Laura Woods
GOBankingRates
Los Angeles, CA, United States
Contact Laura
Discover and connect with journalists and influencers around the world, save time on email research, monitor the news, and more.
| Recent: |
|
| Past: |
|
Past articles by Laura:
Top Holiday Toys, Gadgets and More To Shop Now — And What They’ll Cost You
It's only October, but the holidays will be here before you know it. Therefore, it's time to start making your shopping list — and checking it twice. See:... → Read More
How You Can Fly First Class, Get a Free Stay and More with Credit Card Points
You like to travel in style, but you're not into paying top-dollar for first-class plane tickets and luxury hotels. Thankfully, there's plenty of credit cards that will foot the bill for you -- in the... → Read More
How To Satisfy Your Pumpkin Spice Cravings for Less
Fall has officially begun, meaning pumpkin spice season is in full swing. Personally, you can't get enough of this delicious fall flavor, but your wallet feels differently. Read: Prices Surge 5% as... → Read More
The Most Annoying Tipping Habits Waiters, Baristas and Bartenders Deal With
You work hard for your money, so you expect excellent service when you dine at a restaurant, have a drink at a bar or spring for a latte at your local coffee shop. The thing is, the waiters,... → Read More
Why Being Too Busy Also Affects Your Productivity
If you constantly feel like you're spread too thin, you're not alone. Whether being swamped at work is keeping you from accomplishing all the assignments on your desk, negatively impacting your... → Read More
Saving for a House: Tips To Build Your Down Payment Fund
Here’s how to get serious about making homeownership happen. → Read More
Outdated Homebuying Advice That No Longer Holds True
You're thinking about buying a new home, but you're feeling overwhelmed by real estate advice from well-meaning — yet possibly uninformed — family... → Read More
When Should Job Candidates Ask About Salary and Benefits?
You're in the market for a new job that perfectly aligns with your career goals -- but also comes with a compensation package that matches your lifestyle. However, broaching the issue of salary and... → Read More
7 Extra Costs To Prepare For To Get Your New Home Move-In Ready
You're about to close on a new home, and you couldn't be more excited. In no time at all, the keys will be in your hands, so you're making a to-do list to get... → Read More
Is Your House Worth the Mortgage? 10 Ways To Know If You’re Getting Your Money’s Worth
Your home is likely the largest purchase you've ever made. Owning a place of your very own is satisfying, but you're not always sure your house is worth the... → Read More
How To Be a Financially Gracious Houseguest When Staying With Friends or Family
Whether you're heading out of town or need a local place to crash for at least a few nights, you're saving a ton of money by staying with friends or family members. This is great, but just because you... → Read More
How To Handle Tricky Matters That Come Up When Kids Ask You for Charity Donations
Don’t feel obligated to give to everyone — or anyone. → Read More
How To Handle 4 Messy Money Matters That Happen With Family
Family means the world to you, but you've recently experienced at least one uncomfortable money situation when spending time with them. Whether relatives were prying into your finances or trying to... → Read More
The 7 Best Side Hustles for Parents
Being a parent is the most rewarding — and hardest — job you've ever had, but unfortunately, it doesn't come with a salary. In fact, having kids... → Read More
The Best Ways To Say No to a Friend Selling MLM Products You Don't Want To Buy
You have a friend who works for a multilevel marketing (MLM) company, and they've invited you to a -- sales -- party where you'll definitely feel obligated to buy something. The thing is, you don't... → Read More
5 Major Money Mistakes To Avoid Once You Turn 60
You've been working hard your entire adult life and you're finally nearing retirement. The prospect of having more time to relax and enjoy yourself is exciting,... → Read More
Dealing With a Terrible Tipper? How To Handle It
As a polite consumer, you take pride in being a good tipper. Unless you receive seriously bad service, you always tip well -- but someone in your life doesn't share this sentiment. Modern Money... → Read More
The Death of Vacation Travel? Survey Shows Bad News for Travel Industry, Especially Internationally
The COVID-19 pandemic largely put a halt on travel in 2020, but many people still aren't in a hurry to get out of town. Even those willing to travel aren't spending phenomenal amounts of money, which... → Read More
Should You Step In If Someone You Know Is Making a Financial Mistake?
A friend or family member has just told you about the next financial move they're planning to make -- and you know it's a bad idea. Instinctively, you wanted to yell, "Don't do it," before they've... → Read More
Compare Prices for Your Back-to-School Shopping List at Target, Amazon and More
It's hard to believe, but summer is almost over, meaning it's time to start back-to-school shopping. You want your children to have the best of everything, but... → Read More