All posts by Michael Peterson

How Credit Cards Become Debt Traps

It’s estimated that some 60 million American households regularly carry outstanding credit card balances. According to a WalletHub study, the average household’s credit card balance is $8,425. We know what this means: Carrying a balance (meaning you don’t pay off your total amount due every month) incurs interest (meaning you’re actually paying more than you owe on your card). But why are so many of us falling prey to...

Guidelines for Spending on Your Mortgage

So, you’ve decided to take the leap and buy a home. Congratulations! But have you given some thought to what kind of mortgage you can afford? Think about the price of the home as well as the monthly payment you’ll pay to own that home. Banks take your ability to pay the monthly payment into consideration when deciding whether or not to grant you a loan. If you use...

Are You Carrying Too Much Debt?

Do you toss and turn at night worrying about your debt? If so, you’re not alone! From student loans to high credit card balances, carrying too much debt is common in America, which runs on credit. According to a recent Experian consumer debt study, outstanding consumer debt in this country reached nearly $17 trillion. While credit is a great convenience, it can also cause many challenges. Lugging too much...

Bill Payment Strategies for Procrastinators

From car notes to credit cards, monthly bills can be pretty overwhelming – and unfortunately, curling up in a fetal position and hoping our bills disappear doesn’t work too well. It can be a daunting task to sort out your monthly bills… and even more terrifying to pay them. This is likely why so many of us put off paying them until the 11th hour. But because creditors report...

Advice for Organizing Your Finances

Do you feel like you have no idea how much money you’re spending each month? Are your credit card statements always a surprise? In short, is your financial life disorganized? It can be extremely stressful to face the unknown every time you balance your checkbook. Lost bills, missed payment deadlines, and overdrawing your checking account leads to penalties and fees. Forgetting to pay a bill (or two… or three…)...

7 Consequences of Not Paying Your Credit Card

Month after month, you receive your credit card bill. It’s stressful because you can’t pay it off… and you start to wonder, “What would happen if I just stop sending in payments?” If you’ve ever been in this situation, read on! The short answer is that a lot of negative things will happen. And the consequences will impact your financial situation for many years. Consequence #1: Finance Charges If...

4 Ways to Stop Living Paycheck-to-Paycheck

Have you ever considered what would happen if you didn’t receive your next paycheck? Would this jeopardize your home, or make it difficult to buy essentials? This can be a terrifying thought – especially if you’re among the 78% of American households living paycheck-to-paycheck. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to break this vicious paycheck-to-paycheck cycle. We get it: Changing your financial habits can be tricky – but...

5 Simple Cuts to Curb Your Spending

Living paycheck-to-paycheck is all too common. In fact, recent data indicate that almost three-fourths of American workers with salaries of $50,000 or less rely on each paycheck to make ends meet. If you’re part of this (very large) group, chances are good that you’re also struggling with debt. To make a dent in your debt balance – or even pay it off for good – your best bet is...

New to Credit Cards? Here’s What You Need to Know!

Did you just open your first credit card account? Congratulations! There’s a lot to know about savvy credit card use. Unfortunately, the best place to learn what you need to know so you can protect your financial future isn’t always your credit card company. Here are four important things that your lender might not tell you – but knowing them can spare you a world of financial hurt. 1....

Closing a Credit Card? What You Should Know

Are you considering closing a credit card? Whether you’re trying to curb your credit card spending, feel you have too many credit cards that you never use, keep an account open even though it doesn’t fit your lifestyle anymore, or another valid reason, there are some important things to consider before you make the move to close a credit card account for good. How Can Closing a Credit Card...