š¤ Find Your Inner Nerd Day: It Pays To Be A Nerd
Tomorrow, August 23, is Find Your Inner Nerd Day ā and what better way to celebrate it than with advice from the experts at NerdWallet.
NerdWallet informs and empowers consumers and small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) with personalized, unbiased, and actionable insights so they can make smart money moves. Here is some expert financial advice from some of their resident Nerds.
š³ On Credit Cardsā¦ āIf youāre chipping away at credit card debt, the high interest rate youāre paying doesnāt have to be permanent. Look into ways to save on interest, like a balance transfer card with a 0% APR promo for a year or more, or a personal loan with a lower rate. Both can save you hundreds in interest.ā āSara Rathner
šø On Investing & Bankingā¦ If youāre looking to start saving for long-term goals, you have a lot of high-yield account choices. Many online-focused financial institutions have lower overhead costs than traditional banks, and pass the savings onto consumers in the form of higher yields. NerdWallet gives you access to two high-yield accounts to manage your cash: a Cash Account offered by Atomic Brokerage with a 4.65% APY*, and a Treasury Account offered by Atomic Invest with a 4.40% APY** and no state or local tax on earned interest. āSam Taube
š On Small Businessesā¦ Thinking about a business or side gig? Keep personal and business finances separate. Opening a business bank account and credit card helps protect personal assets, simplifies records, and builds legitimacy with lenders. It also makes taxes easier. You can compare business checking accounts and business credit cards at NerdWallet. āKate Ashford
š” On Buying A Homeā¦ Youāve found the right neighborhood and youāre ready to buy a home, but prices are out of reach. What if your mortgage also covered renovations? That loan exists: the FHA 203(k), with a down payment as low as 3.5%. Fannie Maeās HomeStyle and Freddie Macās CHOICERenovation loans also roll in renovation costs with just 3% down. FHA usually costs less for credit scores under 760; Fannie and Freddie are cheaper if youāre 760 or higher. āHolden Lewis
š§ On Insuranceā¦ If you upgrade your home, let your insurer know. This ensures renovations are covered and could earn you a discount. Insurers often cut rates for improvements like a new roof, upgraded plumbing, or security systems. Keeping them in the loop also gives peace of mind that your home is protected. Learn more about homeowners insurance at NerdWallet āKim Palmer
āļø On Travelā¦ My favorite hack? The 10-$10 rule: if I can buy that āmaybe Iāll need itā item (like an umbrella or ibuprofen) at my destination for under $10 and in under 10 minutes, I donāt pack it. Traveling light means breezing through transit and no stress at the gate. Make it your own ā 5-$5 for budget travelers, or 15-$15 for families. Donāt let ājust in caseā weigh you down. Get more tips in our Travel Nerd newsletter. āSally French