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How To Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck
When you’re living paycheck-to-paycheck, few things are as stressful as the last day or two before your next payday: Your bank account is running on empty – and so is your gas tank. You’ve got a stack of bills waiting to be paid, and your refrigerator is looking pretty bare. And when payday finally comes, you find that by the time you fill the car, pay the bills, and... -
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... -
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 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... -
7 Rules for Safe, Secure Mobile Banking
7 Rules for Safe, Secure Mobile Banking If you have a smartphone, chances are good that you use a mobile app to do some of your banking – and with good reason. Mobile banking makes it super-easy to stay on top of your finances from anywhere, and at any time. But when you take your finances mobile, it’s important to make sure that you aren’t sacrificing security for the... -
Financial Spring Cleaning
Get Organized with a Financial Spring Cleaning If you’re like me, you probably associate spring with the traditional “spring cleaning.” As the weather warms up, it just seems to make sense to open the windows, let in the fresh air, and spend a day or two tidying up and getting organized. But why limit spring cleaning to your home? I think spring is the perfect time to take a... -
Financial Frenemies
Financial Frenemies? There are some things that money simply can’t buy. You can’t purchase happiness or personal fulfillment. There’s no way to put a price tag on compassion or caring. The funds in your bank account can’t guarantee loving relationships or solid, caring friendships. But money can make relationships more complicated – especially if you’re surrounded by people who have less-than-healthy relationships with money. And whether you have a...