If you asked most financial planners and advisors about what goes into a budget, chances are they would tell you that a budget is broken down into certain categories. Some advisors suggest allocating everything into two camps: necessities and luxuries. Other advisors tell you to break your expenses down into fixed costs and variable costs. […]
Why Most Budgets Don’t Work Read More »
After you write out your goals, I urge you to share them with your spouse, or significant other, and have the person do the same thing. You may be surprised to see what some of your partner’s goals are. It’s helpful to do this because then you both have an idea about where each person
The Couple That Sets Financial Goals Together Stay Together Read More »
If one of your personal or financial goals is to get out of debt this year – or at least eliminate your debt as soon as possible – now is a great time to get started. Becoming debt-free takes work. But it doesn’t have to be an overwhelming chore. Simply following proven strategies below to
How to Get Out of Debt Read More »
Q: My husband and I purchased our home a little over 5 years ago. We were looking at refinancing since the rates are low now. We have run into a couple of problems. First, we have two mortgages on the house since they would not cover the full amount of the loan for just one
Refinancing Tips If You Are Under Water Read More »
Q: I’ve heard the term squatter’s rent used many times. Can you tell me what is the definition of squatter’s rent? A: Squatter’s rent is the money someone saves up by not paying their mortgage. In many states, it is taking one year or more for someone who is behind on their house payment to
What Is Squatter’s Rent Read More »
Let’s face it: most people hate being on a budget. Most people, that is, except millionaires. You see, millionaires not only create personal budgets, they also stick to those budgets religiously. To the millionaire, his or her budget is really a short-term spending plan. It’s a detailed outline of what they choose to spend their
Budget is NOT a 4-Letter Word Read More »
If “frugal fatigue” is kicking in — and you’re getting tired of pinching pennies and watching every dollar you spend — it’s time to re-energize yourself and make a fresh commitment to managing your money wisely. To make ends meet the past three years, Americans have been eating out less, curtailing shopping, making do with
How to Conquer Frugal Fatigue and Stick to a Proper Budget Read More »
If you’ve missed numerous payments on your Sallie Mae loan and the loan is now in default, you’ll need to take steps to bring your overdue loan current. You can contact Sallie Mae directly by calling 1-866-913-6089 to discuss your repayment options and try to set up a more affordable payment plan. Sallie Mae offers
What to Do If Your Sallie Mae Student Loan is in Default Read More »
By federal law, you are entitled to receive one free credit report annually from each of the three main credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. If you want to know what your Experian PLUS Score is, you typically have to order your credit report directly from Experian. That will cost you money, because Experian does
How to Get Your Experian PLUS Score Free Read More »
Beware of strangers that knock on your door offering to do repairs such as repave your driveway, replace your gutters with guttering Manchester or landscape your property using leftover materials from a previous job. Often, they will give you a verbal quote offering to do the work and say that they would normally charge twice
9 Signs of a Home Repair Scam Read More »
Subprime lenders don’t advertise themselves as such — especially after the mortgage meltdown and credit crunch from 2007-2010. If you have “bad” credit and are trying to find a subprime lender who will offer credit or loans to someone with your credit profile, the best thing to do is to get online and shop around
What Are Subprime Lenders and Where Can I Find Them? Read More »
First came money problems for Academy-Award winning actor Nicolas Cage. Now it looks like relationship and legal problems are also facing the Hollywood star. According to the Associated Press, Cage was arrested Saturday April 16, 2011 in New Orleans on charges of domestic abuse battery and disturbing the peace. The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s office released
Actor Nicolas Cage Arrested For Alleged Domestic Abuse, Adds to His Financial Woes Read More »
If you’ve thought about ordering your free credit report, which credit reporting bureau should you contact? Many people wonder what the difference is between the Equifax, Experian and TransUnion credit reports. Each credit reporting agency uses a different set of criteria and variables to calculate your credit score, and some lenders prefer to use one
How to Compare Your Equifax, Experian and TransUnion Credit Reports Read More »
If you’ve finally saved up enough money to pay off your credit card balance in full, or only charged a certain amount that can be paid off before the next billing cycle, make sure you time your payment right or you could end up paying some interest charges. One of the first things you need
The Best Time to Pay Your Credit Card Balance in Full Read More »
If you receive a notice from the IRS stating that you have filed two (or more) tax returns this year, someone may be using your Social Security number illegally. If someone is filing taxes using your Social Security number, you could be missing out on employment benefits when you retire because the Social Security Administration
What to Do If Someone Files Taxes Using Your SSN Read More »
