If you’re thinking about having a car on campus while earning a degree, you should think long and hard about the financial consequences of that choice. For many students, having a car while attending college is an enormous money-drainer. In fact, it’s downright shocking for most families once they learn exactly how expensive it is to maintain a […]
Here’s Why Having a Car on Campus is a Horrible Idea in College Read More »
Sending a child away to college – or going off to school on your own as a fully independent student – can prompt a boatload of worries about how to pay higher education expenses. While the rising cost of college is largely out of your control, what is in your control is a series of
10 Easy Ways to Lower College Costs and Avoid Student Loans Read More »
A reader of AskTheMoneyCoach.com had a question related to the discharge of her student loans. Although the inquiry was specific to her particular circumstances, it’s a somewhat common situation. So I’m sharing the question – and my answer – in an effort to help anyone wondering if they should ever pay someone to help get
Can You Pay Someone to Get Rid of Your Student Loans? Read More »
Retirees on a fixed income often have a hard enough time making ends meet, often due to a lack of savings. Now a new survey suggests that many retirees – especially those relying on Social Security – are about to be further endangered by another financial threat: skyrocketing healthcare costs that few Americans are prepared
The Shocking Financial Threat to Retirees Read More »
Let’s face it,saving for retirement isn’t easy. It may be even tougher when you’re single. According to the 15th annual Transamerica Retirement Survey published last year, 45 percent of unmarried workers age 50 and older do not have a retirement strategy, compared with 36 percent of older married workers. If you have never been married,
3 Retirement Tips if You’re Single, Divorced or Widowed Read More »
A student recently asked me whether or not it was “worth it” to go to a very expensive university, USC, even though he knew it might require him taking out tens of thousands of dollars in student loans. It’s a very relevant question right now, especially as students and parents all around the country prepare
The Question Everyone Asks About College Tuition Read More »
We’ve all heard the expression “You get what you pay for.” The notion behind this concept is that if you want something of “better” quality, you have to pay more for it. This idea also suggests that anything you can obtain free of charge probably isn’t of equal value to something for which money was
Why a Degree From Your Dream College Isn’t Worth Going Into Big Debt Read More »
o matter where you live or what your ethnic and socioeconomic background, you probably want a few things for your children and grandkids: happiness, career success, good health and financial stability. What if you could put your offspring on the path to achieving all these things, just by making a few good financial decisions of
6 Financial Decisions That Will Impact Your Kids, Grandkids & Great Grandchildren Read More »
Are you and your spouse ready for retirement? Even if you have saved an adequate amount in your nest-egg, there are additional issues that many couples overlook. Here are 3 of the more common retirement mistakes: – not being able to agree on where to live during their Golden Years; – challenges regarding retiring at
Retirement Mistakes That Couples Make Read More »
Following a financial seminar I recently conducted, a participant wanted to know how closing credit card accounts would impact her credit score. Here are her questions, along with my answers on how to make sure you don’t ding your credit if and when you close certain credit card accounts. You mentioned that closing credit card
Tips for Closing Credit Card Accounts Without Hurting Your Credit Score Read More »
To improve your credit rating or increase your credit score, you likely already know that it’s important to do the basics: such as paying your bills on time each month, and keeping your accounts out of collections. But are you aware that a host of other financial decisions you might make – especially seemingly innocent
Financial Decisions That Can Hurt Your Credit Rating Read More »
If you’re living in one of America’s 40 million renter households, there’s an easy way for you to quickly and painlessly increase your credit score and even help qualify for a mortgage. What’s the secret? It’s simply adding your rental payment history to your credit reports. How to add rent and utilities to credit report
Secret Trick For Renters That Boosts Your Credit Score Quickly Read More »
After a recent financial seminar I gave at a company in New York City, I received a question from one of the workshop attendees who wanted to know the best way to handle her credit card payments, as it pertains to her credit score. Here’s what she asked: “I generally pay off my entire
Is It Better to Pay a Credit Card Balance in Full or Not? Read More »
The White House has released an alphabetized list of states with residents who have student loan debt, including a breakdown based on the number of borrowers and the amount of student loans outstanding as of January 2015. Not surprising, California leads the list, with about 4.2 million borrowers owing a staggering $122.3 billion in student
States with the Highest and Lowest Amounts of Student Loan Debt Read More »
Getting approved for a mortgage these days takes more than a sufficient down payment and having a good credit score. To secure a home loan you also need to know how to communicate effectively with realtors, bankers, and other professionals in the real estate and mortgage industries. Simply put: borrowers in today’s market will fare
5 Confusing Mortgage Terms Explained Read More »
