The dollar store has great bargains on familiar purchases. Yes, even pregnancy tests
Source: moneytalksnews.com
21 Things You Should Always Buy at a Dollar Store
The Fastest Proven Ways to Destroy Debt
Here are the simple steps that will make you debt-free.
Source: moneytalksnews.com
How to Get a Chase Debit Card Replacement
If you lose your chase debit card by any chance or if it was stolen, you can request a replacement very easily. But one thing you cannot do anymore is to just go to a Chase branch in your neighborhood and request a replacement card. While it was convenient, Chase discontinued that method due to fraud. We’ll show you how you can replace your chase debit card in 3 other ways.
Note that if you card is about to expire, there is no need to request a replacement card. Chase will automatically send you a new card during the month your current card will expire. The main reasons to request a card are if your card has been stolen, lost, or damaged.
Three Simple and Easy Ways to Request a Chase Debit Card Replacement:
1. Do it online at Chase.com
The first way to request your Chase debit card replacement is to do it online.
1. Go to Chase.com to sign in. 2. Once you are on the homepage, click on the “More…” options. 3. Then, click on “Account Services.” 4. Then, click on “Replace a lost or damaged card.”
After you have completed all these steps, the new window will ask you to choose a Chase debit card that you need to replace. It also ask you to choose a reasons why you need to request a Chase debit card replacement.
The three main reasons you will notice on the drop down menu are: 1) my current cards needs to be re-issued; 2) My card is lost; 3) My card wasn’t received.
Once you have chosen a reason for replacement, review and submit your request. You should receive your card in 3-5 business days. If you don’t receive your card after five days, call Chase customer service using the number on your statement.
2. Replace your Chase Debit Card by calling customer service.
Another way to order a Chase debit card replacement is through telephone. Using the Chase customer service is available 24/7. So you can call immediately, especially if you think your debit card was stolen.
The telephone number to call is 1-800-935-9935. If your credit card that is lost, damaged or stolen, the right telephone number is 1-800-432-3117.
3. Replace your Chase debit card is through the Chase Mobile app.
Lastly, the third way to replace your Chase debit card is through the Chase Mobile app.
If you have installed it on your phone, this should be very easy and straightforward. Right from your phone, follow these steps:
1) After you login into your Chase Mobile app, tap on the debit card or credit card you want to replace. 2) Scroll down to find “Replace a lost or damage card.” 3) Then, choose the card you want to replace and then choose a reason for replacement. 4) Review your request and submit it.
Simple and done!
In conclusion, if you think you need a Chase replacement card, request it either from the Chase Mobile app, sign in to chase.com, or call the 800 number. It’s easy and you can request it in under 5 minutes. But one thing you cannot do is visiting your local branch and request one instantly. Chase will not replace your debit card at any of its locations. You’ll have to use the three methods outlined above.
Related:
- CIT Bank Savings: How Much Can You Earn?
- How Much Should You Save a Month?
- What is a Consumer Loan
The post How to Get a Chase Debit Card Replacement appeared first on GrowthRapidly.
Source: growthrapidly.com
Best Cities to Work From Home in 2021
Since the onset of COVID-19, remote work has become the norm for many Americans, allowing them to continue to meet some of their expenses while saving where possible. In the late spring of 2020, about half of American workers were working from home, according to two surveys conducted by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Many researchers believe that increased work flexibility and work-from-home opportunities may continue even after the pandemic is over. With that in mind, SmartAsset looked at the best cities to work from home in 2021.
To determine our rankings, we compared 100 of the largest U.S. cities across seven metrics. They span work-from-home flexibility prior to and during COVID-19, along with employment opportunities, poverty rates and housing affordability. For details on our data sources and how we put all the information together to create our final rankings, check out the Data and Methodology section below.
This is SmartAssetâs third annual study on the best cities to work from home. Our 2020 edition can be found here. Note: This yearâs methodology was adjusted to account for COVID-19 and its impact.
