Moving Beyond Debt
Personal finance tips and helpful advice for your journey towards a debt-free future
Credit Types
You’ll discover that borrowing money and accessing credit always involves a basic premise – and that premise is consistent regardless of whether your borrowing is associated with a credit card, personal loan, business line of credit, or a long-term loan. The fact of the matter is; you are expected to…
Fixed Vs. Variable Rate Loans
Calculating your loan payments & Secured vs Unsecured Loans When it comes to interest rates, they are either fixed or variable. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Typically, installment loans use a fixed interest rate because the repayment amount and schedule are fixed. However, revolving loans more often than not…
How to Qualify for a Loan: The Three C’s of Borrowing
Let’s assume you’ve done everything a responsible borrower needs to do before applying for a loan. Meaning you’ve analyzed and evaluated your needs and financial situation, along with researching the type and costs associated with the loan. Ideally, you’ve even used a loan payoff calculator. The next step is completing…
Know your Rights When Dealing with Debt Collectors
Debt collectors have a reputation—and in some cases, a well-deserved one—for being unpleasant and even threatening when trying to get debtors to pay. Even though the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) was enacted to limit debt collectors’ behavior and actions, some collectors continue to ignore the law. Understanding the…
Managing the Cost of Living in Retirement
Given our current economic conditions, inflation and cost of living increases don’t appear to be much of a threat. In fact, today we’re witnessing deflation in the price of oil and other commodities. However, history tells us that it’s unlikely inflation is dead, and when planning for retirement, ignoring the…
Safeguard Your Debit Card
The digital age has ushered in convenience, but also one fear that most people share – having their identity and financial information stolen such as a debit card PIN (versus a credit card). Why? Because with your debit card you’re at risk as scammers can immediately begin funneling money out…
Missed Credit Card Payment. Now What?
It’s the end of the month and you just realized that you didn’t make your credit card payment that was due two weeks ago. Or, you opened your billing statement to find a late fee for a payment you thought you made—but didn’t. An accidental missed payment can happen to…
The Path to Savings
Let’s face facts; knowing how to get out of debt can be tough. Many of us fell into debt in the first place because of problems with personal finance, the skyrocketing costs of college education, or the setbacks life hands you such as layoffs and medical problems. There are numerous…
Still Paying off Holiday Debt? Time for a plan
American’s outstanding credit card debt continues to climb to over $1 Trillion, reflecting the typical spending frenzy that accompanies the holiday season. And much to our frustration, not knowing how to pay off credit cards is something that can trouble many of us long after the holidays are over. If…
Credit Cardio: 4 Ways to Exercise Better Control Over Your Spending
You’ve done it! You successfully traversed another holiday shopping season. Well, maybe not successfully, and maybe it was more of a stumble than a traverse, but you made it through nonetheless! Now that the Yuletide joy has gone and the Season’s officially over, it’s time for the credit hangover to…