When you’ve fallen behind on paying your bills and you’re strapped for cash, it’s hard to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Even worse is when debt collectors begin calling and hounding you relentlessly, something that can make a bad financial situation even worse. The ... Read more...
The Hidden Costs of a Long Term Car Loan
Approximately a quarter of all new car loans today are for at least 5 years, and some stretch to 6, 7 and even as long as 8 years. The reason that more and more consumers are getting these longer loans is simple; they allow for lower monthly payments and let someone who might ... Read more...
Top Tips for Lowering the Cost of Lighting your Home
About 15% of the electricity used in the average American household is used for lighting, which isn't the biggest expense by far but is definitely one that can easily be lowered. In today's blog we’ll look at a number of great Tips that you can use to not only lower your electric ... Read more...
“You’re Out Of Credit Card Debt? Well, Just Wait…”
About a week ago, I was having lunch with a friend when we got to talking about finances. I mean, every so often it happens in real life, right? It actually started with her making an off-hand remark about her credit card debt. She was talking about a recent, large purchase she'd ... Read more...
Strike Debt?
About a year ago, the Occupy Wall Street movement was something of a big deal in several U.S. cities. With its beginnings in Zuccotti Park in the heart of New York City's financial district, the protesters set out to challenge capitalist paradigms - for example, some of their ... Read more...
Four Lazy Ways to Improve Your Finances
All of the following are quotes lifted directly from popular personal finance blogs: "I went without buying any new clothes or shoes for a whole year - it was hard, but totally worth it to get all my debt paid off!" "I never, ever go to restaurants or put my clothes in the ... Read more...
There Is SOME Good Financial News This Week
So, this week on my blog has been sort of a downer. I wrote about: Putting down my cat, which caused me to go into $1200 of credit card debt. Being on a financial "low" right now. and How I know nothing about investing (psst, tell me your investing secrets and enter to ... Read more...
My Federal Student Loan is Under $13,000!
Yep, with the payment that came out of my account last Friday, my balance on my only remaining debt is less than $13,000!Sometimes it's so hard to believe how much debt I've paid off in the past three years. But I have, with nothing but extremely hard work and determination. And ... Read more...
My Car Payoff
Two weeks ago at this time, I owed $2,742 + change on my car. I also had $2,000 of contributions in a Roth IRA. I was also about to receive a $1000 "extra paycheck" the following week. I think you see where this is going: I made the decision to withdraw $1800 from my Roth and, ... Read more...
Hey, Guess What?
I paid off my car yesterday! Details - plus an August wrap-up and September goals - to follow. ... Read more...