Key Findings
- A strong showing from North Carolina. Three cities in North Carolina rank in our top 10: Raleigh, Durham and Charlotte, taking second, sixth and seventh place, respectively. In all three cities, the percentage of people working from home grew by more than 3% between 2014 and 2019, so that even prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 7% of all three citiesâ workforces worked remotely.
- Mid-sized cities also rank well. With the exceptions of Charlotte, North Carolina and Austin, Texas, all other cities in our top 10 have populations between 240,000 and 500,000. These cities potentially offer residents larger homes and apartments better suited to working from home. In all eight cities, more than 80% of residences have two or more bedrooms and workforces of which more than 7% were remote in 2019.
1. Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, Arizona ranks in the top five cities for four of the seven metrics we considered. Census Bureau data shows that in 2019 about 17.9% of workers did work from home, a 6.7% increase from 2014. Additionally, Scottsdale has the fourth-highest estimated percentage of the workforce who can work from home â at about 37% â and third-lowest 2019 poverty rate â at 6.0%.
2. Raleigh, NC
Like Scottsdale, a high proportion of the workforce in Raleigh, North Carolina worked from home prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, 10.5% of the workforce worked remotely in 2019 â the fourth-highest rate for this metric in our study. Raleigh also ranks in the top quartile of our study for four other metrics: It has the 21st-highest estimated percentage of the workforce that can work from home (31.79%), fourth-largest five-year change in workers working from home (4.3%), 18th-lowest October 2020 unemployment rate (5.3%) and 21st-lowest poverty rate (10.9%).
3. Plano, TX
North of Dallas, Plano, Texas ranks as the No. 3 city to work from home in 2021. It ranks in the top 10% of the study for three metrics: percentage of the workforce who did work from home in 2019 (9.6%), estimated percentage of the workforce who are able to work from home (35.44%) and 2019 poverty rate (7.5%). Additionally, Plano has the 14th-lowest October 2020 unemployment rate, at 5.2%.
4. Gilbert, AZ
Working from home often requires more space, whether thatâs a dedicated room or section of a room where one sets up shop. Gilbert, Arizona â one of our best cities to buy an affordable home â has the potential for just that, with a high percentage of residences that have two or more bedrooms. Census Bureau data shows that 96.3% of Gilbert apartments and homes have two or more bedrooms, the highest percentage for this metric in our study. Gilbert also ranks well in our study due to its high percentage of the workforce that worked from home in 2019 (9.5%) and relatively low poverty rate (4.6%).
5. St. Petersburg, FL
With particularly strong low unemployment numbers, St. Petersburg, Florida takes the No. 5 spot. As of October 2020, the greater Pinellas County unemployment rate was just 5.2%, which is 1.5 percentage points below the national average. Remote work has also grown more popular here over the years: The percentage of the workforce working from home grew by 4.6% in St. Petersburg from 2014 to 2019, the third-highest increase in the study.
6. Durham, NC
Durham, North Carolina ranks in the top third of cities across six of the seven metrics we considered, only falling behind for its high poverty rate (15.2%). Durham had the 10th-highest 2014-2019 increase in the study of the percentage of the workforce working from home â and as of 2019, more than 7% of the cityâs workforce worked remotely. Taking into account recent changes during COVID-19, we estimate that an additional roughly 25% of the workforce could have telework flexibility.
The October 2020 employment rate in Durham stood at 5.7%. Furthermore, housing costs make up less than 36% of earnings and 86.3% of residences have two or more bedrooms.
7. Charlotte, NC
Charlotte, North Carolina saw the second-largest 2014-2019 increase in the study of the percentage of its workforce working from home, at 4.8%, such that in 2019, 10.0% of workers were remote. Charlotte ranks 23rd-lowest out of all 100 cities for its relatively low poverty rate, at 11.2%.
