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HOW YOUNG IS TOO YOUNG FOR A KID TO HAVE A CREDIT CARD? – Some parents now give their elementary school-age children one. Experts say it can be a powerful tool to teach financial responsibility, if they’re ready for it.
IN CREDIT CARD DEBT? SIMPLY SKIPPING LATTES ISN’T ENOUGH – A new survey finds that people with credit card debt spend more on nonessential purchases than those who are debt free. Here’s how to cut back on the stuff that matters.
CONSUMER REPORTS: POTENTIALLY UNSAFE BIKE HELMETS ARE ‘WIDELY AVAILABLE’ ONLINE – They look nice and are bargain-priced, but don’t count on a counterfeit or knockoff helmet to protect your head in a serious crash. Here’s how to avoid buying one of these dangerous helmets.
WHAT’S A ROTH 401(K)? AND SHOULD YOU HAVE ONE? – A Roth 401(k) is the other employer-based retirement plan that lets your savings grow tax free. Most companies now offer it, but few employees have one. Maybe you should have one of each?
GET A CALL FROM SOCIAL SECURITY? IT’S THE LATEST GOVERNMENT IMPOSTER SCAM – Con artists steal hundreds of millions of dollars a year pretending to be with the government. No matter how official they seem, no matter how scary the situation sounds — hang up! It’s a scam.
NEED A NEW BIKE? HERE’S WHERE TO SHOP – You probably won’t save much money – or anything – buying a bicycle online, a recent study finds. So you might as well visit a good local bike shop where you can get expert advice, compare models and take them out for a good test drive. Prices do vary greatly for service after the sale.
NEW FROM SALLIE MAE: CREDIT CARDS FOR MILLENNIALS & GEN Z – Sallie Mae launches three new credit cards aimed at college students, recent graduates and young adults already in the workplace. These are rewards cards that have no annual fee. And you don’t have to be a Sallie Mae customer to apply.
PROTECT YOUR DIGITAL LIFE FROM HACKERS & CRIMINALS WHEN YOU TRAVEL – Most travelers don’t realize the risk of cybercrime increases when they’re on the road. You can significantly reduce your chances of having a problem by doing a few simple things.
SCAMMERS HAVE DISCOVERED P2P PAYMENT APPS LIKE VENMO & ZELLE – Many users don’t know that P2P payment services have limited, if any, fraud protection. Once the money is sent, it’s gone. Here’s how to protect yourself from the scammers.
AMERICA’S FAVORITE (AND LEAST FAVORITE) WIRELESS COMPANIES AND SMARTPHONES – T-Mobile leads the pack of big providers, but Consumer Cellular is the clear winner. The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is now America’s favorite smartphone, survey finds.

 

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