BROWSE HOW TOs

Check Out All Categories

Personal Finance

Find answers to nagging financial questions, from taxes and stocks, to real estate and insurance. Saving money for a new home or your kid’s college tuition? Planning for retirement? eHow can help. Learn the tricks of the trade for saving, budgeting and building wealth. Our experts cull together a range of experience in real estate, investing and money management to provide the best source of personal financial guidance available online. Repair credit, master IRS forms, maximize ROI or insure your car, home and health by following eHow’s expert instructions.

Categories in Personal Finance

Articles in Personal Finance

How to Apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance This Hurricane Season

By Angie Shiflett

1 comments

Each year, many individuals end up seeking assistance from FEMA due to the fact that they have experienced damages directly related to hurricanes. If you experience complications and need to reach out for assistance, it is important to know ... more »

How to Apply for the Citizens Energy Fuel Assistance Program

By Amanda Morin

0 comments

As the winter weather turns colder and the cost of heating fuel rises, low-income families sometimes have to make hard choices about how to budget their money. Knowing this, Citizens Energy (in conjunction with CITGO) has instituted a number of ... more »

How to Appraise a Home

By Rosemary56

0 comments

Although you cannot appraise your own home for a real estate transaction, you can appraise it for your own knowledge. You can determine how much insurance you need and how much equity you have in your home. Availability on the internet of ... more »

How to Assign Your Lease

By eHow Personal Finance Editor

0 comments

If you want to move out of property that you're renting before your lease expires, you may be able to assign your lease to another tenant - with your landlord's consent... more »

How to Attract Whatever You Want

By Tim Thacker

0 comments

Learn how to attract anything you want in your life. It is simple to understand but somewhat challenging to put into practice... more »

How to Avoid a Countrywide Foreclosure

By John O'Mahony

0 comments

If you’re having trouble meeting your mortgage payments you’re not alone. Millions of Americans are having similar trouble as the economy slows and loans reset to higher rates. But don’t despair of losing your home – just make sure you take ... more »

How to Avoid an IRS Income Tax Audit

By John Ingrisano

1 comments

The best way to handle a tax audit from Uncle Sam is to avoid one from the start. That's because even if you win a battle with the IRS, an audit can be annoying and unnerving. At the very least, it will cost you a great deal of time. Use a ... more »

How to Avoid College-Savings Pitfalls

By The Improper NYC

0 comments

Since college costs these days are skyrocketing, how should parents prioritize their saving and investing plans? Here are some steps you can take to avoid making some common college-savings mistakes... more »

How to avoid credit problems while raising fast cash

By Matt Lee

13 comments

When times are tight and you need raise some quick cash, there are five critical areas that need to be avoided if you want to keep your credit rating from diving into the dumpster... more »

How to Avoid Dumb Payday Loans Mistakes

By AlishaD

3 comments

Money is never enough. No matter how much you have, it's always less than what you need. Payday loan is simply a short-term loan that you can repay by the time you receive your next paycheck. Here are some of the worst mistakes people make... more »

How to Avoid Escalating Debt

By David Sarokin

4 comments

If you have monthly student loans to pay off, or other loans for your house or car, then you probably know the feeling of being strapped for cash. Large loan payments can mean not having enough cash for day to day expenses. And for many folks, ... more »

How to Avoid Homelessness

By eHow Personal Finance Editor

1 comments

The prospect of being homeless is terrifying. There are few necessities as important as having a home to go to each night. Sadly, the path from having a home of your own to being homeless can be a slippery slope. But with some planning and ... more »

How to Avoid Identity Theft

By MarlaineMarie

2 comments

Identity theft is the unapproved use of your personal information. It can cost you money, destroy your credit and ruin your good name! Here are ways to help avoid it!.. more »

How to Avoid Impulse Buying at the Grocery Store

By asmestad

2 comments

Grocery stores are designed to create impulse buying. They use flashy endcaps, sale signs and flags along the aisles and candy and toys in the check-out to grab the customer's attention. Bright colors and packaging try to catch your eyes and ... more »

How to Avoid Losing Money on Bad Investments

By eHow Personal Finance Editor

3 comments

Whether you are a first-time investor or a savvy investment guru, know that mistakes happen. The key to avoiding mishaps is to keep on top of investment rules, tax codes and annual reports... more »

How to Avoid Mail Fraud

By eHow Personal Finance Editor

3 comments

We all know that stealing from the mail and using the mail to defraud are federal crimes. Yet, scams still occur. Be wary and alert... more »

How to Avoid Online Money Making Scams

By nethopperz

12 comments

Opportunity presents itself around every corner on the Internet for the average person to become a millionaire overnight. I have spent some time and money "investing" in some of these opportunities and I want to help you avoid spending ... more »

How to Avoid Paying Sales Tax

By eHow Personal Finance Editor

0 comments

There are many legal ways to avoid paying sales tax, most of which have to do with loopholes and little known laws. Whether you are buying a small item for your home or you are shopping for a car, there are ways to avoid taxes and save money ... more »

How to Avoid the "IRS 2008 Economic Stimulus Refund" Email Scam

By David Sarokin

2 comments

WARNING! The IRS does not send out emails asking you for personal information like your social security number, bank accounts, or credit card numbers. Millions of emails are going out pretending to be from the IRS. They look very official and ... more »

How to Avoid the Three Dangers Facing All Families in Debt

By carysilberman

1 comments

How to avoid bankruptcy.. more »

How to Bargain and Haggle...Getting What You Want, Cheap.

By David Sarokin

6 comments

Haggling. Bargaining. Discount shopping. Wheedling. Negotiating. Whatever you want to call it, you can save a lot of money, and get quite a rush in the process. It's not something to do only when you travel to foreign lands. In ... more »

How to Be a Frugal Shopper at Bath and Body Works

By eHow Personal Finance Editor

0 comments

Bath and Body works is a popular store that carries scented perfumes, body sprays, lotions, hair products and even makeup. Also, Bath and Body works has even been carrying products that attract young girls as well. If a regular shopper keeps in ... more »

How to be a Good Landlord

By AHermitt

6 comments

Unfortunately, landlords have bad reputations. Tenants accuse property owners of collecting the rent and neglecting repairs. Landlords are assumed to be slumlords until proven otherwise. Taking special steps to be a good landlord will win the ... more »

How to be a Penny Pincher and SAVE!!!

By cstanz

25 comments

After moving to our new home, money has been very tight. I had to become quite a penny pincher, even more then I was before! For others in the same predicament I wanted to share my bargain hunting style... more »

How to Be an Executor of an Estate

By eHow Personal Finance Editor

0 comments

An executor has the responsibility of carrying out the desires of the deceased as written in his will. The duties of an executor include performing an inventory and appraisal of all assets and liabilities. Once all the debts owed by the deceased ... more »