TessMore Finance Blog

Some of the links in this post are from our sponsors. We provide you with accurate, reliable information. Learn more about how we make money and select our advertising partners . When choosing a credit card, you want one that suits your needs. It can feel overwhelming at first, but it gets easier once you take a look at your credit profile to get a bird’s-eye view of your current financial situation.  Here, we’ll help you learn how to choose a credit card — we’ll highlight the key features to look out for, so you can find a credit card that feels like it was tailored to you. 1. See Where Your Credit Score Stands The first step you’ll want to take is to get your credit score. Knowing your credit score gives you a solid idea of what cards you may qualify for and can even help you find pre-approved offers. Your score doesn’t have to be perfect to land a good credit card. But you’ll at least need a score in the good range to qualify for the top credit cards with the most sought-after

The term “cost of living” refers to the amount of money that’s necessary to cover essential living costs in a given time and location. Living expense s such as housing, food, utilities, transportation, and health care all vary based on time and place and are factored into cost of living. If you plan on moving to a new city or are just curious about what it might cost to live somewhere else, use the cost of living calculator below to see the difference we’d expect between your current location and your desired one. Additionally, the calculator will let you know whether it’s likely you’d be able to maintain your standard of living based on your income. If your current salary just won’t cut it, take charge of your financial future and try out our tips to negotiate a potential cost of living adjustment. Cost of Living Calculator Where do you currently live? Where do you want to live? What's your current pre-tax household income? Calculate Reset To maintain your c

Apple’s recent announcement of the new iPhone 13 is one of several new tech items that have been announced or introduced recently. The Google Pixel 6 and the Samsung Galaxy S22 are two other phones that you might have your eye on.  In addition to new phones, there are plenty of laptops, TVs, wearable items and other tech that are sure to make many Christmas shopping lists. If you or someone you love is a techie, here are some things to think about as you budget for new tech. Most technology items are depreciating assets The first thing to remember is that most technology items are depreciating assets. What that means is that it loses value over time. Like buying a new car , most tech items will never be worth more than it is at the time of its initial sale. Just like you might lose a third of your new car’s value as soon as you drive it off the car lot, your new phone might lose a third of its value as soon as you walk out of the Verizon or Apple store. A new phone Technological a

Quick Navigation Holiday Shopping on Cyber Monday vs. Black Friday When Are the Best Deals? What’s the Average Discount? How to Prepare for Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sales Store Specific Information Gone are the days when you needed to pitch a tent in front of a big box store to be the first in line on Black Friday and get the best deals for the holiday shopping season. What was once the traditional start of the holiday season has morphed into several weeks of sales, some starting in early October. Then there’s Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, both of which happen after Black Friday. For 2021, those dates are Black Friday (Nov. 26), Small Business Saturday (Nov. 27) and Cyber Monday (Nov. 29). There are deals to be had tied to both Black Friday and Cyber Monday, mostly in the five categories of tech, beauty, clothing, toys and home products. Take a deep breath though, pandemic-caused supply chain issues may make certain items in those categories difficult to

As the calendar turns to winter and temperatures drop, some people can think of nothing but sitting inside next to the fireplace with hot chocolate and a good book. Others however start planning their winter sports getaway.  Whether your passion is the ski slopes, snowboarding or snowmobiling, winter sports can get expensive. If you’re looking to play in the snow, here are a few tips to save on winter sports. Buying vs. Renting Equipment Winter sports equipment can get expensive, no matter what type of sport you’re looking at. Skis, special snow boots, snowboards, snowmobiles can make your budget really feel the pain. One way that you can save on this equipment is to buy used. Paying top dollar for new equipment will be the most expensive, and many times you can find used equipment that is just as good for a fraction of the price. Another thing to consider is renting your equipment rather than buying it. Of course whether renting is feasible depends on a variety of factors, includin

