Two popular questions here at AskTheMoneyCoach.com are: “Why are my credit reports or credit scores different?” and “Why isn’t my credit score contained in my credit report?” This post will answer those questions. What is a Credit Report? A consumer credit report is a detailed file about you that has information on where you live, […]
Credit Reports and Credit Scores Explained Read More »
If you recently had your Social Security card stolen or an identity thief had access to your Social Security number, someone could be using your Social Security number for a variety of purposes. Using someone else’s Social Security number is illegal but thousands of people become the victims of identity theft after losing their Social
Someone is Using My Social Security Number – What Should I Do? Read More »
Millions of college students and college graduates blow it big time when it comes to taking on credit card debt and student loans. I know I did when I was an undergraduate at the University of California, Irvine. When I walked on campus and got tempted by those credit card hawkers saying things like, “Hey,
Attn College Grads: Credit Cards and Student Loans Are Not Free Money Read More »
Attorney General Lori Swanson filed lawsuits against five payday lenders that made loans to Minnesotans. The lenders were not licensed to make loans in Minnesota and charged excessively high annual interest rates. This is not the first time that Swanson has brought litigation against payday lenders and Swanson said her office is investigating complaints against
List of 5 Payday Lenders Sued by Minnesota Attorney General Read More »
If you went to college, no doubt you tracked your grades carefully throughout school. But if you’re currently a working professional, or are looking for a job, you now have another important report card to pay attention to: your credit rating. Simply put, having perfect credit is just as financially beneficial to you as is
If you’re operating without a normal monthly budget, that’s a huge financial mistake. In fact, the lack of a budget is a big part of the reason that the average American now has nearly $10,000 in credit card debt. Of course, many people have mortgages, auto loans, student loans, and other consumer debt. But it’s
Millionaires Stick to a Budget. So Should You! Read More »
If you applied for a student loan or financial aid during your last few years of high school, you may not have been 18 at the time that you signed for the student loan. Many people who signed for a student loan before they turned 18 wonder if they are still responsible for the loan,
I Was Under 18 When I Signed For My Student Loan – Am I Responsible for It? Read More »
A proper financial plan provides you with a snapshot of where you are today – in terms of assets and liabilities, and your current cash flow. It also outlines your short, medium, and long-term goals, such as saving for a down payment on a house or taking a dream vacation. Finally, a well crafted financial
How To Create a Realistic Financial Plan Read More »
If you’re one of the tens of thousands of people who took out a payday loan online, you may stand to get some cash back soon. It’s not a lot of money, but the Federal Trade Commission is nevertheless mailing more than 110,000 refund checks — each check between $10 and $15 — to consumers
Did You Take Out a Payday Loan Online? You May Get a Refund From the FTC Read More »
Is debt a disease? Some of you who are over-spending have a real problem. In fact, you have a sickness, of sorts. Now before you think that I’m offering you a clinical diagnosis, let me say that I’m talking about a personal belief I have about people with massive credit card debt due to over-spending.
Is Debt a Disease? Read More »
Why Writing Down All Your Debts Is the First Step to Financial Freedom Write down everything that you owe, even credit cards that might have only $100 on them. Don’t make the mistake of leaving those “small” bills out because “Oh, I’m going to pay that one off this month anyway.” Just write down everything
Why You Need To Write Down All of Your Debts Read More »
I used to think that only young college grads made the mistake of underestimating how much it costs to live in the real world. After working as a Money Coach, however, and talking to countless individuals about their monthly finances, I’ve since discovered that people of all ages, incomes, and education levels fall into this
Fix Your Budget: Here’s Why Everything Always Costs More Than You Think It Will Read More »
Life never goes exactly according to plan, which is one reason 42-year-old Jeannine McCurrie knows how important it is to have a financial back-up plan. McCurrie was just 29 when her 32-year-old brother was shot and killed, leaving behind three small children under the age of seven. At age 31, McCurrie suffered the loss of
How to Create a Solid Financial Back-Up Plan Read More »
Better watch out for this scam. Consumers from Alaska to New York are being slammed into magazine renewals they never asked for and having their bank accounts debited for subscription renewals that they never authorized. The Better Business Bureau of the Mid-South region warns consumers that they have received numerous complaints about a company called
Beware of The Latest Magazine Subscription Renewal Scam Read More »
For those of you who are parents, it’s understandable that you want to help your child avoid the plague of student loan debt, but there’s a right way to go about doing it and a wrong way. The wrong way is to completely sacrifice your financial future, forgoing retirement savings and just “hoping for the
7 Financial Tips for Parents of College Students Read More »
