Life happens fast. Weddings, medical expenses, and home projects can appear out of nowhere, and you might have trouble finding the funds to pay for it all. Before you rush to take out a second mortgage or pile the purchases on a high-interest credit card with a spending limit, you may want to consider taking…
Posts By: Owlie
Have you ever wondered what would happen if you didn’t pay your debts? At first, the consequences are straightforward, your creditor may report your delinquent debt to the credit bureaus, leaving a mark on your credit report and affecting your credit score. If you continue to miss payments, your creditor may deem your loan “bad”…
Having debt can be a good thing. Your credit history – the biggest factor that allows you to purchase big-ticket items like cars and houses – is based around how well you handle your debt. That said, many Americans are living with more “bad debt’ than what’s considered “good debt.” According to the Northwestern Mutual’s…
Debt settlement is often portrayed by settlement companies as a magic bullet for anyone drowning in debt. But the truth is, debt settlement is only an ideal debt solution if : You have $10,000 or more unsecured debt You’re frequently late on debt payments You’re having trouble making the minimum payment amounts every month You…
Did you know that making debt payments on time plays a significant role in your credit score? Missing a payment can bring your score down several points, and the longer you put off making payments, the more your credit suffers. Late payments bring on a slew of penalties, including: Late fees Increased interest rates Higher…
It’s no secret: whether you’re an incoming college student or their lucky parents, tuition payment strategies are an important topic before school starts. Student loans are becoming one of the largest types of debt in the nation. For most people, they are often necessary to receive a college education. If you’re not careful, student debt…
For anyone focusing on all the fun of the big day, it’s also important to talk about the more serious conversations that come with wedding planning. It is vital to understand where you both stand on key topics, align on where you want to be in the future and figure out how you plan to…
There are many situations that may make it hard to pay off your credit card bills or loans, including illness, job loss, or simply missing a few too many credit card payments. And thanks to late fees and high annual percentage rates (APRs), it’s easy to fall into a debt hole. Debt management plans or…
Earning a college degree paves the way for a successful career and life. While earning a degree can provide new opportunities, recent studies have shown that postsecondary education is a driving force behind the latest debt trends. To date, an estimated 44.2 million Americans are affected by the modern student loan debt crisis. Of course,…
In 2017, 147 million people had their personal information stolen during the Equifax Data Breach. This one of the largest cybersecurity incidences in history. In July 2019, the Federal Trade Commission ordered Equifax – one of the three major credit reporting agencies – to pay a settlement of $700 million to state and federal regulators…
Getting your first credit card is a big milestone for many students and young adults. These symbols of independence are indications that you are financially prepared to accept financial responsibility and begin your credit journey. Before you jump straight in, there are several facts about owning a credit card that you should be familiar with…