Best Online Savings, CDs, and Money Market Rates

International Bank Of Chicago CD

Are you looking for a good CD to invest your money into? A certificate of deposit is a great option to consider as it provides you with a higher interest rate for your savings compared to investing your money into other accounts like traditional savings with interest rates of less than .25%. One bank that you might consider investing your money with is the International Bank of Chicago (IBC).Why IBC?Compare CD rates online and you will see that IBC offers one of the highest interest rates out … [Read more...]

So why do I need good credit anyway?

An article by BudgetQueen When I was car shopping once, I wanted to test drive a car. I look really young for my age and I was dressed in a t-shirt and jeans and I think that the salesman thought that I was wasting his time. He even had the nerve to say, “Are you really interested in this car?” before he went to the effort of getting the keys. I was amused. He didn’t know I had wanted this car, researched this car, and saved up for this car for four years. Later the guy came back to me with … [Read more...]

Should I get a home equity line of credit?

An article by BudgetQueen You have owned your house for five years. Five years you haven’t missed a payment. You are one smart home owner! Your house also has increased in value quite a bit. You wonder if you can get a loan on this “equity” or the amount that your house is worth minus the amount you owe. The interest rate on this loan is really low right now and you are wondering if you could use it to pay off a few things like credit cards, or add an addition, or just to add a security net. … [Read more...]

Be aware of what “daily compounding” credit card actually means

An article by BudgetQueen Do you remember your first credit card? You know --the one that kept you from starving in college, and helped build your credit as a young adult? I still have mine. Every time I call customer service for this card, they seem to be impressed that I have been a member for 20 years (mostly because that was before they were born). As an adult, this card still made me smile! I carefully watched as my reward points accumulated and I could get that $10 coffee card at the end … [Read more...]

Save hundreds by avoiding the gym; instead go to the recreation center!

An article by BudgetQueen I did it once. My husband and I blew over $600 for a year's membership to the gym. It was a lot but I convinced myself it was cheaper than buying just one machine. I did really well at first. It was cold outside, but it was nice in there. There were televisions and treadmills. If I couldn’t sleep one night I went there -- it was open at 3:00am! I felt like a slob in my gray sweats and wrinkled t-shirts, compared to the ladies in there with outfits that had to cost … [Read more...]