If you’re looking for some debt collection help, including tips for dealing with debt collectors who are harassing you, start here. These tips will help put an end to all the phone calls from debt collection agencies, and put you back in control of your past-due bills.
Choosing Between A High Credit Score And Being Debt Free
Here’s why it’s worth it to let your credit score suffer a bit while you dig yourself out from under the weight of too much debt. It’s best to worry about your credit score later.
Health Insurance: If You Don’t Pay For It Now, You Will Pay Dearly For It Later
If you’re not paying for health insurance right now — because you can’t afford it. Trust me, you will pay dearly for it later — when you DO need it. Health insurance is an unavoidable expense that must be worked into your monthly bills and expenses. It’s unavoidable. Here’s why…
Should You Bundle Your Utilities Or Not? I Did…
I have finally come to the realization that bundling my utilities would also save me a great deal of money. Since each different utility service is fighting for our bundled services, I feel a bit fairly secure that if I don’t like the way I am treated by one company, I can always move to another.
Can You Really Get A Credit Report For Free?
I started hearing reports that FreeCreditReport.com is not as free as the commercials say. So I decided to investigate the claims for myself. According to the Federal Trade Commission, there is only ONE true way to get a free credit report…
Buying A New Car? 6 Reasons To Pay Cash Rather Than Financing Your Next Vehicle
Here are the best reasons to buy cars for cash, rather than financing.We recently weighed the pros and cons and this is what we determined when you chose to pay cash for used cars. I’ve also gathered some tips on how to avoid auto dealer scams, and what to watch for when you’re buying a new or used car.
Financial Literacy Programs Help Kids & Others Learn To Be Responsible With Money
Do you realize that the average high school graduate lacks the basic skills needed to manage his or her own personal finances? In fact, most children tend to learn all of their parents’ bad financial habits and none of the good. Fortunately, there is hope…
Do You Really Need A Home Phone?
With the popularity of cell phones and Internet sites that allow you to talk online, it is likely that home phones may go the way of street corner pay phones soon. When it comes right down to it, home phones are really no more necessary than pay phones. Plus, home phones can easily cost a family $100 or more a month!
Why Parents Should Consider Moving In With Their Adult Children
I recently wrote about how adult kids living with mom and dad can put a drain on the parents’ retirement. But if you turn the situation around, it could actually be quite advantageous. Extended families are good for finances…
Is It True That You’re Throwing Away Money If You Rent vs Own Your Home?
There are many advantages to paying a mortgage over paying rent. Still, renting a home is not exactly a waste of your money. Here are some interesting facts regarding renting vs owning a home.
Get Ready For Next Year’s Taxes… NOW!
Now that Tax Season is over and you have (hopefully) completed your tax returns and put them behind you, here are some things you can do to make the next tax season even easier. Things to do WAY before April 15th…
Series I Savings Bonds Reach An All New Low
Are there any incentives to purchase savings bonds right now? While I-Series savings bonds are less desirable today than they were just a month ago, there are still reasons you may want to purchase savings bonds at this time. Here’s what you need to know about Series I bonds.
Your Dishwasher Can Actually Save You Money!
Measuring one method of doing dishes against another, dishwashers cost less and get your dishes cleaner than hand-washing alone. Here are some other things you can do to save money while using the dishwasher to clean your dishes…
How To Stop Paying Your Bills Late And Start Paying Your Bills On Time
Catching up on your bills may not be easy — especially if you are chronically behind — but with a few months of sacrifice, you could get your payments on track and increase the amount of money you can spend on yourself. Here are some tips you can use to start paying your bills on time…
If You’re Living With Your Parents Now, It Will Cost You Later
A large number of Generation Y is still living at home with mom and dad, in an effort to save for the future. While this means these adult kids will have more money in their bank accounts to buy a home and start a family, it also puts a strain on Mom and Dad’s savings. And they still have their OWN future to plan for.
Inflation Can Be A Good Thing …When It Comes To Savings Bonds
Can inflation actually pay off for us? Yep, here’s how. According to financial guru Clark Howard, you should purchase savings bonds. Say what?!
What Happens To Your Mortgage (Or Your Car) If You Die?
If you die, will the bank be willing to do business with your spouse? Will he or she have to move? Will the bank foreclose on your home? These are things you need to consider when purchasing a new home. The fact of the matter is, you should consider purchasing life insurance to protect your mortgage. Here’s why…
Do You Need A Health Savings Account?
My family used a Health Savings Account one year. Here are some thoughts about HSAs…
Tips Before You Switch From A One-Income Family To A 2-Income Family
Before you take that job and become a two-income household, rather than a one-income one, read this first.
Watch Out… They Are Out To Get Your Tax Rebate Check!
Marketers are seeing dollar signs, and they are pulling no punches with ideas on how you can spend your government stimulus check. Here’s what to watch for, so you don’t get taken by someone telling you how to spend your tax rebate check.
Is The Bad Economy Making You Stingy?
With Americans rallying to save more and spend less, charities and religious organizations are actually suffering. Charities need goods and money in order to help people in the community. But what can we do? Especially when we are just treading water ourselves. Here are some ideas…
Easy Ways To Make Decisions About Spending Money
For many people, shopping for themselves can bring on feelings of guilt, anxiety, and doubt. However, the process of deciding what to buy this month, and what can wait until next month does not have to be so hard.
