3 Budget Tips for Paying Off Credit Card Debt
3 Budget Tips for Paying Off Credit Card Debt If you have credit card debt you’re trying to pay off, you’re not alone. As of the start of 2013, Bankrate.com reports that Americans had more than $600 million of credit card debt. “Paying off debt…
Tuition Costs and Your Wallet: Are You Eligible for Financial Aid?
Investing in your education can boost your earning capacity, even if the value of your education doesn’t become obvious when you first graduate. Determining the impact of tuition costs might seem a bit daunting, however. “The key to maximizing your investment is navigating financial aid,” says Jason Steele, a certified college planner in Raleigh, North Carolina. Here are some tips to get you started.
Saving & Budgeting Tips for Low-Income Families
Saving & Budgeting Tips for Low-Income Families When your income is limited, having a household budget is not only a good idea; it is imperative. Living on a budget might sound restricting or like too much work. However, having a workable family budget is actually…
Real Estate & Personal Finance: Can a Mortgage Lien Stop Me From Buying a Second Home?
Real Estate & Personal Finance: Can a Mortgage Lien Stop Me From Buying a Second Home? Buying a home is usually “smart debt” because you’re building equity. The more equity you build, the more your personal wealth grows. But if you’re thinking about buying a…
Personal Finance Turnaround: Debt Management Resources
Personal Finance Turnaround: Debt Management Resources The most courageous step you can take to improving your financial health is admitting that you need assistance with managing debt. According to Certified Consumer Credit Counselor Natasha Wyckoff, “One of the positive aspects of a fluctuating economy is…
Negotiation, Budgeting & Setting Financial Goals for Couples
Negotiation, Budgeting & Setting Financial Goals for Couples If you and your partner don’t see eye-to-eye on money issues, establishing a joint budget can take work. Even if you’re both smart with money management, you may disagree on, say, whether buying a house is higher…
How to Make a Personal Weekly Spending Budget
How to Make a Personal Weekly Spending Budget Developing a budget is a great way to organize your finances, but challenges can arise if your bills and your paycheck come on different schedules. For example, your regular monthly bills, like your rent, cell phone bill,…
How To Buy A House With Little Or No Credit
Even though being debt-free can make you a better credit risk, getting a mortgage when you have little or no credit and don’t have a credit score isn’t easy. “Mortgage lenders are still conservative,” explains Minnesota-based real estate agent Lorraine Smith. “Instead of looking for…
Financial Overhaul: How Long Does It Take to Get Your Credit Back After a Mortgage Foreclosure?
There’s no way to spin it: losing your home to foreclosure is a bad thing — but you could be well on the road to credit recovery within a few years. Home mortgage lender William Malamut says that to some extent, your fate is in your own hands. “All cases are unique,” he advises, so one homeowner’s tale of woe might not match your own experience. How quickly your credit rebounds can depend on your own involvement in repairing your history.
Creating a Household Budget for Short-Term Savings
Short-term savings goals could be as simple as putting aside funds for a special purchase or saving for a much-needed vacation. Once you establish your financial target, it’s time to turn your attention to faithfully and systematically depositing your budgeted amount into a savings account or money market fund.