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 »
Q: If I have an overdue account at a health club, and the club sent me to a collection agency, will this go against my report? I was told that health clubs do not get reported. A: It’s not true that health club bills that are overdue or that go into collections don’t get reported to
Will My Overdue Health Club Bill Appear on My Credit Report? Read More »
If your child needs child support for basic expenses such as food, clothing and shelter, the bad news is that there is no federal law or national set of guidelines to determine how child support is calculated. Each state in America has its own rules, laws and guidelines for calculating child support. Generally, however, a
How is Child Support Calculated? Here are Basics Read More »
Saving money can be particularly tough on one or even two income households in today’s economy. But there are many money-saving strategies that can boost your bank account and help you save a few hundred dollars per month. Here are some ideas: Save on Your Current Housing Some of the ways you can cut your
How to Save Money on a Tight Budget Read More »
When it comes to celebrities and child support, the figures can be downright staggering. While the average U.S. monthly child support payment is around $430, some celebrities pay tens of thousands—or even over $100,000—each month to support their children. These headline-grabbing amounts often spark public debate. Are such massive sums fair, or are they a
Celebrities and Child Support: Are These Massive Payments Fair or Outrageous? Read More »
During Child Support Awareness Month in August, and even during the rest of the year, it’s important to be mindful of the facts about child support. Child support is money paid to cover some or all of a child’s basic needs, such as food, clothing, housing, education and childcare. Some child support orders may also
10 Things You Didn’t Know About Child Support Read More »
