5 Confusing Mortgage Terms Explained
Getting approved for a mortgage these days takes more than a sufficient down payment and having a good credit score. To secure a home loan you also need to know how to communicate effectively with realtors, bankers, and other professionals in the real estate and mortgage industries. Simply put: borrowers in today’s market will fare […]
Keeping Your College Student Out of Credit Card Debt
If you have a young adult heading off to college, now’s the time to make sure your student knows how to manage money on his or her own. Without proper financial guidance, many young adults develop bad money habits in college — and end up paying a big price for years to come. Similarly, being independent offers kids a good opportunity […]
The Truth About Why Your Budget Keeps Failing
Most Americans don’t live on a budget – which may explain why so many people feel like they’re living from paycheck to paycheck. But even those who do budget often feel like they can’t stick to their spending plan of action. The truth is that if you’ve tried and failed at budgeting it could be […]
Will Credit Counseling or Debt Management Hurt My Credit Score?
If you’ve gotten yourself deep in debt, or have fallen behind on your monthly bills you may be wondering if credit counseling or debt management can help. Despite the promise of assistance that credit counseling companies firms offer, many consumers nonetheless remain worried about using a credit counseling agency for fear of potential damage to […]
Two Different Credit Scores? Here’s Why
If you’ve ever been frustrated at receiving two different credit scores, you probably wondered why or how it’s possible that you can get one specific credit score from a certain source and then receive a vastly different credit score elsewhere. You’re not alone. Millions of other people have also questioned the crazy, seemingly haphazardness way […]
The Credit Score You Need to Get A Mortgage
If you want a home loan, you may be wondering how high your credit score needs to be in order to qualify for a home mortgage. Well, there’s good news and bad news regarding your credit and how it relates to your chances getting a “yes” from a home lender.
4 Tips to File Your Taxes Without Stress
Most of us don’t particularly enjoy dealing with the deadlines and paperwork required to file federal income taxes. But just because taxes may not be the world’s most pleasant topic, doesn’t mean you can sweep this issue under the rug. Think about it this way: by filing your federal income tax return on time, you […]
5 Bad Habits That Keep You Deep in Debt
Nobody wants to be mired in debt. But if we’re honest about our financial patterns, we’ll admit to sometimes making poor money choices — at least now and again — that can lead to debt. An occasional slip up with your finances probably won’t do any long-lasting damage. But when financial goofs become routine, you’re […]
5 Easy Ways to Save Money and Get Healthier
Saving more money doesn’t have to be painful. Keeping additional cash in your pocket, or accumulating more money, can be as easy breezy once you learn a few smart money moves. It’s also possible that becoming a better saver can boost your physical wellness, along with your financial well being. Here are 5 easy ways to […]
How to Avoid Falling Deeper into Debt
None of us wants to have big debts hanging over our heads. There are smart ways to get them under control — tight budgeting, for instance — but also a huge number of bad choices that may just dig you in deeper. So don’t make any of the following 11 mistakes if you’re trying to get rid […]
Valentine’s Day Finances: 4 Questions for Couples to Ask Before Marriage
Romance is in the air, especially with Valentine’s Day just around the corner. But if you’re thinking about getting married – or hoping he’ll pop the question with a nice big diamond ring – you should first come back down to earth and think: “no romance without finance!” In all seriousness, it’s a smart idea […]
Will Checking My Credit Report Lower My Credit Score?
There are many things you can do that might hurt your credit score – such as paying a bill late, charging up too much credit card debt, or having a public record like a foreclosure or judgment mar your credit report. Fortunately, however, doing something like checking your own credit report will NOT lower your […]
After TurboTax Fraud Fears, Is Free Tax Software Safe? A Viewpoint
Intuit/TurboTax, one of the tax industry giants, suffered a black eye recently when they were forced to stop e-filing state tax returns for a period of time while they investigated a potential data breach. They’ve since resumed e-filing of state returns and TurboTax announced there doesn’t appear to be breach of customers’ data, so what really went […]
Three Things to Consider Before Claiming Social Security Benefits
Deciding when to claim Social Security benefits is one of the most important financial decisions you will make during your life. Over 66% of today’s recipients are totally or critically dependent on their Social Security benefits to maintain their quality of life in retirement. Your choice of claiming early at age 62, delaying until age […]
Which to Pay Off First: Student Loans or Credit Card Debt?
any of my readers want to get out of debt – especially at the beginning if the New Year when they’ve made various financial resolutions. One recurring question I’m often asked is: which debts should I pay off first — student loans or credit card debt?