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# Eric J. Nisall: Helping you understand credit cards, income taxes, real estate, insurance and money in general

## Sitemaps
[XML Sitemap](https://www.understandfinances.com/sitemap_index.xml): Includes all crawlable and indexable pages.

## Posts
- [What Is Mortgage Escrow & How Does It Work?](https://www.understandfinances.com/mortgage-escrow/): The home buying process can be very confusing to navigate but your mortgage payment--specifically the mortgage escrow component--shouldn't be.
- [Valentine’s Day: The Most Pointless “Holiday”](https://www.understandfinances.com/valentines-day/): Love is great--it's the best feeling in the world. Valentine's Day, though, represents nothing about real love or affection, just consumerism and forced "love" and I'll prove it!.
- [Are Gift Cards Are The Worst Product Ever?](https://www.understandfinances.com/gift-cards/): Gift cards can be a pretty polarizing topic. Some people love them, but others...including myself...well, we have some other opinions on the subject.
- [How I Get Free Cable Television (Without Hacks)](https://www.understandfinances.com/cable-television/): Like cable television? Hate the high cost you have to pay? You *may* be able to get it for free, as I do.
- [Forget New Year’s Resolutions, Start Changing your Life Today!](https://www.understandfinances.com/forget-new-years-resolutions/): If you have changes to make in your life, especially in your health or finances, there is no need to wait for New Year's resolutions. The sooner you make changes in your life, the sooner you will see the results!
- [Home Equity Line Of Credit (HELOC): How It Works & Tax Rules To Know](https://www.understandfinances.com/heloc/): Almost everyone knows what a mortgage is. Oddly enough most of those people never heard of a home equity line of credit or HELOC. Let me introduce you to it!
- [How These 6 Sneaky Marketing Tricks Get You to Spend More Money](https://www.understandfinances.com/marketing-tricks/): Consumers are seen as easily swayed & manipulated. These are some of the marketing tricks agencies use to get you to spend more of your hard-earned money.
- [Grocery Shopping At Aldi Stores May Save You Money–But Be A Hassle](https://www.understandfinances.com/aldi-stores/): Grocery shopping at Aldi stores can save you a bunch of money--on some items and in some situations. There are also some negatives to shopping there as well.
- [Budgeting Money: 4 Reasons Why People Fail At It](https://www.understandfinances.com/budgeting-money/): For some people, it's difficult to start budgeting money. For others, it's hard to stick to a budget. Here are 4 possible reasons why that is.
- [First-Time Home Buyer: 8 Costs You Should Never Overlook!](https://www.understandfinances.com/first-time-home-buyer/): The process of becoming a first-time home buyer can be confusing. Make it less so by understanding and preparing for all of the costs that come with home ownership.
- [Emergency Preparedness: Have a Plan To Protect Your Finances](https://www.understandfinances.com/emergency-preparedness/): Hurricanes and wildfires are some of the scariest things to experience. Sadly, people don't always take emergency preparedness seriously...but I want you to!
- [Tax Apps: Even The Best Have Drawbacks You Should Be Aware Of](https://www.understandfinances.com/tax-apps/): Considering tax apps for filing your income taxes? If you're on the fence about using programs such as TurboTax or TaxSlayer to file your taxes, you should read this. As a tax pro, I give you insights that aren't found in general program "reviews".
- [Charitable Contributions: 8 Basic Rules For Being Deductible](https://www.understandfinances.com/charitable-contributions/): Be careful when it comes to charitable contributions. Just because you *might* be able to deduct them, there are plenty of things to watch out for.
- [Managing Money: 3 Clear Steps To Organizing Your Finances](https://www.understandfinances.com/managing-money/): Managing money can be difficult. It's even more so when you are unorganized and don't know where everything is situated. Here are 3 ways you can declutter your finances so it's easier to manage.
- [Using Coupons: 3 Ways Stores Trick You To Spend Money, Not Save](https://www.understandfinances.com/using-coupons/): Using coupons is often a way to save money. The problem, however, is that they are also a way for stores to get you to spend more if you aren't careful.
- [Investing In Collectibles: 100% Fun But Can Be Costly](https://www.understandfinances.com/investing-in-collectibles/): Investing in collectibles--comic books, Pokémon cards, sports cards--can be a fun way to engage with your money but there are dangers to it as well.
- [A Cash-Only Lifestyle Won’t Prevent Financial Stress](https://www.understandfinances.com/cash-only-lifestyle/): Cash is the preferred method of payment for many who want to avoid financial stress. Does it really keep your spending in check as many would lead you to believe?
- [Private Mortgage Insurance: What It Is & How To Dump It](https://www.understandfinances.com/private-mortgage-insurance/): Are you paying for private mortgage insurance on your home? Do you know why? What about how to get it removed? The answers are a click away!
