Making the Most of Your Credit Card Rewards

  Your Credit Card: What's in it for Thieves Online security breaches where retailers are hacked and customers’ credit card information is stolen are becoming a regular part of the news cycle. Cybercriminals can sell the data online to other criminals, who can then use the information to open bogus accounts in the names of legitimate customers, run up charges on the stolen credit cards and commit other acts of fraud. The going rate for a U.S. credit card number and a software-generated card verification number is worth $5 to $8, according to a report by Intel Security called “The Hidden Data Economy.” If a bank ID number or date of birth is included, the black market price rises to $15. Add in other details, such as a cardholder’s full name, address, mother’s maiden name and Social Security number, among other things — called Fullzinfo — and it can sell for $30. For information stolen from an ATM card, the report says that U.S. cards with PIN numbers sell for $110 each. Some thieve...

  Four Ways to a Higher Credit Score Improving your credit can take time, often many months. But there are some things you can do to raise your credit score quickly, even if only by a few points. Pay Bills on Time Payment history is the most important factor in FICO scores, accounting for up to 35 percent of a credit score. Paying your bills on time—regardless of whether it’s a credit card bill or a utility bill—can significantly improve your score. Late payments stay on a credit report for seven years. The longer ago they happened, the less they affect credit scores. If a bill goes unpaid long enough, the debt can be sold to a collections agency and will get reported to credit bureaus. Maintain Low Balances Keeping a low balance lowers your credit utilization rate, which is the amount of credit you’re using. Also called credit usage, it is the second most important factor in credit scores and accounts for 30 percent of a score. Your credit usage is calculated by dividing the total...

5 Reminders to Keep In Your Wallet Your purse or wallet can be more than just a place to pull your money out of so you can spend it. It can also store a few things to remind you to use less money, or at least use it well. Here are five things to keep in your wallet that can help you use your money well: Cash If you follow the rule of only spending the amount of cash you have on you, then you’ll never have to pay credit card late fees or interest rates on charges, or pay to withdraw your money from an ATM not connected to your bank. Studies  have shown that people spend less money when using cash instead of a credit card. Cash is tangible with value attached to it, while a plastic credit card may not seem like actual money. That said, using only cash should be a reminder to keep within your budget and not to return to the ATM to withdraw money again and again. Reward credit cards Credit cards can get you to focus less on the cost of what you’re buying, which isn’t a good thing. But ...

ATTOM released its Q1 2022 Home Equity Report   This Week in Real Estate  finding 44.9 percent of mortgaged residential properties are considered equity-rich, up from 31.9 percent in the first quarter of 2021. According to OJO Labs, 52 percent of homes in the top 50 metro areas sold for above the list price in April, up from 42 percent a year earlier. Below are a few newsworthy events from the second week of May that influence our business:  *  52% of Homes Sold Above List Price in April.  Competition abounds in the real estate market, and buyers are continuing to bid up home prices this spring. Fifty-two percent of homes sold above the list price in April, up from 45% in March and from 42% a year earlier, according to OJO Labs, a real estate technology company. Seattle tied for the fourth most-competitive metro area with 66% of homes sold above the list price and at an average of $58,275.20 higher (2 nd  highest). Portland, Washington D.C., ...

  Creating a Rustic Vibe With Wood Decor If you’re a fan of that rustic look, or just love to feature beautiful wood in your space, then your home may already be covered with hardwood floors below, exposed beams above and wood furniture throughout. But if you’re looking to add even more wood to your interior scheme, consider a few of the following. Countertops.  While real wood countertops may be more difficult to maintain, their gorgeous look in your space may make them worth it. Shop around with your local counter conveyor, or hire someone to create a custom job. Ceilings.  Wood ceiling panels or planks can be a great way to add a rustic, farmhouse touch from above. Art.  From wall hangings to sculptures, there is no shortage of wood art. Hit up Google to find a few pieces, or for more original work, call up your local gallery. Accents.  Wood lighting fixtures, wood coasters, wood vases or plant holders, wood-framed mirrors and more. The options are quite lite...

  6 Small and Easy Steps to Improve Your Credit Score The best way to improve your credit score is simple, but not always that easy: Reduce your debt. Paying off your credit cards, or at least paying them down substantially, will not only increase your credit score, but having less debt will probably be more satisfying than a great credit score. And not using your credit cards anymore and paying off the balances is easier said than done. But there are smaller, easier steps that can improve a credit score. Here are six: Set payment reminders:  Making credit payments on time is one of the best ways to improve your credit score. Set payment reminders on your phone or whatever calendar you use, and check if your bank offers online reminders through email or text messages. Don’t open new accounts:  If you have a short credit history, then opening a lot of credit accounts too rapidly will lower your average account age and can drop your scores if you don’t have a lot of other c...

  Eco-Friendly Tips With Low Costs and High Savings Most homeowners have weather-stripped their doors to maximize climate control, and have switched out traditional incandescent light bulbs with eco-friendly CFL models. Short of installing double paned windows or making other costly home improvements, what more can you do to make your home “greener” without emptying your wallet? Change filters often.  Change air conditioning filters monthly to keep the system running at peak performance. Dry bigger loads.  Your dryer has more capacity than you think. Dry two or more loads at once so the dryer cools down and heats up less frequently. And clean out the lint filter often. Check the fridge seal.  Feel for cold air around your closed refrigerator door to be sure the seal is in good condition. Adjust stove top cooking.  Avoid wasting heat by matching up your pot/pan size to the correct burner. Unplug battery chargers.  Many chargers continue to draw power even wh...