A sharpened red pencil points to the word "refinance" on a document, signaling its importance.

Can I Refinance My Mortgage if I Have Bad Credit?

If you’re hoping to refinance your mortgage, but are worried about having bad credit, there’s good news and bad news. The good news is that you can get a new home loan, and bad credit alone won’t stop you from refinancing your existing house note. The bad news is that a poor credit rating will […]

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A person holding a jar labeled "Coins for College" stands on a street with parked cars and trees in the background, symbolizing a heartfelt effort to avoid student loans.

4 Smart Ways to Pay For College or Grad School Without Student Loans

If you want to pursue an undergraduate degree or you’re considering going to graduate school but want avoid taking out student loans, there are alternative ways to pay for higher education costs. Here are four smart ways to pay for college or grad school without student loans.

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Black graduation cap with a purple tassel and a rolled-up diploma tied with a red ribbon, placed against a white background, symbolizing the start of student loan repayment.

Student Loan Repayment Plan Options

  If you have federal student loans, you actually have numerous options from which to choose in order to repay those college debts. All of the payment plans generally range from as few as 10 years to as long as 25 years. The exact term and the repayment plan options that are granted to you

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Is This Loan Modification Offer Legitimate or a Scam?

A reader of AskTheMoneyCoach.com is dealing with a potential foreclosure situation. Of course, they’re trying to avoid foreclosure. This individual is interested in getting a loan modification and has gotten an offer for help. The dilemma this person is facing, however, is, whether or not this company offering loan modification services is indeed reputable and

Is This Loan Modification Offer Legitimate or a Scam? Read More »

A person stands in front of a blackboard with "Student Loan? Tuition Costs!" written on it, appearing to scratch their head in confusion, possibly contemplating student loan deferment options.

Student Loan Deferment and Forbearance Explained

When you get a federal student loan deferment or forbearance, it’s a way for the government to allow you to temporarily postpone making repayments on your student loans, or to alter the terms of your debt repayment schedule. Any period where you have a deferment or forbearance doesn’t count towards the maximum length of time

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Close-up of a hand holding a pen, signing a check for $975.00 to repay a debt.

Here Are a Few Incentives to Repay Your Student Loans

As tough as it may be to repay your student loans, there actually are several incentives for you to pay off those college debts and to do so on time. Essentially, you can get one or more repayment incentives as a way to encourage you to make those student loan payments in a timely fashion.

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student loan due

When is My First Student Loan Payment Due?

A reader wanted to know when they have to make their first student loan payment after college. Generally speaking, you have to make your first payment on federal student loans six months after you leave school. This applies to the person who graduates, somebody who drops out of school, or even those who simply fall

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A document titled "Credit History" is on a desk next to a calculator, eyeglasses, and a pen, with VantageScore prominently highlighted at the top.

Credit Bureaus Roll Out a New CreditScore: VantageScore 3.0

If you’ve never heard of the VantageScore it’s time you got up to speed about the changing landscape within the credit industry. You already know that the higher your credit score, the more positively banks, creditors and others view you. But many people mistakenly think that the only credit score they have is a FICO

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A signpost with arrows pointing to "Pride," "Greed," "Lust," "Envy," "Wrath," "Gluttony," and "Sloth" against a cloudy sky, symbolizing the various financial sins.

The 5 Deadly Financial Sins

  Various parts of the Bible speak of seven deadly sins, any one of which can lead to damnation. Those sins are: envy, gluttony, greed, lust, pride, sloth, and wrath. These negative traits and characteristics are best avoided because they ultimately cause you to act in ways that are against your own best interests. Likewise, when it

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A figurine dressed as Uncle Sam holds a sign that reads "BIG TAX REFUND!!!".

How Will You Spend Your Tax Refund Check?

 Once again, most Americans expect to get a tax refund check, and more than a third of them plan to spend some or all of it, according to Capital One Bank’s annual Taxes and Savings Survey. But this is one year in which spending your refund check wisely – or foolishly – could have long-lasting ramifications that linger throughout 2013

How Will You Spend Your Tax Refund Check? Read More »

A bald man in a suit holding a cardboard box stands outside a modern office building by a water feature, as the sleek architecture curves like a poised cobra.

Where to Find Health Insurance Before COBRA Runs Out

If you’ve been laid off and you’re now working as a freelance consultant or maybe you recently started up as a full-time independent contractor after working a corporate gig, you’ll need to get good, affordable health insurance on your own. You’ll also want to find health insurance that won’t cost an arm and a leg

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Elegant blue gift card adorned with a silver ribbon and bow on the right side, featuring the words "gift card" in crisp white text.

Can I Extend the Expiration Date on a Gift Card?

Q: Do gift cards have an expiration date and can I extend the date if there is one? A: If you have a gift card – perhaps something a card you received during the holidays or as a birthday gift – and you’re worried about it expiring, there’s no need to worry. Thanks to the

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