New smartphones can cost several hundred dollars, and many people can’t afford to pay that upfront when phone shopping. While there are financing options available from electronics vendors and phone dealers, they sometimes require a credit check. That doesn’t leave you with many options if you have poor credit. T-Mobile is running a promotion to… Read More

The average U.S. credit score has gone up recently, but not by much. Of course, the way those figures change year over year depend on the model you’re looking at, considering there are so many different credit scores out there. Based on numbers FICO provided, the average hit a low of 686 in October 2009,… Read More

What if you went to your regular pharmacy expecting a co-pay of $10 for a 90-day supply of generic medication and you were told that this time it would be $100? It happened to one of Dr. David Belk’s patients. The drug in question was the generic for Prozac, and the patient decided to look… Read More

You may have already started receiving tax forms in the mail. You know what I’m talking about — the envelopes are marked in big block letters, “IMPORTANT TAX DOCUMENTS ENCLOSED.” If you haven’t received any yet, you should soon, and for some people, you’ll be getting many pieces of mail like that over the next… Read More

Sometimes getting ahead feels more like a herd of turtles than a rabbit. That’s especially true when it comes to credit scores. Check out this reader question, and see if you can relate. Hi! I have a question for you. I’ve been working on improving my credit score for about three years now, but I cannot… Read More

We’re not even through January and our great intentions for 2015 have likely already begun to waver. If that doesn’t apply to you, that is amazing, and you should be proud. But, let’s go back to 2014, when we were all excitedly planning our resolutions in the first place. Whether we wanted to get in better… Read More

The U.S. government provides money to retired, unemployed and disabled persons through the Social Security Administration. People who pay into the system through payroll taxes for at least 10 years receive a financial safety net upon retirement. The amount you receive from Social Security is supposed to replace some, but not all, of your pre-retirement… Read More

If you have a significant other, you know how stressful Valentine’s Day can be – stressful and expensive. From cards and gifts to flowers and dinners, your wallet can face a hit worse than during the holiday season. Love-struck consumers dish out billions every year, but you don’t have to go broke to make your… Read More

Do these cold, short days have you dreaming about summer vacation? While you are reading travel site reviews, comparing car rentals and shopping for airline tickets, start a dedicated savings account right now so you can pre-pay part or all of your vacation costs. “The key is to start small but start soon,” says Money Talks News founder Stacy Johnson…. Read More

After a long week, a night out with friends can be a great way to unwind and start the weekend off right. Getting dinner and drinks may seem like a harmless plan… until you get the bill. Expenses like these can quickly add up, especially if you’re splitting a bill with big eaters and drinkers… Read More