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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...

What Happens After You Pay Off a Credit Card

There’s nothing quite like making your final credit card payment. After months – or maybe even years – of living with the stress and expense of high-interest credit card debt, getting to that zero balance is truly something to celebrate.  Paying off credit card debt feels amazing. But not only that, it also frees you up to pursue other goals, make other plans, and do more with your hard-earned...

How a Financial Audit Can Help You Set Goals and Plan for the Future

When was the last time you did a serious audit on your finances?  We’re not talking about income taxes. And we don’t mean simply reviewing your budget (although that’s definitely important). We mean taking a serious deep dive into every facet of your financial situation, from your monthly income and expenses to your short-term savings and retirement funds. A self-audit is a great way to assess your situation, identify...

Big Purchase on the Horizon? Ask These Eight Questions Before You Buy

Even the most frugal folks out there occasionally need to open their wallets and spring for a big-ticket expense. From major car or home repairs to broken appliances to threadbare furniture and back-achingly worn-out mattresses — there comes a time when a major purchase is a must. But before you buy, take a few minutes to ask yourself eight key questions that could help you save money and avoid...

Create a Financial Vision Board to “See” and Realize Your Money Goals

Seeing is believing, right? In many instances, the answer is a resounding “yes.” In fact, “seeing” your financial goals via strong and captivating imagery is a good start on the road to believing you can solve your money woes and reach your financial goals, whatever they might be. This is where a financial vision board – a tool which allows you to sustain your motivation by channeling your creativity...

Your Credit Score Myths vs. Facts

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that there’s a ton of misinformation out there about credit cards and debt. And as someone who has made a living helping folks pay down debt and get their finances back on track, I feel like I hear the same myths over and over again – especially when it comes to credit scores. I thought I’d take some time...

Save Tax-Time-Stress with this Easy Checklist

Save Tax-Time-Stress 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 folks, the span of...

Chip Credit Card FAQs: 7 Common Questions Answered 

You’ve probably heard a thing or two (or three!) about credit card chip, or “chip” cards by now.  It seems like for the past two or three months every website, magazine, and TV news show has done a story on the big transition.  And if you use credit cards, there’s a very good chance that you recently received a new chip card in the mail. If you’re like a...

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 Common Money Tips to Re-Think (or Ignore!)

8 Common Money Tips To Re-Think (or Ignore!) When it comes to money, it seems like everyone out there has advice – but not all advice is created equally.  Is it really always better to buy in bulk?  Should you listen to all of the voices telling you to stop renting in favor of building equity?  Are you really doing yourself a favor if you completely turn your back...