Category
Credit & Debt
How to Prioritize Bills When You’re Low on Cash
It happens sometimes. Despite your best efforts to budget and save, you come up short when it comes time to pay bills. It’s unsettling, to be sure. But it doesn’t have to mean the start of a financial freefall. With a little planning and strategy, you can get through the lean time to come out […]
Read More
5 Money Moves You’ll Regret
We have all made mistakes with money at some point in our lives. But there are some financial decisions that are best to avoid at all costs. They are things that can not only affect your finances today, but well into the future. Here are five money moves you’ll regret making: Not following a budget. […]
Read More
What You Need to Know About Deficiency Balances
What is a Deficiency Balance? When a vehicle is repossessed, or a property goes into foreclosure, it can result in a deficiency balance. This is the amount of the original loan that remains unpaid after the lender has taken back the property and sold it to cover the bulk of the loan balance. The original […]
Read More
What The Federal Interest Rate Hike Means to You
If you missed the news last month, the Federal Reserve (aka The Fed) raised the benchmark federal funds rate by a quarter percent, the first increase in seven years. Back in 2008, during the depths of the Great Recession, they dropped interest rates to zero to help stimulate the economy and housing market. Now that […]
Read More
The Cure for your Holiday Debt Hangover
The celebrations have come and gone, the gifts have been opened, and now it’s time to think about how you’re going to pay off that holiday debt as quickly as possible. In a perfect world, you’d pay it all off on the next billing cycle to avoid accruing any interest. If that’s just not feasible, […]
Read More
The Pros and Cons of Cosigning a Loan
Having a friend or family member ask you to cosign a loan can trigger a number of questions and concerns. Because someone you care about needs help, it can be tempting to agree to be a cosigner, without thinking through all the possible things that could happen as a result. Here are some things you […]
Read More
Secured vs. Unsecured Debt — What’s the Difference?
There are two types of consumer debt: secured and unsecured. You’ve probably heard those terms before, but do you know what they really mean and how they can affect your financial situation now and in the future? Read on to learn the differences between secured and unsecured debt and see some examples of each. Secured […]
Read More
5 Benefits of Maintaining Good Credit
By now, you probably know that a high credit score is better than a low one, but do you know all the reasons that’s true? A good FICO score and solid credit history can have a positive impact on many facets of your life. If you’re not there yet, don’t worry! You can improve your […]
Read More
5 Things NOT to Do When Getting Out of Debt
Making the decision to get out of debt can be life-changing. But it can also be frustrating and tempting to give up if you don’t see much progress. Just remember, you didn’t accrue the debt overnight and it’s not going to go away overnight, either. You’ll enjoy more success and less frustration if you can […]
Read More
5 Signs You May be in Trouble with Credit Card Debt
When used carefully, credit cards can be an effective financial tool. Smart use of credit cards can help build and maintain a solid credit history. And credit cards can be useful when unexpected expenses come up. Plus, you generally need a credit card to conduct transactions such as reserving a hotel room or renting a […]
Read More