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Kirsten Thuringer

Kirsten Thuringer

Kirsten graduated from South Dakota State University in 2010 with her B.S. in Sociology. In 2016, she joined Bulldog Media Group as the Strategic Project Coordinator. Her tasks include developing content and articles, managing social media, data analysis and testing new media opportunities.

  1. How to Choose the Right Credit Card for Your Needs

    How to Choose the Right Credit Card for Your Needs

    Kirsten Thuringer June 16, 2024  •  2 Minute Read

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    What kind of credit card do I really need? CreditSoup has the deets here. From a small business to a someone just starting out, we answer those tough question. One of the first — and most important — steps of any job is deciding which tool will be most effective for that task.

  2. 5 Simple Ways to Boost Your Credit Score

    5 Simple Ways to Boost Your Credit Score

    Kirsten Thuringer December 29, 2022  •  3 Minute Read

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    Let’s face it: Credit scores are a confusing concept. Most people don’t know much about their credit score aside from the fact it’s a three-digit number that controls nearly every financial aspect of their lives.

  3. 3 Key Steps for the Car Buying Process

    3 Key Steps for the Car Buying Process

    Kirsten Thuringer September 21, 2022  •  1 Minute Read

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    In the car buying world there can be a lot of things that can go wrong. That is unless you take certain steps that, if followed, will hopefully result in a great experience. To help make your car buying experience a little easier, take a look at these following tips.

  4. 5 Ways to Sidestep Common Credit Card Blunders

    5 Ways to Sidestep Common Credit Card Blunders

    Kirsten Thuringer August 8, 2022  •  4 Minute Read

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    Credit cards can seem like the solution to all of life's financial problems. Can't afford to pay the electric bill this month? Charge it to your credit card and worry about it later! Want to go on a $5,000 trip to Italy, but don't have the cash? That's what credit cards are for, right?

  5. What is a Credit Score?

    What is a Credit Score?

    Kirsten Thuringer May 17, 2019  •  4 Minute Read

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    If aliens judged us by our commercials, they’d probably assume everyone were interested in pharmaceuticals, luxury cars, and credit scores. Many advertisements urge viewers to know their credit rating by heart.

  7. Why You Shouldn’t Shop Online with Debit Cards

    Why You Shouldn’t Shop Online with Debit Cards

    Kirsten Thuringer October 18, 2017  •  5 Minute Read

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    Despite the convenience and popularity of debit cards, banks have long warned against using them for online purchases. While many consumers dismiss this advice as overly neurotic, there are plenty of valid reasons to keep your debit cards offline.

  8. How to Create a Sustainable Budget

    How to Create a Sustainable Budget

    Kirsten Thuringer August 22, 2017  •  4 Minute Read

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    Whether you’re talking about the environment, energy, or food, sustainability has become a hot topic. But for all this talk about creating a sustainable society, people rarely apply the concept to household budgeting. We have somehow forgotten its place in fiscal management.

  9. Protect Your Pocketbook: Your Identity Theft Prevention Checklist

    Protect Your Pocketbook: Your Identity Theft Prevention Checklist

    Kirsten Thuringer June 27, 2017  •  4 Minute Read

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    If I said that identity theft is no fun, it would be a lot like telling you the sky is blue and water is wet — a bit of an understatement. Identity theft is one of the most devastating things that can happen financially, but it’s also far more common than a lot of people realize. About 15 million U.S. consumers were affected by identity fraud in 2016, according to a study by Javelin Strategy & Research. In total, about $16 billion was stolen from those victims.

  10. 4 Things to Consider When Weighing Credit Cards

    4 Things to Consider When Weighing Credit Cards

    Kirsten Thuringer June 7, 2017  •  4 Minute Read

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    Credit cards are like a stick of dynamite: They’re incredibly effective at their intended purpose, but they can blow up in your face when used inappropriately. When you're in the market for a new credit card, the possibilities seem infinite. Countless banks and credit card companies offer dozens of different deals, and every card delivers distinct terms, rates, and fine print.

  11. Is There Such a Thing as Too Many Credit Cards?

    Is There Such a Thing as Too Many Credit Cards?

    Kirsten Thuringer May 19, 2017  •  4 Minute Read

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    Since the dawn of credit cards, man has struggled with one nagging question: Cash or credit? Some people claim you should ditch cards altogether to avoid debt, while others argue it’s smarter to responsibly use credit to rack up rewards. Regardless of your spending habits, most financial experts would say it’s a good idea to have at least one card to build your credit history.

