Q: I’m currently a graduate student and I am a few months behind on credit card payments and loans. I just signed a contract for a job that will start August 1, but I will not get my first payment until August 31. How could I speak to creditors about this? Dear Reader, Meeting your financial obligations when you don’t have an income can be very challenging. Now that you are …Read More
A 5-Step Guide to Merging Finances After the Wedding
You’ve tied the knot and returned from your honeymoon – what a whirlwind! Congratulations on joining your lives; now, it’s time to do the same with your finances. It’s well-known that money is one of the most common hindrances on marriage. We know you’re going to do just fine and live a happy life together – so instead of discussing what can go wrong, let’s talk about what you …Read More
#AskanExpert: Should I Consolidate All My Credit Card Debt?
Q. Can the NFCC help consolidate all credit cards, even ones under $500? Dear Reader, If you are considering loan consolidation to repay your credit cards, we encourage you to think about it carefully. We can also connect you with NFCC-certified credit counselors that can help you explore this strategy. But, just like a credit counselor, we can only offer advice, guidance and education. Loan consolidation usually works best …Read More
3 Steps to Take After Graduating From College
An education is a great thing—but just because a student has graduated from college doesn’t mean they’ll make all the right decisions when it comes to personal finance. In fact, according to one survey, most recent college grads reported making a credit-damaging mistake within two years of getting their degree. The post-graduation world of student loan debt and added responsibility can be a lot for anyone to take in. …Read More
#AskanExpert: What Can I Do If My Credit Card Company is Suing Me?
Q: I have credit card debt and 2 personal loans. I have gone through financial hardship and have not been able to pay. Today I got served by court papers where a credit card company is suing me to get their money. I have never gone through this before and I am overwhelmed. I don’t know what to do. I don’t have the money to pay up front. What can …Read More
Figuring out How Much Car You Can Afford (and the Cost of Overestimating)
Easy transportation continues to be a necessity for most of us. About 9% of U.S. households have no vehicle at all, although some adults choose to forgo a car and use public transportation. But if you’re in the market to purchase a car, you’ll need to figure out how much you can afford. Car ownership has never been cheap. Alongside the costs of purchasing a vehicle (whether new or …Read More
Tips for Using Your VA Benefits to Buy Your First Home
There’s a strong case to be made that service members and veterans speak in acronyms and abbreviations better than any other group — they even seem to enjoy it at times. But terms like GFE, MPR, and APR[*] can still sound like frustrating gibberish if you’re new to homebuying. Add VA loan eligibility and processing to the mix, and the idea of homeownership can cause major confusion for even …Read More
Tax Implications of Student Loan Debt and Forgiveness
There are a few different ways that student loan debt affects your taxes, from possible deductions to what you may owe in the future. You can deduct student loan interest from your income. If you paid interest on student loans last year, you can lower your taxable income by up to $2,500. Student loan borrowers can deduct the interest paid last year through the student loan interest deduction. The student …Read More
#AskanExpert: Payday Loans are Taking Over, What Can I Do?
Q. Because of family emergencies the last couple years, I messed up and took out payday loans. I have seven and the interest is so high I’m falling behind on household bills now. I owe $3300 and pay $674 every two weeks in interest. What can I do? I make good money now but can’t get ahead with these payday loans. Dear Reader, Payday loans can be vicious …Read More
JOIN OUR #NFCCtips TWITTER PARTY ON Thursday, JULY 26TH AT 3PM ET FOR A CHANCE TO WIN PRIZES!
Follow #NFCCtips as we discuss Credit Counseling 101! Make plans to join our #NFCCtips Twitter Chat on Thursday, July 26th at 3pm EDT as we discuss Credit Counseling 101! There will be 3 chances to win an Amazon gift card! 1-$75 Amazon gift card 2-$50 Amazon gift card 3-$25 Amazon gift card Use #NFCCtips to participate. For an easy way to keep track of the conversation, try using our tchat.io chatroom. Questions we’ll discuss: Q1: …Read More