RESOURCES
The 3 worst money moves you can make
Sound financial advice doesn't change much from year to year. Bad money management ideas, however, seem to mutate and flourish with each passing season. Full Article. (MSN.com)
Financial infidelity is rampant
With money and marriage, there are lies. Then there are Big Lies. Telling your spouse you bought something on sale when you didn't is a lie. Hiding five-figure credit card debt is a Big Lie. Full Article. (MSN.com)
9 ways to build a killer credit score
Establishing a good credit history has never been as important as it is today. It's not just that you'll need good credit to get decent rates when you're ready to buy a home or a car. Your credit history can determine whether you get a good job, a decent apartment or reasonable rates on insurance. One seemingly minor misstep -- a late payment, maxing out your credit cards, applying for too much credit at once -- can haunt you for years. Full Article. (MSN.com)
7 fast fixes for your credit score
So you've had a few problems getting the bills paid lately, and you're wondering what you can do to repair the damage. Full Article. (MSN.com)
How long will that debt linger?
My niece has the idea that if she ignores her creditors and does not have any contact with them for seven years, then they can no longer come after her for the money she owes them. She got this idea from a financial author. Full Article. (Bankrate.com)
Fixing mistakes on your credit report
You do not send in the information that comprises your credit history -- your creditors do. However, you are responsible for the accuracy of the information contained in each of the three credit reports about your financial life. Full Article. (Bankrate.com)
Wage Garnishments
A writ of garnishment is one method a creditor might use to recover unpaid debt. Federal law exempts from garnishment 75% of disposable earnings per week, or an amount up to thirty times the federal minimum hourly wage (currently $5.15), whichever is greater. Some states still have wage garnishment laws in place; however, when the federal law provides a larger exemption than the state law, the federal law supersedes the state law. Full Article. (BCSAlliance.com)
10 easy ways to save $500 or more
Raises are hard to come by at many jobs this year, so don't wait for the boss to be struck by the sudden realization that you're valuable. Give yourself a raise by spending less of your hard-earned cash. Full Article. (MSN.com)
Good debt and bad debt
The amount of personal debt in this country is ever-increasing, and a large part of the reason is that credit has never been easier to get. Whereas credit card issuers previously looked for customers who could repay, today card issuers relish the chance to reel in those who'll continuously charge beyond their means at 18 percent or 20 percent. Full Article. (Bankrate.com)
Higher credit card minimum payments in 2006
If you're one of the 7 percent of Americans who make only the minimum payment on their credit card bills, your your monthly bills have gone up. In the past, credit card companies required customers to pay an average of just 2 percent of their total credit card balance, which meant constant debt for many consumers. The 2 percent minimum payment only covered interest and other fees, so it often could take a lifetime to pay off the principal balance. Full Article. (Bankrate.com)
10 bad habits that lead to debt disaster
Sometimes the only way to stop a snowballing problem is to go back to the top of the hill and find out what started it. If you're up to your eyeballs in credit card debt, take a step back and recount your money missteps. Knowing your weaknesses could help prevent you from falling back into the bad credit pit and show you a way out. Full Article. (Bankrate.com)
The true cost of paying the minimum
Is your money being sucked into a compound interest sinkhole? If you're not paying off your credit cards every month, that's just what can happen. It depends on the interest rate charged by the credit card company and whether you pay as much as you can, or just the minimum amount due. Full Article. (Bankrate.com)
Budgeting 101: Start your own budget
Wondering whether you're spending more on Q-Tips than the neighbors? We give you a sneak peek into the neighbors' checkbooks with our "Budgeting 101" worksheet. Compiled with information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, our worksheet will tell you how much you're spending relative to people in the same income bracket. Full Article. (Bankrate.com)
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
Read the full text of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act that prohibit abusive practices by debt collectors. Full Article. (FTC.gov)
One late payment can doom you
Credit card companies and insurers are looking for reasons to increase rates. A single late payment charge could ripple through all your unrelated accounts. Full Article. (MSN.com)
How to Get a Debt Collector or Creditor to Stop Calling You at Home and Work
Do you jump every time the phone rings? Have you been embarassed at work because a debt collector keeps phoning you? If so, then there is a simple way to get debt collectors and creditors to stop calling you. Full Article. (BCSAlliance.com)
Tapping your retirement account
If you've found yourself in a tight spot and need some money quickly, your 401(k) can provide some relief. But this is a loan with many drawbacks and one that many experts believe should be considered only as a last resort. Full Article. (Bankrate.com)
Are you a candidate for bankruptcy?
Bankruptcy is a legal remedy, and as such only an attorney can properly advise you on the process. However, as far as being a candidate for the legal process, that is another question. My experience has been that the decision is based partially on facts, partially on emotion and partially on a person's view of their future. Full Article. (Bankrate.com)
What will it take to pay off my credit card?
Use this easy-to-use calculator to determine what it will take to pay off your credit card, calculate your payments, and more.. Full Article. (Bankrate.com)
Comprehensive Credit and Debt Resource
A great resource that provides comprehensive informaiton about a wide array of topics including credit cards, handling debt collectors, mortgage loans, debt management and more. Full Article. (BCSAlliance.com)
Some banks see consumers paying off more credit-card debt
In a development that could erode credit-card industry profits, U.S. consumers are paying down more of their monthly bills, according to two of the country's biggest issuers. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) and Citigroup Inc. (C) reported this week that their total outstanding card loans declined during the first quarter. At JPMorgan, card loans fell $8 billion, or 6%, to $134.3 billion at the end of March. The decline at Citigroup was $5.7 billion, or 4%, leaving its outstanding balance at almost $136 billion. Full Article. (MarketWatch.com)
Oprah's Debt Diet
Great information about Oprah's Debt Diet including information about credit card debt to how much you should be spending every month based on your salary. Full Article. (Oprah.com)
An Outcry Rises as Debt Collectors Play Rough
The rise in American consumer debt has been accompanied by a sharp increase in complaints about aggressive and sometimes unscrupulous tactics by debt collection agencies, a phenomenon that has government regulators increasingly concerned. Full Article. (NY Times - Subscription required)
How many credit cards is too many?
Look through your wallet. How many credit cards do you count?Have promises of better rates, perks and lower fees caused your wallet to overflow and your mailbox to be stuffed with hundreds of offers each month? Full Article (MSN.com)
12 myths about bankruptcy - Bankrate.com
Like most big, bad scary things, bankruptcy has a reputation based on a few tidbits of truth and lots of embellishment. It's not nearly as frightening once you know the truth. Full Article. (Bankrate.com)
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