Strategies & tactics to get ahead financially & in life
I had the good fortune that my first foray into entrepreneurship was a success. Part of the reason had to do with low expectations – I didn’t start Bargaineering to strike it rich. I wanted to keep a journal, it expanded to share ways to save money, and eventually became popular enough to sell to […]
Do you know your credit score? I bet you probably do. I also bet you probably know how to get your credit report for free each year from each of the three major credit bureaus. The Fair Credit Reporting Act is the name most people are familiar with. But did you know that the Fair […]
One of the fascinating parts about the stock market is that practically everyone with an opinion about it is, more or less, right. Is it a good way to build wealth? Yes. Can it ruin fortunes? Also, yes. Is it a Ponzi scheme? Kind of, in the sense that part of the reason it keeps […]
BBVA USA Bank is fast becoming a worldwide name. Even though the company has branch locations in just seven U.S. states, the online banking world has become BBVA’s oyster. Thanks to a history of innovative leadership and some great products they are becoming a recognized financial name to personal and business customers alike. Of course, […]
Store-branded credit cards are a funny bunch. Some store-branded credit cards are regular credit cards that you can use anywhere, they just have the retailer’s logo on it. Others are cards that can only be used within the store itself. They’re commonly referred to as open-loop (usable anywhere) and closed-loop (only in that family of […]
When it comes to Vanguard, it’s no secret I’m a fan. One of my first brokerage accounts was with Vanguard, back in 1998, and I could thank my dad for telling me about them (and the Roth IRA!). So when I say I’ve been a long-time Vanguard investor, I mean it. And as someone who […]
Capital One is one of the most recognizable names in the financial world and Capital One 360 is their online banking arm. If you’re thinking about opening an account and want to know if they have any bonus offers – you’re in the right place. They offer up to $500 cash bonus for opening a […]
When my parents came to the United States, they would send money back home to our family back in Taiwan. When my grandparents fled to Taiwan, they would send money back to China. It’s a common immigrant tale and one repeated over and over again. When someone is able to get to the land of […]
I’m a big fan of Star Trek. Not quite cosplaying and going to conventions but I enjoy the shows. I’ve enjoyed everything from TNG onward – including the much-maligned Enterprise series (I enjoyed that too) – and so I was excited when CBS announced they’d be bringing the series back. Yet, when CBS announced a […]
99% of the time, I say yes. Before I started working for myself, I had two previous jobs. In both cases, I rolled over my 401(k) into a Rollover IRA at Vanguard. I did this because Vanguard offered better and cheaper investment options compared to my previous employers’ plans. Vanguard doesn’t charge annual maintenance or […]