8. Colorado Springs, CO
Though housing costs as a percentage of earnings are high in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the city ranks in the top quartile of cities for four metrics. It saw the seventh-largest 2014-2019 increase in percentage of workers reporting they worked remotely (3.6%), and it had the 13th-highest percentage of 2019 remote workers (8.5%). Moreover, the cityâs 2019 poverty rate is the 12th-lowest overall (9.3%), and it has the 17th-highest percentage of homes and apartments with two or more bedrooms (87.3%).
9. Austin, TX
Working from home was on the rise in Austin, Texas prior to COVID-19. The percentage of workers reporting they worked from home increased by 3.7% over five years, from 7.1% in 2014 to 10.8% in 2019. With that increase, Austin had the third-highest 2019 percentage of the workforce who worked from home across all 100 cities. Employment in Austin has remained strong during COVID-19 relative to other cities. As of October 2020, its unemployment rate was 5.2% â the 14th-lowest of 100 of the largest cities and 1.5 percentage points lower than the national average.
10. Fremont, CA
Fremont, California rounds out our list of the 10 best cities to work from home in 2021. Based on the occupational breakdown of workers, we found that upwards of 35% of Fremontâs workforce could work from home if necessary â a top-10 rate. Apartments and homes in Fremont also generally have the space for working from home. Census Bureau data shows that 87.7% of residences in Fremont have two or more bedrooms â the 13th-highest percentage in our study.
Data and Methodology
To find the best cities to work from home in 2021, we examined data for the 100 largest U.S. cities. We compared those cities across seven metrics:
- Percentage of the workforce who worked from home in 2019. Data comes from the Census Bureauâs 2019 1-year American Community Survey.
- Estimated percentage of the workforce who can work from home. This metric was calculated using data from the Bureau of Labor Statisticsâ 2017-2018 Job Flexibilities and Work Schedules Survey and the Census Bureauâs 2019 1-year American Community Survey.
- Five-year change in percentage of the workers reporting they work from home. This is the difference between the percentage of the workforce who worked from home in 2014 and 2019. Data comes from the Census Bureauâs 2014 and 2019 1-year American Community Surveys.
- October 2020 unemployment rate. Data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and is at the county level.
- Poverty rate. Data comes from the Census Bureauâs 2019 1-year American Community Survey.
- Housing costs as a percentage of earnings. This is median annual housing costs divided by median earnings for workers 16 years and older. Data comes from the Census Bureauâs 2019 1-year American Community Survey.
- Percentage of residences with two or more bedrooms. This includes both owned and rented apartments and houses. Data comes from the Census Bureauâs 2019 1-year American Community Survey.
We ranked each city in every metric, giving a double weighting to one metric â the estimated percentage of the workforce who can work from home â and a full weighting to all other metrics. We then found each cityâs average ranking and used that average to determine a final score. The city with the best average ranking received a score of 100. The city with the lowest average ranking received a score of 0.
Deciding Where to Live?
- Buy or rent? Even if you have the savings to buy a first home, be sure the switch makes sense. If you are coming to a city and plan to stay for the long haul, buying may be the better option for you. Additionally, a home may offer more space for people who do regularly work from home. However, if your stop in a new city will be a short one, renting may make the most sense. SmartAssetâs rent vs. buy calculator can help you see the cost differential between purchasing a home or apartment and renting.
- Mortgage management. It is important when purchasing a home to know what youâll pay each month and for how long. To get a sense of what that might look like, check out SmartAssetâs free mortgage calculator.
- Seek out trusted advice. No matter where you live, a financial advisor can help you get your financial life in order. Finding the right financial advisor doesnât have to be hard. SmartAssetâs free tool matches you with financial advisors in your area in five minutes. If youâre ready to be matched with local advisors that will help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
Questions about our study? Contact us at press@smartasset.com.
Photo credit: ©iStock.com/
The post Best Cities to Work From Home in 2021 appeared first on SmartAsset Blog.
Source: smartasset.com
15 States With the Most Student Loan Debt
Student debt can be staggering, and people in these states owe the most for their education.
