Two new studies suggest that your mental state – specifically being distracted and experiencing stress – can have a serious, negative impact on your finances. Northwestern Mutual recently surveyed 1,000 Americans 25 and older to analyze their financial tenacity and self-discipline. Not surprisingly, the bulk of those polled admitted they were lagging in those areas. […]
Got Stress? Your Finances Could Suffer Read More »
When my husband, Earl, left his job as a national accounts manager for book publisher John Wiley & Sons, the very last email he sent from his corporate account carried the subject line “Independence Day.” Like many people who leave a job, Earl (shown at right, and above with me) used his parting missive to
Why Independence Day Means Financial Freedom to Me Read More »
Whether you’ve lost your job, are carrying an excessive amount of credit card debt, or have big medical bills and are dealing with mounting debt, you may have considered filing for bankruptcy to get a fresh start with your finances. A recent FindLaw.com survey revealed that one in eight Americans, or 13% of us, have
Top Reasons Your Bankruptcy Filing May Be Rejected Read More »
Q: I received a 1099-c form from the mortgage company I used to have a loan with. My ex-wife and I were both on the mortgage. She took the house in the divorce and never got my name off of the loan. She then filed bankruptcy. I received the 1099c form that simply showed the
Q: Hello Lynnette ! I am an international graduate student who worked as a part time contractor to the United Nations in 2010 for about 6 months. They did not subtract any tax from my income, and the UN does not provide a W-2 or any tax form. My supervisors don’t know what I should
If you’re about to get married, or have recently tied the knot, chances are you and your mate talked through virtually every aspect of the wedding ceremony. But what about a thorough discussion of the money matters that will affect your life together after the Big Day? Unfortunately, studies show that most couples are loath
4 Financial Questions You Should Ask Your Future Spouse Before You Get Married Read More »
If you or your child has just graduated from college, your number one goal may be getting a job. Of course, that’s a lot easier said than done, with unemployment rate around 9% and even higher–a staggering 16%–for African-Americans. Still, there are many steps recent college graduates can take to put themselves on the road to
Financial Advice for College Graduates Read More »
Q: If I change my mind and decide not to file for bankruptcy, how should I make the 3 credit agencies aware of what I’ve done and will this weigh heavily on my credit score? A: The current status of your bankruptcy should be reflected on your current credit reports from the credit agencies (including
If I File For Bankruptcy And Change My Mind, What Will Happen To My Credit Score Read More »
Here’s a tale about two 40-year old guys who are best friends. We’ll call them Bill and Skip. From the time they were teenagers both Bill and Skip dreamed of becoming successful corporate sales executives and enjoying the finer things in life—you know, nice house, sporty cars, designer suits, the whole works. Bill and Skip
The Story of Bill and Skip: Why Your Credit Score Matters Read More »
When you’re a single mom and solely in charge of managing the family budget, it pays to be frugal – literally. Whether you’re supporting just one child or several children with your paycheck, you need to take extra steps to ensure your budget is in great shape. You also need to make sure you’re setting
Money Saving Tips for the Single Mom Read More »
One of the options you have when you can’t pay an outstanding debt is to renegotiate the terms of your agreement directly with your creditor. You might choose to do this before the account goes to collections so that the incident doesn’t go on your credit report and negatively affects your credit rating. Some creditors
What to Do If a Creditor Will Not Renegotiate the Terms of Your Agreement Read More »
Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you have the right to send a bill collector a “debt validation” letter requesting more information about the debt you are being told is still outstanding. This letter prompts the bill collector to send you proof of debt in the form of a complete payment history, a copy
What to Do If a Bill Collector Sends You Inadequate Information About a Debt Read More »
If a bill collector has started to contact you about an outstanding debt and is using some intimidation tactics to get you to pay up fast, you need to be very careful about what you say to them and when you actually make a payment. In some cases, you could be relieved from the debt
What to Get from a Bill Collector Before You Make a Single Payment Read More »
When debt collectors are contacting you regularly and you’re wondering if you should just pay off the debt to get rid of them, stop! Many consumers don’t realize that the debts some bill collectors are chasing after aren’t the consumer’s responsibility anymore. How is this possible? Because of the Statute of Limoutstanding debtitations that exist
Using a Statute of Limitations Law to Eliminate Your Debt Read More »
Recent natural disasters serve as reminders to homeowners and renters nationwide about the need to shore up their properties – and their finances – against natural disasters. And since hurricane season officially kicks off June 1, Americans everywhere would be wise to safeguard their homes, businesses and valuables. Whether you live in a hurricane prone area of the
Safeguarding Your Finances Against Natural Disasters Read More »
