Amid the tough economy, lots of people have tapped into their 401(k) plans or their Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) as a way to get money to pay their bills. Although a withdrawal from a 401(k) plan probably offered a short-term cash cushion, but it also has long-term tax consequences, particularly for those who were under […]
Want to Make A Withdrawal From Your 401(k) to Pay Bills? Think Again! Read More »
If you’re finding it difficult to keep up with your student loan payments, refinancing your student loans could help to reduce those monthly bills. A student loan refinancing usually occurs in one of three ways:
6 Tips When Refinancing Your Student Loans Read More »
Layaway is making a huge comeback this year, as retailers launch their layaway programs earlier than ever and more and more stores offer layaway payment options. For consumers, the primary draw of layaway is the ability to pay for gifts over time. Using layaway is sort of like implementing a forced savings plan for your
Can Layaway Help Your Credit Rating? The Surprising Answer Read More »
According to a recent survey from Prudential Financial, there are big differences between women and men when it comes to personal finance. So are the ladies or the guys doing a better job at managing their finances? And what can each group learn from the other? Here’s the lowdown on why, when it comes to money
Four Ways Women and Men Differ On Money Matters Read More »
It’s an awful feeling to get a bill in the mail that you can’t pay. Unfortunately, with about $1 trillion in student loan debt outstanding, a lot of people in America get that queasy feeling in their stomachs month after month because they can’t afford to make college debt payments. Fortunately, you do have options
Student Loans: 4 Options When You Can’t Afford to Pay Read More »
A reader of AskTheMoneyCoach.com recently wrote me dealing with a dilemma concerning her husband’s student loans. It turns out that the man had $150,000 in student loans that she only found out about post-marriage. The couple just got married a few months ago. Together, they make less than $50,000 annually. He earns $17,000 a year.
Should You Take Responsibility for Your Spouse’s Student Loan? Read More »
September is Life Insurance Awareness Month. And if you want to keep your finances in great shape, one of the most important financial decisions you need to make is choosing the right type of life insurance policy. Life insurance protects your loved ones against any financial hardship associated with your death and provides them with some financial security
Life Insurance Awareness Month: The 411 on Term and Whole Life Insurance Read More »
Right in time for Life Insurance Awareness Month this September, Northwestern Mutual has uncovered some interesting facts about women and life insurance. For starters, women feel significantly more secure than men in owning a variety of insurance products, according to a new poll from Northwestern Mutual. Ironically, though, many women are still underestimating their true
Women: Do You Have Enough Life Insurance? Read More »
Listen up Moms — and Dads! – if you want to save some serious money this September and the rest of the school year. We all know that school is back in session, so you’ve already shelled out a small fortune for your kids’ clothes, textbooks and school supplies. But what about all that other
Beyond School Supplies: Saving Money On All Those “Extra” School Expenses Read More »
Being financially savvy is enormously empowering for women, and can help you make important financial decisions throughout your lifetime. But all too often, many of us women feel as if our finances are out of control. Sometimes, things are going haywire because of events that aren’t of our doing – like when you get downsized
6 Traits of Financially Smart Women Read More »
As more homes go into foreclosure, you might be considering investing in a foreclosed property to generate some extra income. Foreclosed homes can be moneymakers in strong rental markets or if you’re able to sell a deeply discounted property for a higher price in the future.
Tips for Buying a Foreclosure Read More »
Many people have tapped into their 401(k) plans as a way to get money to pay their bills. That money probably offered a short-term cash cushion, but it also has long-term tax consequences, particularly for those who were under the age of 59 ½ at the time of their withdrawal. In such cases, cashing out
Should You Use Your Retirement Money to Pay Bills? Read More »
I’m often shocked at the ways in which many people in their 20s, 30s and 40s carelessly share personal information about themselves in very public ways. We’ve all heard of people over-sharing on Facebook and Twitter, doing things like telling other when they’re away from their home or exactly when and where they’re traveling, or
4 Reasons You Must Protect Your Identity, SSN and Sensitive Documents Read More »
Unless your child attends a private or parochial school with mandatory uniforms, you’re probably clothes shopping right about now to find new outfits for the kids to wear this back to school season. Discount stores such as Target and Wal-Mart are a good place to head, however, consignment and resale shops are even better if
3 Tips for Back-to-School Clothes Shopping on a Dime Read More »
I’ve been telling people for years that best way to pay off credit card debt isn’t necessarily to pay off high interest rate credit card debt first – and now, finally, a research study backs up what I’ve been saying. Before I tell you about the research, however, let me first explain why I disagree
Want to Get Out of Debt? Don’t Do This! Read More »
