Stopping the Collection Calls

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 [...]

The Real First Step to Credit Enhancement

I have a friend that has counseled with me several times on improving his credit profile. He has obtained all three credit reports directly from the bureaus. He’s identified the erroneous entries on his credit report, typed letters disputing those incorrect credit line items and has even created a feasible repayment plan to [...]

Calculating Your Personal Finances

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. [...]

Goldman Sachs Scandal Pushes Financial Literacy

If the Goldman Sachs mortgage securities scandal hasn’t increased your thirst to mentally arm yourself with financial literacy, then you really like throwing and giving money away ….so I will forward you my mailing address on a private email later. It can be dizzying to the average person to understand the extent to which [...]

Understanding the Numbers

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 [...]

Getting Back on Track

Well, it beginning of the 3rd month of the year and droves of people that promised to hit the gym and start a savings plan have decided to revert back to their old habits and abandon their New year’s resolutions until… next year. However, if you are reading this then you are still in [...]

Finding Something to Buy

Each time I earned some money as a little boy, my mother used to say to me…”that money is burning a hole in my pocket.” She was referring to my insatiable urge to spend my new found wealth on the first thing that offered itself for sale to me. I had no reason [...]

Money Opportunity for Kids

Teaching kids to ride a bike is easy … if you have a bike for them to ride. Imagine trying to learn to ride a bike by only watching videos and with no bike to actually try your new found skill. So if you’re with me, then you can imagine to effectively educate [...]

You Cannot Win Unless You Play

Did you check the lottery numbers today? You know, if you don’t play u can’t win….well the same concept applies to being on the winning side of your personal finances and becoming financially literate. Many people think they will get their personal finances in order after they are in receipt of a bunch [...]

Credit Card Fees For Non-Usage

Credit card companies are full of surprises this year. With new consumer protection – credit card laws starting this year, many credit card companies are already changing fee policies to make up for the consumer protections the banking industry perceives as revenue decreasing. Don’t be tempted by lower rate offer without reading the entire [...]