Debt Management Blog

Do You Have SMART Goals for Your Debt?

We talk a lot about credit card debt because it’s so pervasive in our society. In fact, the Federal Reserve estimates that the average American household carries $5,700 in credit card debt. And their prognosis is worse for those who can’t pay off their balances in full each month...

How to Repay Debt: 4 Options

So, you’ve got a bunch of unsecured debt. You’ve been managing it, for the most part, but you’re finally fed up. You’re more than ready to start living debt-free. Great decision! Now what? There are many different approaches for tackling debt repayment. The option you choose is strictly a...

Pros and Cons of Paperless Statements

In today’s virtual-reliant world, much of our day-to-day business takes place in Cyberspace. But banking and financial transactions might still make you leery. Whether it’s your monthly credit card or mortgage bill, your regular bank account statement, your quarterly 401(k) update, or another financially sensitive document, some of us...

What to Look for in a Free Financial Management App

Keeping on top of your personal finances requires a lot of energy. But today, your financial organization can be at your fingertips … literally. As close, in fact, as your cellphone. With mobile banking on the rise, a wave of financial apps has emerged as the convenient way to...

Cheapest Ways to Do Online Grocery Shopping

According to a Gallup Poll from August 2019, only 2 out of 10 American adults reported regularly doing their weekly grocery shopping online. Since then, due to necessity, many more of us are looking for alternative ways to access food and other basic needs by utilizing these services –...

4 Reasons NOT to Get a Payday Loan

Payday : A great day that most of us regard fondly. Payday loan : A financially detrimental debt arrangement that only benefits the lender. There’s a huge difference between these two terms. Unfortunately, while the former is pretty straightforward, there’s a lot of confusion surrounding the latter –...

Eight Most Commonly Overlooked Budget Categories

Have you put the time and effort into creating a written monthly budget, and yet still find yourself constantly going over? Do you often find yourself pulling money from one budget item to cover unexpected expenses in another area? A well thought-out budget is a basic tool everyone should...

Determining Your Debt-to-Income Ratio

If you’re an American, chances are pretty good that you carry debt. In fact, a Pew report from 2015 found that 80% of us owe money. While that means we’re in good company, it also means that most of us are feeling the stress of debt and the strain...

Cut These 6 Things from Your Budget

Do you feel like you have a hole in your pocket? Do you find that money just slips away from you, unnoticed? Do you have a difficult time reconciling where all your take-home pay ends up? If you answered “yes” to any of those questions, it might be a...

Keeping Your Student Loan Out of Default

Higher education is a noble pursuit. Unfortunately, in the US, it’s also a pricey one. In fact, The Institute for College Access & Success reported that 65 percent of 2017 grads carry student debt – at an average of $29,200. That’s no small chunk of change, especially for those...