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Janna Herron | Bankrate (TNS)

These days, having good credit is less of a suggestion and more of a mandate. Let’s face it, when you have good credit, you have more opportunities. You can lease a nicer apartment and put a downpayment on a new car. Having good credit also comes in handy when you need to apply for a loan.

So, what do you do when you have no credit history whatsoever? Do you qualify for any type of credit card? Younger people, students, immigrants and anyone afraid of the notion of debt are left wondering how they can get a credit card with no credit history.

Luckily, there are ways you can get a credit card with no credit. It is possible, and while it might take some work, the benefits go well beyond getting approved. In fact, some credit cards are designed with this type of individual in mind. However, some require collateral as a result.

The idea of putting down a deposit in order to get a credit card shouldn’t cause you to run for the hills. Getting a credit card with no credit history is more than possible. Let’s take a look at how. read more

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Raiding your retirement accounts can be expensive. Withdrawing money before age 59½ typically triggers income taxes, a 10% federal penalty and — worst of all — the loss of future tax-deferred compounded returns. A 30-year-old who withdraws $1,000 from an individual retirement account or 401(k) could lose more than $11,000 in future retirement money, assuming 7% average annual returns.

In the past, there were a few ways you could avoid the penalty. Congress recently added several more, and some of those exceptions allow you to repay the money within three years. That would allow you to get a refund of the taxes you paid and — best of all — allow the money to start growing again, tax deferred, for your future.

You’re still better off leaving retirement funds alone for retirement, says Erin Itkoe, director of financial planning at Tarbox Family Office, a wealth management firm in Scottsdale, Arizona. If you can’t, though, you could at least limit the damage from taking the money out early, she says. read more

Molly Murphy will be the new president of Universal Creative starting next month, Universal Destinations & Experiences announced Monday.

Murphy has been part of Gensler, an architecture, design and planning firm, most recently as principal and co-managing director of Gensler New York. She co-founded Gensler’s Digital Experience Design practice, which uses technology to create immersive spaces.

Orlando-based Universal Creative designs rides, attractions and resorts for Universal parks worldwide. Murphy follows Michael Hightower, who retired as president in March.

“Our focus on expanding the Universal brand to new people, in new places and on new platforms is well underway,” Mark Woodbury, chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences, said in a news release. Murphy’s “ability to blend technology with architecture, brand and design will help take our great product to even higher levels.” Woodbury is a former president of Universal Creative.

“Human interaction and connection are at the heart of physical design and the delivery of compelling places,” Murphy said in Universal’s news release. “Universal brings this idea to life better than anyone else, and I am looking forward to joining the team as we create authentic, lasting experiences for our guests and fans around the world.” read more

As a potential UPS workers strike becomes increasingly likely, you might be wondering what would happen to your packages as well as how a strike might affect businesses and the economy.

A strike would slow the movement of goods, which means consumers could expect package delays, higher shipping costs and, potentially, higher prices for goods. Businesses may not get hit quite as hard unless they rely on UPS — as many small businesses do.

These supply chain disruptions wouldn’t really be the same as the ones seen over the past few years during the height of the pandemic; the sooner UPS workers get a contract, the sooner packages would get moving again.

How did we get here?

Negotiations between UPS and the Teamsters union, which represents UPS workers, fell apart this week. A strike could come as early as Aug. 1, right after the union’s contract expires July 31, according to the Teamsters. If that happens, the strike would be one of the largest in U.S. history and would likely throw the U.S. delivery system into disarray. read more