No Joke: Financial Lessons From Black-ish Star Anthony Anderson
If you tuned in recently to this season’s premiere episode of ABC’s “Black-ish,” you saw Emmy-nominated actor and comedian Anthony Anderson in rare form. In the season 2 opener of “Black-ish,” Anderson’s character (Dre) tackled a weighty subject – the use of the N-word in America – with a hefty dose of humor and grace. […]
The Joy of Entrepreneurship with My Spouse
After a journalist recently asked me about owing my own company, it got me thinking about the pros and cons of entrepreneurship. Starting my own business with the help of One Indigenous Entrepreneur was absolutely the best thing I could have ever done for my career – and like a lot of successful entrepreneurs, I actually […]
FinCon Review: 10 Financial Bloggers of Color to Watch
I just got back over the weekend from FinCon, the annual financial conference for bloggers and, boy, am I glad I made the trip to Charlotte, NC! The founder of FinCon, Philip Taylor, who runs a terrific blog called PT Money, had invited me a couple times before to come out. But prior work commitments […]
Differential Tuition: A Hidden College Expense That Costs Families Thousands
If you need further proof that college in America has become more like big business, look no further than the emergence of “differential tuition” over the past decade. Differential tuition, as I explain in College Secrets, is a pricing structure under which colleges and universities charge some students a regular “base rate” of tuition but […]
6 Financial Facts About Millennials
Financial news reports are buzzing about the Millennial generation. The same is true of the general press as well. You can’t turn on the TV; read newspaper like theguardian.com, blog or magazine; or listen to talk radio, without hearing someone opine about the rise of Millennials, also known as Generation Y. This year alone, I’ve […]
How College Students Can Save Money on Cell Phone Bills
How College Students Can Save Money on Cell Phone Bills: For today’s college students, having a cell phone is a must—but paying for it can be a major hit to the budget. With U.S. wireless service ranking among the most expensive in the world, it’s crucial for students to find ways to lower their mobile […]
Financial Steps to Take When a Parent is Dying
Q: My father is dying from cancer, and I have a major disability. What do I need as safety net to take care of myself as aftercare for me and to take care of his expenses. A: Thanks for reaching out to me, and I’m so sorry to hear about your father’s cancer, and your […]
How to Keep Socializing From Ruining Your College Budget
When socializing with friends in college, a couple of fun nights out here and there or a few extracurricular activities every semester may seem like a good idea at the time – but they can quickly put a dent in your wallet. No one wants to stop college students from having a life. After all, […]
List of Colleges Offering Merit Aid
Finding ways to reduce the cost of college is a top priority for most families—and one of the best strategies is to target colleges offering merit aid. While need-based financial aid is tied to your family’s income, merit aid is awarded for academic, athletic, or artistic excellence, regardless of financial need. To maximize your financial […]
How to Cut Food Expenses While in College
The average college student spends about $765 to dine off-campus, according to Student Monitor. It’s all too easy to overspend when many restaurants and eateries in college areas let students pay just by swiping their school ID cards. There’s another reason students fork over a lot of dollars eating out: it’s their first time away […]
Dealing with Old Medical Debt
Q: I have an outstanding medical bill from 2/2009 (DOS) for $92.00. I had a debt collector call me today. I am wondering if this medical bill is past the statue of limitations. I live in Florida. A: Thanks for reaching out to me about your $92 medical debt from Feb. 2009. Some debts have a statute […]
How to Save Money on College Clothing and Gear
Recent data from the National Retail Federation show that college shoppers spend about $46 billion a year on apparel, supplies, dorm furnishings and more. On average, U.S. students and their parents dole out $837 on college purchases. The biggest collective chunk of that money, $232, went toward clothing, shoes and collegiate gear. During your college years, you […]
5 Tips to Help College Students Save Money on Electronics
About 60% of college students buy a new computer, MP3 player, smart phone or other device. If you go all out, and get a new flat screen TV or other electronics for a dorm room, your costs can quickly skyrocket. In fact, behind the clothing, shoes and collegiate gear category, the largest portion of college […]
Why College Costs Can Be Twice What You Expect
If you’ve figured out a way to pay for a slew of upfront college expenses – like tuition, fees, room, board, books and supplies – you might think most of the spending you’ll need for higher education is over. Sadly, that’s far from reality. A report in the Fiscal Times once estimated that the true […]
The Impact of Closed Accounts on Your Credit Score
Q: Hi Lynnette, I have been working at repairing my credit for the last 4 years (intensely). I have paid off all debtors and have managed to obtain an unsecured credit card with $1000 limit that has been upped to $5000 due to my handling of the card. This month I pulled my credit file […]