an account, you’ll know that there are multiple options to choose from. Each of these accounts has unique benefits and features that distinguish them from the rest. Among the types of available accounts at a bank are checking accounts. Once opened, you can use a checking account for deposits and withdrawals. Here’s some other important information to know before using a checking account. Purpose of a checking account Most checking accounts allow daily deposits and withdrawals, including depositing a check you receive, setting up a direct deposit for paychecks, or taking out cash via a debit card. A checking account’s main purpose is to maintain your funds in a secure location for a short period. Your paycheck can be sent directly to the checking account, after which you can make utility payments or move the funds to a savings or investment account. That said, a checking account isn’t a long-term solution for things like saving for a house or car. This is because interest rates can be extremely low. Opening a checking account After opting for a suitable checking account, you need to sign up online or visit the bank’s branch.

Credit cards provide financial independence by allowing people to pay for their needs anytime. These cards can assist in maximizing points and rewards for each purchase. The points and coupons can be used for future purchases, resulting in significant savings. With all the benefits, one should remember to handle it cautiously, or one may find themselves in challenging financial situations. Here are ten crucial credit card tips that everyone should keep in mind. Maintain a low credit utilization ratio Remember to keep your card’s balance at or below 30% of the available credit. Carrying large balances on all your cards may harm your credit score. Furthermore, your interest expense grows if you carry these large balances from month to month. Therefore, work to maintain the lowest credit usage ratio possible. Making payments earlier in the month, before your billing cycle ends, might help raise one’s credit scores and lower interest costs. Paying off the entire balance monthly The best way to avoid unexpected costs is to pay off your entire balance by the end of each billing cycle. These monthly balances carried over to the next billing cycle may result in high-interest charges. When the balance increases, getting out of debt will be more difficult, which could be bad for one’s financial health.

A reverse mortgage provides the elderly access to equity in their homes and supplements their income. With its flexible repayment option, it gives homeowners more control over their money. However, the government has laid out strict rules and guidelines concerning reverse mortgage eligibility criteria. So, if you’re considering a reverse mortgage, read on to know the reverse mortgage eligibility criteria and the types of reverse mortgages. Reverse mortgage eligibility criteria The first criterion for a reverse mortgage is that the primary homeowner must be at least 62 years of age. If your spouse is under the age of 62, you might still be eligible if you meet other reverse mortgage eligibility criteria. If you’re not 62 or older than 62, then you won’t qualify for a reverse mortgage even if you satisfy the criteria mentioned below. You must be the primary resident of the home you’re seeking a reverse mortgage for. Note that vacation homes or rental properties do not qualify. You must either entirely own the house or have at least 50% equity in it. If you have any mortgage balance remaining while applying for a reverse mortgage, you must be in a financial position to pay off that balance.

Debt settlement can be a financial lifesaver for many. Managing debt is quite a difficult task. With every advancing payment due date, one may feel their finances getting tighter and tighter. Between paying for a house mortgage, student loans, credit card debt, personal loans, and many other debts, it is quite common to miss out on paying one payment. Although it may not seem like a big problem initially, this is not good for financial health in the long term. This is where debt settlement comes in. There are multiple benefits to availing debt settlement offered by some of the top 10 debt settlement companies. No more bills With debt settlement, no more bills will be incoming in the mailbox. Debt settlement results in the closure of a debt account by the creditor. In such cases, one will not be able to use their credit cards again. However, this can be beneficial since it will prevent further debt in the future. With debt settlement, there is a permanent erasure of debt. No more collection calls With mounting debt, the calls of creditors are always incessant. If one if falling behind on too many bills, they are bound to be subjected to creditor calls throughout the day.

Automated investing services, or Robo advisors, have become ubiquitous in the present times. Many financial service companies now have their own automated investing services. There’s no doubt that the introduction of Robo advisors has made investing an accessible financial option to many. However, automated investing has some disadvantages as well. So, before you decide to opt for the best automated investing service, have a look at its pros and cons. Pros of using Robo advisors Low fee Low management fees are one of the biggest advantages of opting for a Robo advisor. Big names in the finance industry such as Charles Schwab Corp.’s Intelligent Portfolios offer Robo advisors for free, while some financial institutes such as Betterment and Wealthfront charge a low 0.25% as a management fee. High-quality investment portfolios Algorithms used in some of the best automated investing services such as the ones provided by Betterment are backed by Nobel prize-winning investment models. These models are created to offer the greatest return on investment for the smallest risks. Access to a financial advisor Many traditional financial services companies now use Robo advisors to select assets for their client’s investment portfolios. This allows them to offer their clients financial advisers that can help them with taxes, loans, and any kind of financing or investment.

An investment advisor can be a game-changer. A capable advisor can help solve most of your financial issues and give you the best investment advice so that you can turn market situations to your favor. But, finding the right investment advisor is not easy. Here are a few things you need to keep in mind while looking for the best investment advisor. Know what type of service you need First, you need to decide what kind of financial assistance you need. Do you need help picking investments? Or are you seeking advice on real estate, retirement, or insurance needs? Asking yourself these questions will help determine the type of investment advisor you are looking for. Nowadays, many people use a robo-advisor, which is as competent as a human investment advisor. A robo-advisor is great for investment management and other basic investments. But if you want substantial transformation in your money-situation, a human advisor is the viable option. Choose a fee-only advisor If you’ve decided to pick a human advisor, the next step is to choose the type of advisor: commission-based, fee-based, or fee-only. If you’re planning something big financially, you must pick a fee-only advisor. Such advisors work for and get paid by other clients like you, so they always act in their clients’ best interest.