A reader of AskTheMoneyCoach.com wrote me because she felt that her student loans were holding her back, and had become a big financial problem. As it turns out, her real money problem isn’t the higher education debt she has – it’s the chronic unemployment situation she’s endured. Economists say you are technically among the ranks […]
Are Your Student Loans the Reason You Can’t Find or Keep a Good Job? Read More »
I recently wrote about the pros and cons of taking on 72-month or 84-month car loans. If you read my previous article, you no doubt noticed that there were a lot more “cons” than “pros.” With all of these cons, it’s no wonder that some financial pros, like Clark Howard, say that you should just
Four Smart Alternatives to 72 Month Car Loans Read More »
If you’re in the market for a new car, chances are you want to keep your payments as low as possible, preferably under $500 a month. Car dealers know this, which is why 6 year or 72-month car loans are more popular than ever. Even 7 year or 84-month car loans – yes, some auto
The Financial Pros and Cons of 72-Month or 84-Month Car Loans Read More »
You may have taken out a student loan several years ago, but have you ever wondered how it affects your credit score? In the eyes of a lender or creditor, a student loan is another debt but the financial ramifications of a student loan on your credit score are different than standard loans. Federal Student
How Student Loans Impact Your Credit Score Read More »
Results of a study recently released by the Urban Institute revealed that more than 35 percent of Americans are behind with debt collectors. Falling behind on credit card bills or even missing a few payments for that cellphone can be reported to the credit bureaus and hurt your credit score. It’s a disturbing trend among Americans
Tips for Dealing with Mounting Debt Read More »
U.S. businesses are increasingly courting women customers. And it’s easy to see why. More and more women are taking an active role in managing their family’s finances, and 44% of all females in America are the primary breadwinners in their households, according to a 2014-2015 study from Prudential. Perhaps that why salespeople, business owners and
10 Horrible Business Practices That Make Me Shut My Purse Read More »
Most Americans want to better budget and manage credit and debt wisely. But the problem is, they don’t know where to start or how to use a number of free tools available to them. So if you missed my interview on Street.com, here are five personal finance tips — as well as five of my
Manage Your Budget and Debt With These Free Tools Read More »
Q: I’m only working part-time, my job hours just got cut, and my rent is already past due. How can I avoid getting evicted? A: To avoid eviction when your rent is due in a short period of time, you have at least four options.
How To Avoid Eviction If Your Rent Is Due But You Can’t Pay Read More »
Q: Hello Ms. Khalfani-Cox. Is it better to work with a debt management company and pay off a lot of creditors every month over a long period of time (I would be paying off the full amount of the debt… not settling (debt settlement)). Or is it best to contact each creditor who has reported me to the
Will Credit Counseling Hurt My Credit Rating? Read More »
What’s the biggest threat to your future retirement security? If you guessed the disappearance of Social Security, getting downsized in the years before you’d planned to retire, or even losing a bundle in the stock market, you’d be wrong on all counts. The biggest hazard to your financial stability in retirement is something you’ve probably
The Shocking Threat to Your Retirement: It’s Not What You Think Read More »
Learn how to get the best price on auto insurance with these 3 proven strategies. Evergreen guide with FAQs and expert tips.
Best Auto Insurance Rates: 3 Proven Ways to Save Big Read More »
Summer time is when many of us get a bit lax with our finances – and it’s easy to see why. The weather is nice outside, the kids may be off from school, and vacation or travel plans beckon. None of this puts you in the mindset of watching your bills or sticking to a
Financial Fixes for 3 Sneaky Summer Expenses Read More »
Seven out of 10 college graduates in the U.S. have student loans, and if you’re one of them – or if you’ll need to borrow soon for higher education – you should know your loan options. In the student loan market, there are two main types of loans: federal student loans and private student loans.
Comparing Federal and Private Student Loans Read More »
New student loan legislation signed by President Barack Obama will lower borrowing costs for millions of Americans with college debt. The President signed an executive order that expands a 2010 law that allows borrowers to cap their federal student loan repayments at 10% of their income. Among the provisions in the legislation, college grads will
Obama Gives Student Loan Relief to Millions with College Debt Read More »
Q: I recently found a car I really liked and could afford, however, when auto dealer at Toyota wanted to run my credit, (over phone, by the way) with my approval, he called back and said, no credit history is coming up on all three reports…I just pulled all three credit history reports with scores, with no
Can I Get a Car Loan with No Credit History? Read More »