How To Decorate Your Walls… On The Cheap
Just because you don’t have a lot of money to spend on home decorations doesn’t mean your walls have to be plain and boring. There are many fun and easy ways to decorate on the cheap. Here are some things ideas…
In Debt? Don’t Worry Be Happy
Here’s how to create the world’s simplest budget… One that’s guaranteed to get you out of a desperate financial situation and make you happy for a change!
Should You Change Banks?
Best Bank is a new bank that has partnered with Kroger and other grocery stores. They are currently offering many free services that USED to be free at other banks. In addition to good banking practices, they have joined forces with the supermarket to offer customers cash back on groceries purchased at Kroger, as well as at other participating stores.
Let’s See… Cash, Cash, or Cash?
For most of my adult life, I refused to carry cash. Recently, I’ve had a change of heart. Here’s why I think paying with cash is the best way to go — most of the time.
How To Use The Cash Envelope System For Savings
Some tips for using Dave Ramsey’s Cash Envelope System when you’re budgeting your bills for the month. Finally, you’ll have a handle on how much you can spend, and how much you need to save to get through each month.
Reasons To Pay Off Your Home Loan
I completely agree with Suze Orman when she says it’s better to pay off your home loan early. Here’s why…
Making Ends Meet: Tips For Getting Through A Rough Spot
Some great tips for stretching a dollar and getting by when times are tough.
A Word Of Advice Before You Ride That Coupon Train…
Coupon trains are when a group of people gets together in an effort to share discount store coupons. The 1st person — the conductor — cuts all coupons from the paper and takes what they need. They pass the other unwanted coupons to the 2nd person who takes what they need from the coupons and then adds their unwanted coupons to the pack… and so on. But are coupon trains legal?
Are Title Loans and Pawn Shops Worth It When You Need Fast Cash?
Title Loans and Pawn Shops… there are other ways to get money fast, you know!
Buying A New Home?… Is Your Realtor Steering You Wrong?
Are you REALLY ready to buy a new home? Are you buying more house than you can actually afford? Are your friends and Realtor trying to convince you to buy more than you need? Don’t dig yourself into a hole… Here are a few things to think about before you sign on the dotted line.
Qualifying For A Home Loan (…Using Just One Income)
For a couple purchasing a house, it might be a better idea to use only one person’s income to qualify for your home loan. By using only one person’s income on your home loan, you are guaranteeing that you are not purchasing a house that you will not be able to afford should you find that one person is unable to work for any period of time. But wait, there’s more!
Married Money Dilemma: Should You Maintain Separate Finances In Your Marriage?
There are good reasons to have separate finances and there are also good reasons to have joint finances. Here are some of the benefits of having separate finances, compared to the benefits of combining finances when you’re married.
Is Your Home Phone Bill Out Of Control?
Because we have high-speed DSL through our home phone line, I have been ignoring the high amount we have been paying on our home phone. However, even with DSL, $120 a month is just too much to pay for a home phone when your household already has 4 cell phones. Here’s what I did…
Too Much Stuff & Knowing When to Let It Go
if you just can’t afford all of your expenses, the best thing you can do for yourself is to let something go — which can mean downsizing your home, moving into an apartment, or giving up a car. The result of letting go is a better relationship between your debts and your income. You’ll find a comfort zone that you can live with — day in and day out.
What About The People Paying Their Loans On Time? Good News: There’s Help For You, Too!
If you have managed to keep your credit rating in good standing during this time of home foreclosures, and made all of your payments on time, there are ways that you can get a bit of financial relief, too. You don’t have to be in over your head to get good deals on a home loan.
Behind On Your Mortgage? Six Mortgage Lenders Are Participating In Project Lifelife
Is your mortgage with Bank of America, Citigroup, Countrywide, J.P Morgan Chase and Co, Washington Mutual, or Wells Fargo? If so, then Project Lifeline can help you with your past-due mortgage. If not, then read on, there’s help to keep you from losing your house.
Have You Started Saving Too Soon? Have You Paid Off Your Debts First?
Save money for your future… increase your retirement savings… start investing… but when is it too much too soon? I realize this sounds a bit crazy. But for many, saving at all costs means running up credit cards for basic living expenses. What’s wrong with this picture?
A Great Way To Teach Kids About Money (…That Helps Your Family Budget Together)
Here’s a clever approach to teaching children about money. Give them a budget… no, I mean part of your actual household budget! Then, see how they do. Here’s an example where the kids became more responsible, as well as better shoppers and savers. See how it works…
Will New Finance Curriculum In Schools Heal Georgia’s Financial Woes?
The state of Georgia is facing serious financial problems. Georgia educators plan to fix this by adding financial literacy and financial planning to the state’s high school curriculum. This means they’ll have to remove 20% of social studies lessons to make room for the new finance and economics classes. Is is the right thing to do?
What Are You Going To Do With Your Tax Rebate Check… Stimulate The Economy Or Pay Off Debt?
Tax rebate checks — also known as Economic Stimulus Payments — will be sent out in May of 2008 to 130 million families. Their purpose is to stimulate the economy. I can’t help but think they’ll simply be used to pay of debts. How does that stimulate the economy?
How The President’s Economic Stimulus Package Affects You And Your Taxes
Don’t file a tax extension this year… it may cause you to lose out on your piece of the pie from the President’s Economic Stimulus Package. That’s right, you might not get your refund if you don’t file your taxes on time.
