A lack of knowledge about the home buying process is one barrier people often encounter. Another large barrier is on the topic of debt. Debt affects every other step of the home buying process, and we’ll talk about that in a moment. We’ll start with the number one barrier to homeownership that people cite: down…
Posts Categorized: Personal Finance
September was National Preparedness Month. The month is designed to encourage individuals and families to plan ahead for emergencies or natural disasters. Much of the pre- planning will center on creating an emergency kit with supplies you might need, and just as important, making a plan for what to do if disaster strikes in or…
Many people know when they’re struggling financially. Intuitively, we feel the pressure of not having enough cash to meet all of our obligations. If you live on a cash basis, you will find yourself with no choice but to stop spending when the money runs out. Credit and debt distort our intuitions. When you charge…
Over the past few years there’s a trend online of financial experts recommending college students get credit cards. Is this really a good idea? This strain of advice usually includes some of the following arguments: Having credit helps establish a good credit history. Using credit early is educational and can teach the user how to…
Bullet Journaling is a popular way to organize your life on paper. People with a lot of to-do lists and day planners have found that keeping a bullet journal is a great way to focus on their goals and track accomplishments. The core of a bullet journal is to start with organization–this is not a…
In honor of Women’s History Month, we recently wrote about natural advantages women have that can help them manage personal finances. Today we’re talking about the other side of the coin—disadvantages that women need to be aware of when dealing with money matters. Like we wrote before, we don’t want to stereotype anyone, and every…
If you’re paid bi-weekly on Fridays, then this month might be a 3-paycheck month for you. It happens roughly twice per year for those workers who are paid every other week, and for many of us, it’s like winning a small lottery jackpot.
But rather than squander that occasional 3rd paycheck in a month, use those funds to help bring your personal finances into balance. Here are 5 suggestions for getting the most out of that extra paycheck:
Many student loan borrowers feel helpless in the face of tens of thousands of dollars of student loan debt. There is popular support among them for student loan forgiveness, but there are misconceptions about these programs that need to be cleared up. A recent report from LendEDU found that nearly half of all college students…
We wrote yesterday about the pros and cons of going paperless, and switching from mailed bank & billing statements to electronic ones. If you do decide to make the switch, we’ve got some advice for how to do it: Save a permanent copy. Paper statements are permanent, but some creditors and banks won’t keep your…
More and more banks, creditors and utility companies are urging customers to go paperless and get all of their billing statements online. There are obvious advantages to this kind of arrangement—it’s better for the environment, for one—but there are downsides to consider. Should you go Paperless? Pros: Less waste Easier to gather info at tax…
Charity is a great thing, but people in financial trouble need to be careful with their giving. Consider our advice on sticking to a budget while contributing to charitable causes.
A lot of budgeting for the holidays centers on buying gifts and the like, but holiday meals and gatherings can present a real challenge for those who are trying to get by on a tight budget. We’ve got 6 tips for saving money on this year’s Thanksgiving Dinner: Borrow what you need. Check with your nearby…