Source: smartestdollar.com
7 Times to Pay Off Your Mortgage Early
Reducing the time it takes to retire your mortgage may be to your advantage if you want to free up monthly income for other purposes.
Source: moneytalksnews.com
What Is “Accessible Income” on a Credit Card Application?
If you’re applying for a credit card, you might stumble upon this term “accessible income.” In fact, that’s the only situation in which you will come across the term: on a credit card application. So, you need to know what it is.
Accessible income is not just income you earn from your regular job. Rather, it includes much more than that. It includes income from a wide variety of sources, like retirement savings accounts, social security payments, trust funds, just to name a few.
Accessible income can work in your favor because not only you can list income from your job, but also all types of other money you receive in a given year. This in turn will increase your chance of getting approved for the credit card, simply because you can list a higher income.
It also can get you approved for a higher credit limit, which in turn can help your credit score and allow you more spending freedom. In this article, I will explain what accessible income is and the types of income you need to include in your credit card application. Before you start applying for too many credit cards, consult with a financial advisor who can help you develop a plan.
What is accessible income?
Accessible income means all of the money that you have accessed to if you are 21 years old or older. According to the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act, lenders are required to offer you credit if you are able to pay your bill. If you do not make enough money and do not receive enough income from other sources and cannot make payments, they can reject your application. That is why they ask for your accessible income.
If you are between the age of 18 and 20, your accessible income is limited to income for your job, scholarships, grants and money from your parents or other people.
However, if you are 21 and older, your accessible income involves way more than that. It includes income from the following sources:
- Income paychecks
- Tips
- Bank checking accounts
- Savings accounts
- Income of a spouse
- Grants, scholarships, and other forms of financial aid
- Investments income
- Retirement funds
- Trust funds
- Passive income
- Checks from child support and spousal maintenance
- Allowances from your parents or grandparents
- Social security payments or SSI Disability payments
To report that accessible income, just add them all up to arrive at a total and submit it. The credit card companies will not ask you to provide the specific source of each income
What does not count as accessible income
Loans including personal loans, mortgage, auto loans do not count as accessible income simply because they are borrowed money. So, do not list them when submitting your credit card application.
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Accessible income on the credit card application
Accessible income is only associated with credit card applications. In other words, you’re only asked that when you’re applying for credit cards. When applying for a credit card, you should take advantage of all sources of income and not just the income from your job.
So, you should make sure to gather all of the money you have accessed to that year. Not doing so means that you’re leaving other income that is just as important. As mentioned above, you should not include loans or any borrowed money.
When reporting your accessible income, be as accurate and truthful as possible. While some credit card companies may take your word for it, others may ask you to verify your income. In that case, you will need to provide hard proof like pay stubs, bank statements, statement from your investments accounts, etc…
Why providing accessible income important?
Your credit score is the most important factor credit card companies rely on to decide whether to offer you a credit card. However, your income is also important. The higher your income, the better.
A high income means that you’re able to cover debt that you may accumulate on your credit card. And the higher your chance is that they will approve you. The opposite is true. If you have a low income, some credit card companies may not approve you even if you have a good credit score. So, in order to increase your chance, you should take advantage of accessible income.
The bottom line
The only situation where you will find “accessible income” is on a credit card application. Accessible income is all income you have access to in any given year. That includes much more than your paychecks from your regular jobs.
But it also includes all types of money including checks from child support or alimony, allowances from your parents or grandparents, money in your retirement and investment accounts, etc. So, you should take advantage of it when applying for a credit card.
Speak with the Right Financial Advisor
You can talk to a financial advisor who can review your finances and help you reach your goals (whether it is making more money, paying off debt, investing, buying a house, planning for retirement, saving, etc). Find one who meets your needs with SmartAssetâs free financial advisor matching service. You answer a few questions and they match you with up to three financial advisors in your area. So, if you want help developing a plan to reach your financial goals, get started now.
The post What Is “Accessible Income” on a Credit Card Application? appeared first on GrowthRapidly.
