Debt Management Blog

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,...

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...

The Rewards of Responsible Credit Card Use

I spend a lot of time on this blog discussing the negative side of credit cards because, well, used irresponsibly, there is the potential for a lot of negative consequences.  For example, if you treat your credit card as a secondary source of income, or when you carry a...

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...

6 Ways to Avoid Bank Fees

Do bank fees have you at a breaking point?  From ATM fees to overdraft protection to fees for online bill pay and maintenance (whatever that means, exactly), it seems like most banks today are more interested in taking your money than helping you manage it safely. But the good...

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...

What is APR? CRA? FICO? A Guide to Common Credit Acronyms

As someone who works in finance and gives debt advice for a living, I’ve gotten used to all of the acronyms that tend to go along with discussions about debt and credit cards.  And I think that, as a result, I sometimes lose sight of just how confusing a...

6 Ways to Pay Yourself First

It’s nearly impossible to read a savings or budgeting blog without coming across the phrase “pay yourself first.”  And there’s a good reason that this is such a popular piece of advice:  By “paying” yourself first — in other words, setting aside a specific amount of money out of...

When Debt Collectors Call: Do’s and Don’ts

When Debt Collectors Call: Do’s and Don’ts When you get behind on your bills, few things are as stressful as a phone call or letter from a debt collector.  But while turning a blind eye to those calls and letters might seem like a way to ease the anxiety,...

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...