Not responding to collection calls and letters will only make your life miserable. If your personal finances are in dire straits and you are unable to pay the full amount dues on your monthly financial obligations, then you need to bring your creditors and those in which you are indebted up to date on [...]
You have a tri-merged credit report and gathered any collection letters in your hand. You are now on your way to the easiest part of regaining control of your personal finances. First, we need to understand what percentage of your income (take home pay after taxes and deductions) is owed out each month. [...]
Okay, remember those numbers. Don’t know which numbers? Then go read, Getting Back on Track. The numbers of which I’m speaking represent your total monthly expenses / bills and your total monthly take home pay. Divide the monthly expense amount by the total income. That quotient (answer) will represent the [...]
An important rule to becoming financially literate, don’t ignore your finances. This coming new year, new laws will take effect on the time limit and notification policies placed on credit card companies providing information on any changes to terms or rates to your account. Many of these notifications will require the card holder [...]
There are some surefire personal finance mistakes made by shoppers this time of year. Hold these two simple ideas in your head while celebrating the holidays and your New Year will be in a good financial direction.
Using Emergency Funds – I know there are some super sales on some desperately needed…wanted items and we [...]
If you are like millions of people then you understand the benefits far outweigh the sacrifices made with maintaining a regimented exercise plan. I stress regimented because, the plan has to be regular and steadfast. Sure, there will be mornings that getting out the bed will be tougher than others, but life is about [...]
If you are like millons of Americans you are seeing the glimmers of evidence that the economy is turning around. The three years the nation has suffered under the failing economy has tested the financial planning abilites of most households. However, as you face your future and decide upon financial directions to travel, [...]
No time of the year can be more detrimental to one’s personal finances than the next 6 weeks of holiday celebrating and shopping. Between, shopping for gifts, preparing large meals, entertaining and friendly gatherings, a household budget can become strained and cause people to rely on credit cards, savings and even expensive payday (or auto [...]
Early in my adult life and financial education, I worked full time while going to school full time. I was very familiar with experiencing “more month than monthly pay.” I couldn’t understand why I was rarely able to meet my monthly obligations because on paper I earned more income than I owed each month, [...]
Thinking like a creditor and understanding why they think the way they do, can be a real asset when improving one’s financial literacy. And when trying to improve a credit profile its important to know at what creditors are focusing. When creditors receive a credit report for a credit applicant, the first thing [...]