Source: growthrapidly.com
2021 Personal Finance Calendar: Keeping Your Finances On Track In The New Year
With key financial responsibilities like insurance, taxes, and retirement savings bouncing around your head, what should you focus on and when in 2021?With key financial responsibilities like insurance, taxes, and retirement savings bouncing around your head, what should you focus on and when in 2021?
The post 2021 Personal Finance Calendar: Keeping Your Finances On Track In The New Year appeared first on Money Under 30.
Source: moneyunder30.com
States Where Residents Most Rely on Credit â 2020 Edition
Perhaps counterintuitively, consumer credit card debt has fallen since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis. Federal reserve data shows that the total amount of revolving consumer credit, which primarily consists of credit cards charges, fell below one trillion in April 2020 for the first time in close to two years. Data from Experian tells a similar story. Between the end of Q2 2019 and Q2 2020, the average credit card balance of borrowers fell by about 11% from $6,629 to $5,897.
Though average credit card debt is decreasing nationally, it remains high in some states and may increase during the holiday season. In this study, SmartAsset looked at states where residents tend to rely on credit the most. Using data from Experian and the Census Bureau, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia based on five metrics relating to credit card debt. For details on our data sources and how we put all the information together to create our final rankings, check out the Data and Methodology section below.
This is the 2020 edition of our study on where residents most rely on credit. Read the 2019 version here.
Key Findings
- Credit card debt is high in Southern states. Seven of the 10 states where residents rely most on credit are in the South: Oklahoma, Louisiana, Texas, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia and Florida. In all seven states, average credit card debt exceeds $5,600 and makes up more than 10% of the median household income.
- 13 states saw one-year increases in average credit card debt. Though Experian data shows that national average credit card debt fell by 11.04% over the past year, certain states still saw increases. Average credit card debt increased by more than 3% in two states â Idaho and North Dakota â and rose by 1% or more in six additional states â Oklahoma, Hawaii, Mississippi, West Virginia, South Dakota and Iowa.
1. Oklahoma
Oklahoma ranks as the state where residents most rely on credit. Experian data shows that though average credit card debt fell in many places between the end of the second quarter in 2019 and 2020, it rose by 2.00% in Oklahoma, from about $5,800 to almost $6,000. With that rise, we estimate average credit card debt for Oklahoma residents makes up 10.96% of the median household income â the fourth-highest percentage for this metric in our study.
2. Louisiana
Though average credit card debt in Louisiana ranks toward the middle of the study at 24th, it makes up the second-highest percentage of median household income, at 11.25%. Additionally, credit card debt may build up in Louisiana, as the state has relatively high poverty and unemployment rates. Data from the Census and Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that Louisiana also has the second-highest poverty rate (14.3%) and 15th-highest September 2020 unemployment rate overall (8.1%).
3. Alaska (tie)
Average credit card debt in Alaska fell by close to 5% over the past year, but it is still the highest in our study, at close to $7,700. Additionally, Alaska ranks in the worst half of the study for two other metrics, average credit card debt as a percentage of income and September 2020 unemployment rate. Average credit card debt makes up 10.15% of the median household income (the 10th-worst rate for this metric overall). In September of this year, unemployment stood at 7.2% (the 23rd-worst in the study).
3. Nevada (tie)
Nevada ranks in the bottom half of the study for all five metrics we considered. It has the 11th-highest average credit card debt, the 22nd-worst one-year change in average credit card debt and the 17th-highest average credit card debt as a percentage of median household income. Census Bureau data from 2019 shows that Nevada has the 20th-worst poverty rate of all 50 states and the District of Columbia, at 8.7%. Moreover, in September 2020, the unemployment rate (12.6%) was the second-highest in the country, behind only that of Hawaii.
