FAFSA season, the financial aid and college admissions period, officially began January 1. If you’re hoping to earn an undergraduate or graduate degree, or are the parent of someone going to college, you need to know all you can about the FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. That’s the all-important document that must […]
FAFSA Season: Getting the Maximum College Financial Aid Read More »
To hear most financial experts tell it, members of Generation Y are a coddled group of young adults who rely economically on Mom and Dad, routinely rack up big debts and don’t know the value of a dollar. But are those perceptions really true? A new study hints at a different portrait of 20- and
Financial Lessons We Can All Learn From Generation Y Read More »
African-Americans are starting new businesses in record numbers. If you’re planning to launch a new business, here are seven do’s and don’ts to help ensure your entrepreneurial success. 1. Do plan to start with your own money, not someone else’s “Unless you win a business plan contest or inventors’ competition, for the most part there’s
Do’s and Don’ts for Starting a New Business Read More »
If you’ve had recent money woes, or even a lifetime of financial problems, it’s time to create a new economic reality. It’s time to think of today as the first day of your Financial Afterlife. After Bad Credit After Bankruptcy After Budgeting Blunders After Business Failures After Collection Accounts After Court Judgments After Credit Card
Your Financial Afterlife: Are You Ready to Rebound From Economic Setbacks? Read More »
Update: This article pertains to the the 2011 tax filing season. The 2012 deadline to file your tax return is: April 17, 2012. The Internal Revenue Service today opened the 2011 tax filing season by announcing that taxpayers have until April 18 to file their tax returns. The IRS reminded taxpayers impacted by recent tax
IRS extends filing deadline for taxes to April 18 Read More »
If you’re struggling financially or find yourself out of a job, it might seem difficult to muster up some holiday cheer. But a lack of money doesn’t mean you can’t have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Here are some tips to help you survive – and even thrive – during the holidays,
6 Ways to Enjoy the Holidays When You’re Broke or Unemployed Read More »
If you’re ready to improve your economic situation in 2011, here are my recommendations for the Top 10 financial New Year’s resolutions that will help you in the coming year: 1. Eliminate credit card debt. Tired of being in debt and living paycheck to paycheck? Then it’s time to knock out those credit card bills
Top 10 Financial New Year’s Resolutions from The Money Coach Read More »
Question: Can I remove a medical collections from our credit report? It has been paid and it is our account. I didn’t know that it had been reported. I did call the collection agency and was told by law it could not be removed unless there was a mistake. I was told I could dispute
Can a Medical Collection Be Removed From My Credit Report? Read More »
Question: One of my subscribers had a question. She asked, “What’s the best way to have negative information removed from my credit report?” Answer: Negative information can legally stay on your credit report for seven years. For some negative information, such as a bankruptcy, it can be as long as 10 years. The subscriber didn’t
What’s the Best Way to Get Negative Information Removed From My Credit Report Read More »
During my interview on ABC News NOW, I gave 5 easy to use tips to help you save more money.
Save on Your Car: Many people don’t realize that you can refinance your car loan just as you can refinance a mortgage. A car refinancing is faster, simpler to do and costs virtually nothing. Average savings: $1300 over the life of the loan.
Here are 5 Easy and Creative Ways to Save More Money Read More »
If you’ve ever pulled your credit files from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion – each of the three major credit bureaus- and tried to compare them, you know that certain information in your credit records likely to be different. But did you also realize that the manner in which the credit bureaus present your credit data
Differences In Equifax, Experian and TransUnion Credit Reports Read More »
FICTION: If I check my credit report often, all those “inquiries” will lower my credit score.
Fact Versus Fiction About Credit Scores Read More »
Creditors can sell your debt. When your debt is sold to collectors, some might use the threat of court action to try to intimidate you in order to get you to pay up.
Technically, it is illegal for collectors or creditors to threaten court action if they do not intend to carry through with it. Taking you to court is time consuming and expensive for them, and there is no guarantee it will result in the outcome the creditor wants. So typically, a court action is a tactic to get you to pay up, or to obtain a default judgment against you if you don’t respond to a summons and complaint.
5 Tips if You’re Facing Court Action from a Debt Collector Read More »
When it comes to credit scores, even small debts can raise big questions. One common concern is whether a $50 collection account will damage your credit. Thanks to updates in scoring models like FICO 08, there’s good news for consumers, but also a few critical caveats. FICO 08 and Small Collection Accounts FICO 08, a
Will a $50 Collection Account Hurt Your Credit Score? Read More »
Forget about lying, sexual incompatibility or infidelity. The real threat to your relationship may be your (or your partner’s) tendency to splurge on things that are outside your budget. As I often explain on Facebook, Twitter and in my financial seminars, the consequences of rampant over-spending — especially when using credit — are enormous. Not only are credit card delinquencies, bankruptcies and foreclosures on the rise, debt is even a huge factor in families being split apart.
How Debt Can Ruin Your Relationship Read More »
