A new tax year is upon us, and that means it’s time to take full stock of your finances — for better or for worse. Yearly budgets should be evaluated, your wallet of credit cards should be audited, and you should perform your annual credit report checks (which you can do for free once a year through AnnualCreditReport.com.) Depending on how long it’s been since you did, well, any …Read More
Q. I’m seeking a credit score for lease or purchase for property opportunities. I have a credit report that I downloaded in August 2018 but my score was not included. Many in the property business are asking for this. Where should I get my credit score? Dear Reader, Getting ready to rent or buy a property can be very exciting. Knowing your credit score and what’s on your credit …Read More
Follow #MemberChat as we discuss setting SMART Financial Goals for 2019! Make plans to join our #MemberChat on Twitter on Tuesday February 26th at 3pm EDT! There will be 2 chances to win an Amazon gift card! 1-$50 Amazon gift card 2-$25 Amazon gift card Use #memberchat to participate. For an easy way to keep track of the conversation, try using TweetChat. Questions we’ll discuss: Q1: tbd Q2: tbd Q3: tbd Q4: tbd …Read More
Q. I graduated from Ashford university in 2010 with the hopes that I could get a better job opportunity. Unfortunately, not many employers recognize this university as legitimate with all of its legal woes. I feel like I was misled by this school and reached out to my state attorney asking for help with student loan forgiveness. Is there any information that’s available to help me? Dear Reader, …Read More
Living with one’s parents can be a great way to save money and prepare for adulthood. And it’s more common than you might imagine. As Pew Research noted, some 15% of millennials ages 25 to 35 still lived with their parents as of 2016. Some statistics say it may be even double that. This is a new trend, with Generation Xers living at home at much lower rates at the …Read More
Q. Is my pension protected the same as Social Security when debt collectors are trying to collect from me? Can a pension be garnished? Dear Reader, Most of the time, pensions have the same protections from creditors or debt collectors as your Social Security benefits. However, your debt collectors could get some of your pension income through other collection activities that don’t include accessing your pension directly. …Read More
You’ve saved for a down payment, you’ve checked your credit score, you’ve limited your debt and you’re ready to mortgage your dream home. But how thorough is your understanding of what lenders are looking for? In a 2018 analysis of more than 10 million mortgage applications, Lending Tree found that almost 1 in 10 loan applications are denied by the lender. Before you even fill out the application, make …Read More
Now that the longest federal government shutdown in history is over, many are wondering what lasting effects the nearly 800,000 workers who were most directly affected will face. The answer depends on how hard their finances were hit when their paycheck didn’t come as scheduled and how much they may have had to rely on credit to get through. The 2018 Consumer Financial Literacy Survey revealed nearly 7 in 10 …Read More
With the average person spending an estimated $1,250 on holiday purchases during the 2018 festivities, it’s likely that many consumers will be dealing with holiday debt as January progresses. While you can find lots of advice for paying down debt with a few internet searches, many of the best strategies can be boiled down to three basic tips. Get Organized The key to nearly any successful venture — …Read More
Down payment. For many people, those two words are the main obstacle standing between them and homeownership. Whether you’re working toward saving 20 percent or another amount, reaching that goal may seem overwhelming. Of course, the more cash you offer in down payment, the less you’ll pay in the long run. Here are a few suggestions for ways to meet your financial goals and move toward owning your own home. …Read More