- [3 Ways To Prevent Free Trials From Costing You Money](https://www.understandfinances.com/free-trials/): Free trials can be a great way to test products and services without the financial investment. They can also cost you a lot of money if you're not careful.
- [Financial Institutions: The Different Types For Your Bank Accounts](https://www.understandfinances.com/financial-institutions/): Financial institutions come in a variety of sizes and specialties. With so many options, which one(s) should you choose to bank with?
- [5 Ways To Afford First Dates After Meeting Online](https://www.understandfinances.com/first-dates/): You may be single and "ready to mingle" but your wallet may not be. Fortunately, there are ways around spending tons of money when searching for love. First dates can indeed be budget-friendly!
- [Did You Know Amazon Prime Is More Than Free 2-Day Shipping?](https://www.understandfinances.com/amazon-prime/): Amazon Prime was once known solely for getting Amazon deliveries in 2 days. Since then, Prime membership has grown to include many more products and services.
- [How To Make Generic Financial Advice Work For You In 5 Steps](https://www.understandfinances.com/financial-advice/): Financial advice literally comes at you from every direction at all times. How are you supposed to sort through it all? This guide will help you!
- [You Need An Emergency Fund Now More Than Ever](https://www.understandfinances.com/emergency-fund/): The term "emergency fund" makes some people roll their eyes. When a big financial bill or emergency comes up you'll be glad you have one!
- [Using The CD Ladder To Grow Your Savings](https://www.understandfinances.com/cd-ladder/): Certificates of deposit provide a safe place for your money and a CD ladder can be part of a sound personal finance plan.
- [Is Paying A Credit Card Early Helpful Or A Waste of Time?](https://www.understandfinances.com/paying-a-credit-card-early/): Paying a credit card early can be tempting. If you are looking to maintain or build credit, you definitely don't want to pay your credit card as you spend.
- [How To File Taxes: Pay A Professional Or DIY Taxes](https://www.understandfinances.com/how-to-file-taxes/): When considering how to file taxes there are two options: hire a tax accountant or DIY taxes. The question is: which method is right for you?
- [Your Guide To Filling Out A Check In 6 Easy Steps (With Examples)](https://www.understandfinances.com/filling-out-a-check/): Filling out a check used to be something everyone knew how to do. Even today, you should know how to do it and this guide will teach you.
- [LastPass: The Password Manager To Secure Your Digital Life](https://www.understandfinances.com/lastpass-password-manager/): LastPass is the complete password manager. No matter what operating system, web browser or mobile device you use it works wherever you are.
- [Types Of Credit: It’s Not Just Those Popular Cards!](https://www.understandfinances.com/types-of-credit/): There are a lot of different types of credit out there. Knowing the differences will help you manage your money better and hopefully not get into credit trouble.
- [1 Money-Saving Tip That Actually Helps You Save Money](https://www.understandfinances.com/money-saving-tip/): There are a lot of money-saving tips all over the web. This one will actually help you actually save money, not just spend it on more "acceptable" things.
- [Save Money With Rakuten (eBates) When Shopping Online (And Off)](https://www.understandfinances.com/rakuten/): Rakuten not only recoups some of the money you spend, but you also get automatic coupon savings without wasting time searching the internet.
- [Where To Find State Income Tax & State Refund Info](https://www.understandfinances.com/state-income-tax/): Where do I find info on my state income tax? Where is my state tax refund? Find the resources to answer your state income tax questions here.
- [Unclaimed Property: How To Get Your Lost Money Back](https://www.understandfinances.com/unclaimed-property/): Millions in unclaimed property are held in every state and that number grows daily. Find out if you have any unclaimed funds and how to get them back.
- [Paycheck Calculations: How Your Final Pay Is Determined](https://www.understandfinances.com/paycheck-calculations/): Surprised at how little your paycheck is? You're alone, but it helps to learn about paycheck calculations and how payroll deductions affect you.
- [Tax Deductions: Bad Advice To Avoid](https://www.understandfinances.com/tax-deductions/): Lots of sites publish articles about tax deductions without full explanations or even fact-checking. Let me dispel some of these "tips" before you get screwed.
- [Auto Insurance Agencies: Savings Doesn’t Always Match The Hype](https://www.understandfinances.com/auto-insurance-agencies/): The grass isn't always greener on the other side. That old saying certainly applies when talking about switching auto insurance agencies.
- [Is Switching Banks Worth The Time & Energy Required?](https://www.understandfinances.com/switching-banks/): Switching banks used to be as easy as opening up an account, depositing your money and closing the old account, but not so much anymore.
- [Rent Vs. Buy: 6 Important Factors To Consider](https://www.understandfinances.com/rent-vs-buy/): Rent vs. buy. Is renting a home better? Is home ownership? These are the factors you should consider when making that decision.
- [What Is A 0% Balance Transfer & How Can It Be Useful?](https://www.understandfinances.com/balance-transfer/): The 0% balance transfer is a popular tool in personal finance. It can be very beneficial but also carries a huge risk as well.
