All posts by Mike Peterson

Applying for a Mortgage? 7 Things to Know Before You Start

Considering buying a home? A lot of folks view home ownership as a significant goal and milestone – and with good reason: When you own a home, you build equity and you save money on your taxes. And in general, it’s cheaper to own than to rent (and there’s no landlord or property management company dictating things like what color you can paint your walls). So if you’re applying...

Have Debt? You Can Still Live Your Life

A Perfectly Tailored Credit Card Can Mean Healthy Financial Benefits

In the market for a new credit card? Well, in the sage words of Smokey Robinson, “You better shop around.” Granted, it may seem like choosing a credit card is as easy as sifting through the endless offers you receive in the mail and simply choosing one, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. In reality, different credit cards will appeal to different folks for different reasons. So...

 Zero-Based Budgeting To Erase Debt and Build Savings

Ever heard of zero-based budgeting? Admittedly, when talking budgets the word “zero” doesn’t exactly instill confidence in the practice’s virtues. After all, no one likes to hear the number zero when talking about their money. But rest assured the concept of zero-based budgeting is not as scary as it seems and is, in fact, a good way to dig yourself out of debt or grow your nest egg. Let...

Don’t Let Sneaky Expenses Bust Your Budget 

A detailed, well-planned budget is one of your best tools in your quest for financial responsibility and a good defense against overspending. However, even the savviest of budgeters can find themselves in tight money situations thanks to sneaky expenses that inevitably seem to crop up. Here is a list of some of the most commonly missed or forgotten budget items, and some tips on how to plan for them....

Life Without Credit Cards?

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, it’s hard to imagine life without credit cards. Used responsibly, credit cards can help us build strong financial foundations and give us easier access to homes, transportation, job opportunities, and more. But used irresponsibly, credit cards can do damage that can take years – even decades – to reverse. For most people, the benefits of credit cards outweigh the potential drawbacks, and most of...

10 Ways to Un-Stress About Money

Let’s face it: Money can be stressful, especially when you’re dealing with high-interest credit card debt, cash flow issues, or an unexpected financial emergency. Unfortunately, there are no quick-fix solutions for most money woes (remember, payday loans and the like are NEVER good options!) – But that doesn’t mean that the situation is hopeless. One key to successfully dealing with financial issues? Keep your stress down. When your stress...

6 Credit Card Items You Can Negotiate

If you’ve ever struggled to pay down high-interest credit card debt, you know that it can start to feel overwhelming at times – almost as if your credit card is running the show and you’re just along for the ride. This out-of-control feeling is a little scary, and a lot discouraging. And it can be a huge barrier to improving your financial life, whether your goal is to get...

8 Ways to Generate Passive Income

Who doesn’t want extra cash? I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t be happy to bring home a little extra money every month. But side income usually means taking a side job of some kind – and not everyone has the kind of schedule that can accommodate a traditional part time gig. That’s where passive income comes in. As the name suggests, passive income allows you to earn money...

8 Smart Moves to Make After You Pay Off Your Credit Card

8 Smart Moves to Make After You Pay Off Your Credit Card It wasn’t easy. You budgeted, saved, and budgeted some more. You didn’t give up, even when you felt discouraged. It may have taken months. Or years. Some days, it seemed impossible. But you finally did it: You paid off your credit card. So, now what? What do you do with the extra hundred or so dollars you...