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Get a Jump on Tax Season with This Easy Checklist
Get a Jump on Tax Season with This Easy Checklist ‘Tis the season . . . to get ready to do your taxes. No, really. That may sound crazy – it’s early November, after all. You haven’t even finalized your Thanksgiving menu. You’re still trying to sort out holiday travel plans. You won’t even get your W-2 until January. Why worry about taxes now? Because if you’re like most... -
8 Spending Habits that Can Cost You
You’re not a big spender. You don’t drive a fancy car. Your rent/mortgage payments aren’t astronomical. In fact, you consider yourself to be fairly frugal. You should have no problem saving money. But somehow, all that extra cash you should have seems to disappear by the end of the month. Why? Where does it go? And how does it get there? Is there some kind of financial Bermuda Triangle... -
Predatory Lending Scams and Fast Cash Gimmicks to Avoid
Predatory Lending: Scams and Fast Cash Gimmicks to Avoid It’s a sad fact that there’s always someone out there looking to take advantage of folks experiencing money woes or debt problems. From short-term loans with astronomical interest rates to less-than-legit prepaid credit card offers, there’s no shortage of predators out there, just waiting to take advantage of people in tough financial circumstances. These scams and tricks promise financial solutions and... -
8 Worst Debt Pay Off Tactics
Paying off credit card is always a good thing – but when it comes to how you pay off your credit card, not all payment methods are created equally. Some payment methods should be used with extreme caution. Some should be avoided altogether – even if you have to stay in debt little longer. Surprised to hear me say that? You shouldn’t be. While I’m all in favor of... -
Maxed Out Credit Cards? Advice for Undoing the Damage
One of the worst parts about credit card debt is that, if you’re not careful, it can creep up on you: You start out with the best intentions. You plan to pay off your credit card in full every month. You plan to treat your credit card like cash, and to use it responsibly, as a tool to help you build a solid credit history. It’s so easy to... -
Pay Off Credit Card Debt with a Debt Consolidation Loan
If you’re struggling with loads of high-interest credit card debt, there’s a good chance that you’ve at least thought about taking out a debt consolidation loan. And, I understand the appeal of a consolidation loan, especially if you’re juggling multiple credit cards with hefty balances. But is a consolidation loan a good idea? Is it something you should consider as you work toward your goal of being debt-free? Well... -
Should You Take on Debt? How to Decide
Should You Take on Debt? How to Decide It might surprise you to know that I’m not 100 percent anti-debt. As someone who has made a career out of giving debt advice, I know that debt problems can be devastating – especially when there’s high-interest credit card debt involved. But I also understand that, in some cases, debt is hard to avoid. That’s why, to me, debt management isn’t... -
Credit Card Balance Transfer Pros and Cons
If you’re carrying a substantial amount of credit card debt, there’s a good chance that you’ve probably at least considered using a credit card balance transfer to pay off credit card debt that have high interest rates. And with good reason: With super-low interest rates, balance transfer offers can seem like a ray of hope in an otherwise bleak debt situation. But are credit card balance transfers a good... -
Credit Cards: Are You Using or Abusing Them?
There’s no denying that credit cards are super-convenient: With a single swipe, you can pay for everything from a tank of gas to your morning coffee. You can use them to pay bills and earn reward points. And when you use them responsibly, they can help you boost your credit score. In other words, when it comes to easy payments, it’s really hard to beat a credit card. Unless,... -
Break Free From Your Money Rut
Stuck in a Money Rut? Here’s How to Break Free Ever feel like your money is just sort of . . . going nowhere? It’s a feeling that can creep in when nothing’s really off track, finance-wise, but at the same time, you’re not really making progress toward any significant goals. You’re not saving or paying down debt. Your budget needs some adjustment. You know you could probably be...