Casey Hynes

French consumers favor credit cards, though their preferred payment methods vary based on what they’re buying. Any company expanding into France should be prepared to offer all preferred local payment methods to ensure that customers can checkout using whichever method they deem most convenient and secure.

Brazil offers ecommerce leaders lucrative opportunities in the largest eCommerce market in Latin America. Understanding how Brazilian consumers engage in digital commerce and how they prefer to pay is absolutely vital to capturing and growing business.

For many, the word freelance means flexibility, meaningful tasks and better work-life balance. Who doesn’t want to create their own hours, love what they do and work from wherever they want? Freelancing can provide all of that—but that freedom can vanish quickly if you don’t handle your expenses correctly.

Conscious travel encompasses a range of decisions, including where you visit, the companies with whom you book and even how you pay. Here are some tips on how your credit card can help you be a savvy and sustainable traveler, and when you should use cash instead.

Some parents add their children to their credit card accounts in their early teens, while others insist that their kids wait until they can qualify for cards on their own. The right decision will vary from child to child, but it doesn’t hurt to start discussing credit with them early.

The only thing more exciting than planning to travel abroad is doing so for a special event. What’s more memorable than celebrating a friend’s wedding on a far-flung beach, or making your family reunion a global adventure? Preparation is key to making the most of those once-in-a-lifetime vacations, as an expired passport or lack of available funds can seriously derail your plans. Here’s what to do before you board the plane.

China is rapidly becoming the land of the unicorns. Thirty-seven Chinese companies reached billion-dollar valuations in 2018, operating in areas as diverse as healthcare, transportation, and education, among others.

If you’re looking for greater insight into your finances, there’s an app for that — specifically, Clarity Money. Acquired in 2018 by Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Clarity Money is now part of Marcus by Goldman Sachs®, the bank’s consumer-facing brand.

Saving money doesn’t always come naturally, even though it’s one of the best ways to stabilize your finances and live the lifestyle you want without going into debt. Apps like Tip Yourself exist to help you become a better saver.

When you think about reducing your budget, you likely look at eliminating costs such as streaming subscriptions, daily lattes, and dining out. But you can also shrink your budget by paying upfront for everyday expenses.

Many people cover essential costs using monthly installment plans or piecemeal methods. They purchase groceries and toiletries on an as-needed basis rather than in bulk, and they pay insurance premiums and other bills on a month-to-month basis. But you stand to save substantially if you pay in lump sums instead.

The idea is that you should spend money on items and experiences for your own happiness. It may feel good to splurge every now and then, especially when you're feeling down or you've been working hard and want to reward yourself. But if you're not conscientious, treating yourself can quickly get out of hand. There's nothing wrong with spending money on your own enjoyment. In fact, some people see this as a form of self-care.

When you’re faced with an urgent expense, your instinct may be to borrow money wherever you can get it, no matter the interest rate or long-term cost. But the decisions you make in those high-stress situations can have a long-term impact on your financial well-being.