3. Texas (tie)
Texas ties with Alaska and Nevada as the No. 3 state in the country where residents rely most on credit. Though average credit card debt in Texas fell by almost 5% over the past year, it remains elevated compared to other states. Experian data shows that at the end of the second quarter in 2020, average credit card debt was $6,423 â the seventh-highest of any state. Additionally, Texasâ poverty rate is the ninth-highest in the study, at 10.5%.
6. New Mexico
Credit card debt in New Mexico is high relative to average incomes. We found that average credit card debt as a percentage of the median household income was third-highest in our study, at 10.98%. New Mexico residents may also struggle with credit card debt more, as unemployment and poverty rates are high. In 2019, the unemployment rate was 9.4% (eighth-highest in the study) and in September 2020, the poverty rate was 13.7% (the third-worst in the country).
7. South Carolina
South Carolina actually has the lowest September 2020 unemployment rate (5.1%) of any of the 10 states where residents most rely on credit. However, the state ranks relatively poorly on the other four metrics we considered. It has the 18th-highest average credit card debt, 14th-worst one-year change in average credit card debt, eighth-highest average credit card debt as a percentage of income and 11th-highest poverty rate.
8. Alabama
Using Experian and Census Bureau data, we found that average credit card debt for Alabama residents makes up almost 11% of the stateâs median household income. Additionally, Alabama has the sixth-highest 2019 poverty rate (11.2%) of all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
9. Georgia
At the end of the second quarter of 2020, average credit card debt in Georgia stood at roughly $6,200. This debt may affect residents more in Georgia, as debt makes up more than 10% of the median household income in the state. In addition, almost 10% of individuals fall below the federal poverty line.
10. Florida
Florida has the 12th-highest average credit card debt (about $6,100) and ninth-highest average credit card debt as a percentage of median household income (10.31%). In September 2020, the unemployment rate in Florida was the 20th highest in the country, at 7.6%.
Data and Methodology
To determine the states where residents rely most on credit, we compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia across five metrics:
- Average credit card debt. Data comes from Experian and is for Q2 2020.
- One-year change in average credit card debt. Data comes from Experian and is from Q2 2019 to Q2 2020.
- Average credit card debt as a percentage of median household income. This is the average credit card debt (per borrower with credit card debt) divided by median household income. Data for average credit card debt comes from Experian and data on median household income comes from the Census Bureauâs 2019 1-year American Community Survey.
- September 2020 unemployment rate. Data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Poverty rate. This is the percentage of the population below the federal poverty level. Data comes from the Census Bureauâs 2019 1-year American Community Survey.
First, we ranked each state in every metric, giving a double weight to both of the average credit card debt metrics, a single weight to the change in average credit card debt metric and a half weight to September 2020 unemployment rate and poverty rate. We then found each stateâs average ranking and used the average to determine a final score. The state with the best average ranking received a score of 100. The state with the lowest average ranking received a score of 0.
Tips for Managing Credit Card Debt During the COVID-19 Downturn
- Contact your credit card company. Many credit card companies are offering financial relief to their customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recommends that the best first steps in receiving relief are contacting your credit card company, telling them youâve been affected and asking questions about the relief packages they offer.
- Create a plan to pay it off. Credit card debt can be incredibly stressful, especially during a recession when jobs are less secure and employment opportunities are more limited. Our credit card calculator is here to help. By adding your credit card details, you can calculate the total interest and time it will take you to pay off your debt.
- Consider a financial advisor. A financial advisor can help you make smarter financial decisions to be in better control of your money and get previous debt under control. Finding the right financial advisor doesnât have to be hard. SmartAssetâs free tool matches you with financial advisors in your area in five minutes. If youâre ready to be matched with local advisors that will help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
Questions about our study? Contact us at press@smartasset.com.
Photo credit: ©iStock.com/bernie_photo
The post States Where Residents Most Rely on Credit â 2020 Edition appeared first on SmartAsset Blog.
Source: smartasset.com
25 Things You Should Never Buy â and What to Buy Instead
If you really want to save money, become a more intentional shopper.
Source: moneytalksnews.com