5 Ways to Evaluate and Get the Best Credit Card Deals
With scores of different types of credit cards out there, how do you find the best deal? Needless to say, it pays to already have good credit in order to get a good credit card offer. But finding an attractive credit card goes beyond simply having excellent credit. Since the credit-card industry is so competitive, […]
What Is a Good First Credit Card for a Young Adult?
Having a credit card – or even a couple of credit cards – isn’t always a bad thing for young adults, provided they learn about credit management and use credit wisely.
4 Things To Consider Before You Consolidate Credit Card Debt
With credit card interest rates averaging over 25% in 2025, consolidating your debt can be a strategic move to reduce interest payments and simplify your finances. However, it’s essential to assess your financial situation carefully before proceeding. What Is Credit Card Debt Consolidation? Credit card debt consolidation involves combining multiple credit card balances into a […]
Student Loan Discharge Due to False Certification Explained
Q: I did not have a high school diploma or a GED when I enrolled in college. Am I responsible for my student loans? A: Before a college provides you with a student loan, that institution is supposed to make sure that you have an “ability to benefit” from its educational curriculum. One way for a […]
How to Dispute a Credit Card Purchase
After a day of shopping for new furniture at the furniture store, you come home to find that one of the tables is chipped or cracked. Or maybe you just bought a gift item from a retail store only to later find that a part of it is scratched or broken. If you made the […]
What to Do If You’re Charged the Wrong Amount for a Student Loan
Wrong Student Loan Amount: Being charged the wrong amount for a student loan can be frustrating—especially when you’ve made your payments on time and in full. With multiple loan accounts and varying billing cycles, it’s easy for errors to slip through the cracks. Whether your payments have been misapplied or not credited at all, it’s […]
How to Increase Your Credit Score While Still in School
A reader of AskTheMoneyCoach.com wanted to know how to increase her credit score while she is still in school. She wrote me saying: “Hello, Lynnette. I’m a 60‑year‑old woman who has returned to school. I’ve taken out federal loans in the amount of $8,000. The loans have been deferred for as long as I remain in […]
10 Practical Tips to Prepare to Buy a Home This Year
Prospective homeowners often ask me what they can do to buy a home – and get into the house of their dreams quickly. Frankly, not everyone should buy a house. There are lots of rights and responsibilities that go along with homeownership. And as I explain in my book, Your First Home, if you’re not […]
A Message For Those Deep in Debt or Facing Money Problems
A Message For Those Deep in Debt or Facing Money Problems: Feeling overwhelmed by debt or buried under money problems can make even the strongest among us feel helpless. Whether you’re trying to balance bills with raising a family, navigating a tough job market, or healing from personal loss—know this: you’re not alone, and there’s […]
Don’t Make These 10 Last-Minute Tax Mistakes
You’re probably somewhat stressed if you’re in the throws of finishing your federal income tax return. After all, Monday, April 15, 2013 is the tax-filing deadline to get that 1040 for the 2012 tax year shipped off to Uncle Sam. But just because you’re under time constraints doesn’t mean the IRS is going to give […]
Tax Tips: 10 Things to Know About the Adoption Tax Credit
In a previous article I explained one of the most important personal tax credits offered to U.S. taxpayers, the adoption tax credit. If you’ve recently adopted a child, you may be eligible for an healthy tax savings, courtesy of the federal government. That’s because Uncle Sam recognizes that adopting a child serves the public good. […]
6 Easy Ways to Tackle Credit Card Debt Now
f those credit card balances just never seem to disappear or you’re drowning in debt, you need a realistic payoff plan to get your financial house back in order. According to CreditCards.com, the average credit card debt per household with credit card debt in 2012 was $15,956. That’s a significant debt load for the typical […]
6 Ways to Save for Your Summer Vacation
Summer is only a few months away and if you’re already eager to start planning that warm-weather getaway, now is a great time to start saving up some cash for the cost of the trip. According to a 2012 travel survey conducted by American Express, the average cost of a summer vacation, per person, […]
Best Ways to Get More Out of Credit Card Balance Transfers
Transferring your credit card balances (balance transfers) can be an effective way to save on interest you would otherwise accumulate on a high-interest credit card, and can also increase your credit score as you clear up your credit lines. However, there are some things you need to be aware of before you authorize that transfer. […]
Should I Sell My Home to Pay Credit Card Debt?
A reader of AskTheMoneyCoach.com wanted to know what to do about tens of thousands of dollars worth of credit card debt, as well as thousands of dollars in student loans debt that she’s facing. She was wondering whether she should pay off that debt by selling a vacation home she owns – especially because […]