Lending Money to Family and Friends
January 7, 2009
We all know someone who has been hit hard by the economic downturn. Whether it’s losing a job, losing health insurance, or losing thier house many people find friends and family members in financial touble and in need of help.
Lending money to family and friends is a delicate mattter, this article from the Financial Planning [...]
10 Hidden Holiday Costs People Overlook in Their Budget
December 16, 2008
I ran across an article on CNBC about the top 10 hidden costs associated with the holidays, and it struck a chord with me, because I often overlook these expenses during the holiday season. Here is the list from the article and my take on each of them.
1. Holiday meals/gifts for hosts/entertaining
My wife [...]
Christmas Budgeting – Building A Christmas Fund
November 10, 2008
Halloween is over, Thanksgiving is around the corner, and the biggest shopping season of the year is close to follow. The shopping in November and December is what keeps financial planners and debt counselors employed.
Budgeting for Christmas Gifts
Many people go nuts with Christmas and holiday shopping. I know I’m guilty of it; I tend to [...]
Paying Down Debt In Your Marriage
September 8, 2008
Debt can be a real strain on any marriage. Today we’ll take a look at how you can work with your spouse to reduce debt together.
Bringing Debt into a Marriage
In my previous article, I wrote about the excuses that spouses give about having separate bank accounts. One of those excuses had to do with paying [...]
Past Problems with Credit Cards: A Confession
July 17, 2008
Writer Auditions – Author Henry Brown – Offer Your Feedback
Here’s a little something about me: I was an expert on credit cards before I was an expert on my own credit card situation. A few years ago, I got hired to write a series of articles about credit cards. I was deemed the [...]
How I Stopped The Debt Cycle In My Life
July 15, 2008
Writer Auditions – Author Erik Folgate – Offer Your Feedback
It was March of 2002, and my mother was dropping me off at our local community college. It was that point that I realized my life had come to a low point. I had no car, no job, and I was in a ton [...]
Identity Theft Protection – What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You
June 6, 2008
Identity theft in the form of stolen account information is often paid for with the time you spend contacting banks and merchants to cancel fraudulent transactions. Unfortunately there are higher financial implications for a more sinister type of identity theft that involves not just a few transactions but entire fraudulent accounts opened in your name.
Fraudulent [...]
Financial Secrets in Marriage Could Lead to a Divorce of Debt
May 28, 2008
When you get engaged, you’re not just promising to marry a person; you’re also marrying their money habits, their debt, and credit history. If you’re not careful, unknown money issues can not only ruin a marriage but sink you deep into debt.
Hiding Credit Card DebtHere’s a sad story of a former co-worker whose life was turned [...]
Best Credit Cards for New College Graduates & Young Professionals
May 14, 2008
The best credit card for you will likely change along with your financial circumstances. As you graduate from college and get a job, you’ll want to do a review of your finances and your current credit cards to make sure you’re taking advantage of the benefits your new salary might bring.
Many people unfortunately rely heavily on credit [...]
Student Loan Tips for New College Graduates
May 7, 2008
How are you ever going to pay off your student loans? Is your college debt going to follow you around for the rest of your life?
Investing in Your FutureAlthough it may seem daunting, if you approach your college loans as an investment rather than a burden it could help you get rid of your debt. If you think [...]