- [How To Donate To Charity When You Don’t Have The Cash](https://www.understandfinances.com/donate-to-charity/): What happens when you feel the call to donate to charity but you simply don't have the cash available? There are plenty of ways to assist charities besides giving money.
- [Why You Should Name A Beneficiary On All Financial Accounts](https://www.understandfinances.com/beneficiary/): If you don't have a beneficiary (or two) named on your financial accounts, you should go do that now. Not sure if you do? better go check!
- [Utility Bills: How To Save Money On Energy Consumption Costs](https://www.understandfinances.com/utility-bills/): Utility bills have to be paid whether you are a homeowner or renting a home. You can use these techniques to keep those utility costs manageable.
- [Income Tax Return Basics To Know To Avoid Worry](https://www.understandfinances.com/income-tax-return/): Your income tax return is complicated, to say the least. Everyone should at least know the basics of filing taxes.
- [3 Reasons Instacart Grocery Delivery Service Is A Big No-Go For Me](https://www.understandfinances.com/instacart-grocery-delivery-service/): Grocery delivery service is a hot industry right now and Instacart is the main player. I just don't see it as a valuable service for me, and these are the reasons why.
- [6 Reasons Expensive Cars Aren’t Worth the Money](https://www.understandfinances.com/expensive-car/): Expensive car as a status symbol? Cars as signs of financial wealth? Sorry, I don't buy it (no pun intended).
- [What Is Identity Theft & How Can You Protect Yourself?](https://www.understandfinances.com/identity-theft/): Identity theft can happen to anyone at any time. Learn what it is, how to protect yourself & report id theft should you become a victim.
- [Owning Your Home Doesn’t Mean Absolute Freedom](https://www.understandfinances.com/owning-your-home/): You might think that being a homeowner gives you unlimited control over what you do to your home. Unfortunately that's not always the case depending on where you happen to live.
- [Building Wealth: Is Saving or Earning Best For Growth?](https://www.understandfinances.com/building-wealth/): Building wealth is an admirable goal. Earning money will help achieve it, but saving money will too. So what should you focus on to build wealth?
- [Do-It-Yourself Isn’t Always Worth The Effort](https://www.understandfinances.com/do-it-yourself/): Do-it-yourself can be very economical and worthwhile. Other times, they can be dangerous, expensive and have embarrassing results.
- [It’s Perfectly Okay To Rent A Home. It Really Is!](https://www.understandfinances.com/rent-a-home/): Regardless of housing prices, there are plenty of reasons to rent a home. And, it is perfectly ok to do so if that is what's right for you.
- [Some Ways Of Saving Money May Cost You More In The End](https://www.understandfinances.com/prepaying-expenses/): There are tons of money saving methods and techniques. Unfortunately, not all of them are foolproof. Some can actually cost you more than they save you if you aren't careful.
- [How To Find A Tax Preparer You Can Truly Trust](https://www.understandfinances.com/tax-preparer/): A tax preparer you can trust is an important financial partner. Find out what to look for in someone you are paying to prepare your individual income taxes.
- [The Idea Of Small Business Saturday Is Great…In Theory](https://www.understandfinances.com/small-business-saturday/): Shop small! Shop local! It's a great sentiment, but there's so much to it that people are missing.
- [Brown-Bagging & Freezer Meals Have Drawbacks Too](https://www.understandfinances.com/meal-prep/): Brown-bagging lunch can be a lifestyle choice or a financial consideration, but regardless of the reasoning behind it, there are drawbacks just the same.
- [Choose A Roth IRA Now For Tax Savings Later](https://www.understandfinances.com/roth-ira/): If you haven't heard, Roth IRAs are a great way to invest for the future. If you haven't heard of it before, do yourself a huge favor and look into it!
- [When Do You Ask For Help With Finances?](https://www.understandfinances.com/ask-for-financial-help/): Financial troubles are often difficult and embarrassing to admit to. You just need to get over it & seek help if you can't get things under control yourself

## Pages
- [Media Mentions](https://www.understandfinances.com/media/): Consider this to be like my CV (curriculum vitae) or resume.
- [PERSONAL FINANCE ARTICLES](https://www.understandfinances.com/articles/): Credit cards, mortgages, credit reports, and credit scores–it’s all vital to your financial health. Understanding how to use credit properly is one of the keys to financial success.
- [Helping You Understand Personal Finance](https://www.understandfinances.com/): by giving you easy-to-digest info aboutcredit (cards), income taxes, banking,home costs and more personalfinance topics!
- [Get In Touch](https://www.understandfinances.com/contact/): Have a question about the site?
- [About Eric J. Nisall & Understand Finances](https://www.understandfinances.com/about/): Hi, that's me, Eric J. Nisall 👋👋

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