Brittany Cantu was in shock when she found out she was chosen for The Penny Hoarder’s “Dream Job” challenge in October. To earn her $5,000 paycheck, Cantu had to kick one of her most persistent spending habits and save money for 30 days — all in an effort to find new and healthier ways to manage her money. Cantu was up for the job: She saved an impressive $621 simply by not buying stuff online during the course of the month. As a registered nurse, wife, and mother of three, Cantu stays busy. In her free time, she had built a habit of online spending. “I definitely have a shopping problem,” she said. “I use a deal website that gives me deals at places like Target and Amazon. It’s easy to overspend because my 10-month-old son doesn’t like to nap by himself so I get really bored when he’s sleeping on me.” Her growing kids also factored into her online buying habit. “The kids grow out of their clothes constantly, so kids’ clothes is a huge item that we usually need to buy,” she said.

It’s going to cost more to heat your home this winter, thanks to global price hikes for natural gas, heating oil and other fuels. How much more? The federal government is saying we could see spikes of 54% in our heating bills compared to last year. That’s a big jump and something that many of us will struggle to afford. For people lucky enough to use electricity for their heating systems, it’s predicted that their bills will only go up about 6%. Still, that’s money that you could use elsewhere. This dreary news is coupled with the prediction that it may be a colder winter in many parts of the country, too. But there are some ways to keep your energy bill in check this winter (and in the summer, too), and much of that has to do with maintenance. 25 Ways to Reduce Your Electric Bill From bundling up to not heating uninsulated rooms to simple maintenance checks and fixes, these two dozen plus one ways to avoid sticker shock from your electric bill are worth your efforts. 1. Get a F

Some of the links in this post are from our sponsors. We provide you with accurate, reliable information. Learn more about how we make money and select our advertising partners . College can help unlock a world of possibilities. However, having to pay for college tuition can feel like a burden long before the acceptance letter even arrives. But by using a 529 plan as an investment vehicle, you can start saving for college tuition now to launch a college career affordably later. 529 plans are tax-advantaged investment accounts that allow you to invest and grow your money to use on qualified education expenses. And the state of Utah happens to offer some of the best 529 college savings plans in the country — and it’s not just for Utah residents. Get the rundown on Utah’s 529 plan for college savings, find out how rewards programs like Upromise can help you grow funds even faster. What Is a 529 Savings Plan? 529 plans are tax-advantaged investment accounts used to grow money for edu

If nurturing comes naturally to you, there are ways to turn that instinct into extra money. Side gigs aren’t limited to doing other people’s grocery shopping or selling stuff online. There’s a slew of more personalized and nurturing jobs for anyone who likes to take care of people and animals. Here’s a quick rundown: 5 Nurturing Jobs Taking Care of People or Animals 1. Pet Sitting Pet sitters provide owners peace of mind by watching over their animals while the clients are away. For midday walks or in-home visits, a sitter will come to the client’s house to feed and let the pets out. During in-home overnight visits, a sitter will stay at the client’s house to feed, walk, administer medication, play with and watch over the pets all night. If you use a pet-sitting app like Rover or Wag , you’ll create an online sitter profile where you’ll answer questions about your experience and availability. You may also need to pass a phone and in-person interview. Once approved, dog owners

With the holidays coming up, you’re probably thinking about what you might want to give that special someone. Or that special little someone. We share a few money related ideas that might help you find the perfect gift. These gifts are all in some way related to money – this could be actual money (as is the first suggestion) or something that can help you become better with your money. These may be books, planners, guides, etc. We hope you find something great below and let us know if you get anyone anything from this list! Table of Contents How About Cash? Contribute to a 529 Give Stock Need an Amazing Home Planner? Family Emergency Binder Send a Statement (Card) A Few Amazing Books A Money Workbook for Couples Some Personal Finance Swag & Gear How About Cash? I’m Chinese (surprise!) and for all important occasions, but especially birthdays and Chinese New Year, our family gives cash. The best gift is always cash. Brand new crisp bills in a red envelope like th