For many, becoming debt free for life seems like an unattainable goal. Yet by learning how to control debt, living debt free is not only possible but a likely outcome. With New Year’s right around the corner, now is the time to start thinking about the resolutions you will make for 2013, and living debt free might be one of the best resolutions you can choose. For one thing, … [Read more...]
10 Credit Card Secrets They Don’t Want You to Know
Even though credit card companies are required to inform you of your interest rate, payment due date, applicable fees, and a host of other caveats, your contract with an issuer – commonly called a Credit Agreement – is actually a flexible document. This works in your favor in some cases (see #4, #5, and #8 below), but works in the issuer’s in others. These credit card secrets … [Read more...]
Statute of Limitations on Debt: How Might This Protect You?
The statute of limitations on debt is complex, because there is not one statute but rather many statutes governing how long a collector has to contact or sue you for a debt. These statutes change according to the type of debt, amount of debt, and even the state in which you live (or that was specified in the original debt contract). The statute of limitations on debt may even … [Read more...]
How to Control Your Debt to Income Ratio – A Guide For Beginners
While debt to income ratio might sound like a metric more suited to accountants and financial professionals, your personal debt to income ratio is something that you should know and track. For starters, financial institutions use debt to income ratio in determining whether to grant you credit, including loans for mortgages. Additionally, debt to income ratio is a strong … [Read more...]
Out of Debt – Now What Do You Do?
Congratulations on getting out of debt. As much as most people want to live debt free, few get the chance to ask I'm out of debt now what? The steps that you take now will determine how long you stay debt free and how strong your finances become, so it’s an important question to ask. In addition to the types of tasks that went into creating a debt free lifestyle, such as … [Read more...]
How to Manage Your Money Better – 7 Tools to Help
At one point or another, learning how to manage your money better becomes a priority. Maybe you are getting ready to buy a house, or are just tired of living in perpetual debt. No matter the reason, when you’re asking how can I manage my money better there are plenty of resources out there to help. Remember, even if you are well on your way to managing your money better, you … [Read more...]
Instant Cash Loans and Your Risks
It seems that ever since the recession, instant cash loans have been everywhere as traditional sources of loans dried up for all but the most creditworthy borrowers. However, despite what they may want you to think, cash lenders and instant payday lenders aren't cropping up to help the disadvantaged. Like any other opportunists, these predatory lenders see the potential for … [Read more...]
What Credit Card Should I Get? How to Compare Your Options
When you are questioning “What credit card should I get?” you may need help sorting through all of the options on the market. It can be difficult to decipher the terms in even “consumer friendly” credit offers, considering how shrouded in legalese credit card terms and conditions usually are. Knowing first and foremost what is important to you in a credit card is the best way … [Read more...]
What Is Budgeting and Why Is It Important?
With the economy barely recovering, growing numbers of people are feeling the financial strain of stagnant income and rising costs, leading many to wonder “What is budgeting and why is it important?” Budgeting is the practice of making a financial plan to determine your current expenses and income, usually on a monthly basis, to manage spending. This is increasingly … [Read more...]
Living Without Credit Cards – Can You Do It?
Credit cards are so ubiquitous that it’s easy to forget that they are a relatively recent invention. Although the concept of credit is hundreds of years old, the credit card as we know it did not become available until well into the 20th century. The first credit card was believed to be the Charg-It card, which was a local use card introduced in 1946. That paved the way for the … [Read more...]
