Archive for the Bank Category

A Basic Review of Debt

The concept of debt management is especially important today as Americans are saving less and are further in debt than at any other time in our history. Let us explore what debt is, when it is good and bad, how to get out from under its bondage, and what the consumer should be aware of.  Loans Defined–An… Read More »

Do You Know The Best Ways to Protect Credit and Debit Accounts?

Life is busy, so sometimes people let their guards down when it comes to using credit cards safely. So here are 10 things you should do to help make sure no one steals your credit and debit card information: Use cash more often for such things as buying fast food and gasoline. Some thieves attach little card readers to… Read More »

The Insanity of Long-Term Car Loans

It has been reported that 7 and 8 year car loans are becoming the norm. This isn’t surprising, when you consider that the cost for a new mid-size family car, mini-van, hybrid, or small SUV can easily be $25,000, and it is not uncommon that if nice features are added they can easily cost $30,000… Read More »

How To Opt Out of Credit Card Offers

Does your mail box fill up with offers from credit card companies? Sometimes they will mail you checks and pre-approved credit cards. It is annoying, and its also a waste of time to go through them. You must also shred them to be sure no one steals your identity. Those of you with an ecology or stewardship… Read More »

What To Do If Facing a Possible Foreclosure

The recession officially started December 2007 and ended June of 2009, however many homeowners struggled to stay current on their mortgage before that time, and still do now. Those in the financial industry have been learning how to help people either avoid or survive foreclosure of their home, while at the same time the whole process evolved…. Read More »

Homeowner Who Foreclosed, Other Personal Finance Headlines

Interesting articles worth checking out: Homeowners qualifying for new mortgage after short sale. Auto purchasing and the various fine print costly add-ons. Estate planning: Naming a trustee for your trust, and living wills. Roth IRA escape hatch, for those that already converted, but now regret it. Buyers are Back After Foreclosure. They didn’t have to… Read More »

Are the Educated Smarter With Finances & Debt?

A new study shows that prior to the current economic crisis, it was the highly educated people that were more inclined to have unmanageable levels of debt. The percentage of Americans with more than 40% of their income going to debt payments increased from under 15% in 1991 to 27% in 2008. You would think… Read More »

Debt Collector Fraud in the News

Over the last 4 years we have seem an epidemic of people that have been late on their monthly debt repayments. Many of these borrowers have never been late on payments before, however during the recession people often have to deal with multiple problems. It used to be common that someone just had to work… Read More »

What Are the Best Savings Account Rates? Does it Matter?

Do you wonder what is the best rate of return that you can get on a savings account, does it really matter? Toward the end of this article I will give you some rates I found, but even though it does matter, it doesn’t matter as much as you think, so don’t sweat it too… Read More »

Kids Saving More Money

Do you think your children are learning from their parent’s financial woes and are practicing better personal finances, such as saving more money? The Wall Street Journal yesterday reported in “Watching Parents Fail Sparks New Rebellion: Saving Money.” I think this could indeed be true, I know we have been transparent with our kids about… Read More »