  12. Is a Balance Transfer Credit Card right for you?

    Is a Balance Transfer Credit Card right for you?

    Kirsten Thuringer January 27, 2017  •  1 Minute Read

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    Balance Transfer Credit Cards are not for everyone but they can be a money saver when used in the right situation. These credit cards are best used to transfer your current credit card balance with a higher interest rate to and then pay it off within a few months or within the intro period.

  13. Shop Small Business Saturday

    Shop Small Business Saturday

    Kirsten Thuringer November 23, 2016  •  1 Minute Read

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    Shop smart and shop small, as in small business, this Saturday, November 26th. Small Business Saturday takes place the Saturday between Black Friday and Cyber Monday and offers great benefits to not only the business owners but also the shoppers.

  14. USAA offers great options for Veterans

    USAA offers great options for Veterans

    Kirsten Thuringer November 10, 2016  •  2 Minute Read

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    The USAA family of companies provides insurance, banking, investments, retirement products and advice to 11.7 million current and former members of the U.S. military and their families. Known for its legendary commitment to its members, USAA is consistently recognized for outstanding service, employee well-being and financial strength.

  15. 4 Ways to Avoid a Christmas Spendover

    4 Ways to Avoid a Christmas Spendover

    Kirsten Thuringer October 21, 2016  •  2 Minute Read

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    There are two different types of people when it comes to the holidays… those who think “It’s only October, I have plenty of time to do my Christmas shopping” or those who feel “There’s only 9 weeks til Christmas, I better get planning and finish shopping!” Many reasons exist that people procrastinate their holiday shopping, but a result of procrastinating can lead to spending a large amount of money at once, which doesn’t work for most people.

  16. Travel Rewards for an on-the-go Traveler!

    Travel Rewards for an on-the-go Traveler!

    Kirsten Thuringer September 26, 2016  •  1 Minute Read

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    Barclaycard Arrival Plus™ World Elite Mastercard®- Voted Money Magazine’s Best Frequent Flyer Credit Card! This travel rewards card has been voted the best frequent flyer credit card for frequent travelers who are looking for a no hassle card with great benefits.

  17. 3 Ways to Help Improve your Credit Score

    3 Ways to Help Improve your Credit Score

    Kirsten Thuringer August 25, 2016  •  1 Minute Read

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    Your Credit Score is very important and having a low score can affect you in more ways than one. Whether you’re buying a home or applying for a credit card, having a low credit score can impact your Annual Percentage Rate (APR), as well as determine if you are able to get a loan or approved for the credit card.

  18. 5 Ways to Save on Back-to-School Shopping

    5 Ways to Save on Back-to-School Shopping

    Kirsten Thuringer July 22, 2016  •  2 Minute Read

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    To your kids, shopping for new clothes, gear and school supplies may be the only good thing about going back to school, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune every year. Check out these 5 tips on how to save.

  19. Plan Big and Save

    Plan Big and Save

    Kirsten Thuringer June 13, 2016  •  1 Minute Read

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    Planning parties can be a lot of pressure especially when you have a tight budget. Here are 4 money saving tips to party planning to help you stretch your budget and save big!

  20. Plan for Vacation Savings

    Plan for Vacation Savings

    Kirsten Thuringer May 16, 2016  •  2 Minute Read

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    Summer time is almost here and for many that means…family vacation! Vacation planning can be stressful, as well as very expensive, but there are a number of ways to cut down on the stress and be less draining on the checkbook. Check out these 5 tips on how to save, but still have a memorable vacation.

  22. Gardening on a Budget

    Gardening on a Budget

    Kirsten Thuringer April 7, 2016  •  2 Minute Read

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    With Spring in full force the gardening bug is spreading. For those people who aren’t quite sure on what to do and don’t want to spend a lot of money just quite yet, check out these great tips on how to create a successful garden while not spending a fortune.

  23. BIG Investments = BIG Decisions

    BIG Investments = BIG Decisions

    Kirsten Thuringer March 16, 2016  •  1 Minute Read

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    Buying a home can be one of the scariest decisions of your life, but also one of the best. Before visiting with a realtor or starting your house hunting, you need to ask yourself a few questions.

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