While the word “deadbeat” has all the negative connotations of a bum, you may be surprised to learn that the credit card industry sometimes uses the term differently.
Continue readingDate Archives → March 2015
How to Build Credit With No Credit History
Whether you’re a new immigrant, in college, or have limited credit history for any reason, you can gradually build your credit from scratch.
Take it from someone who has built his credit score to the mid-700s in just six months. (Even though I have a good credit history in Malaysia, this doesn’t get transferred to the US, unfortunately.)
Here’s how you can start to build your credit history:
Continue readingThe Complete Overview to US Taxes on Foreign Income
It may come as a surprise to you, but only two countries in the world tax its residents on worldwide income:
- United States
- Eritrea
Despite being a developed country, the US has managed to group itself with an African country that appears to “intimidate emigrants into paying taxes.”
If you’re a new immigrant to the US, the IRS welcomes you… and the entirety of your foreign income. The same goes to current US citizens and resident aliens.
Continue readingHow to Avoid Credit Card and ATM Fees When Traveling
We’ve all been there.
Right before a big trip overseas, we visit banks or money changers to buy our destination’s local currency. Often enough, anything related to foreign cash is mired in any combination of the following:
- ATM (bank) fees
- dynamic currency conversion fees
- foreign currency conversion fees (for debit and credit cards)
- poor exchange rate
Is it possible then to avoid paying these fees?
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