We’re often told a lot of statistics about debt in our economy. For example, it’s said the average consumer owes $9,000 in debt to credit card companies. Unfortunately, these statistics often lack context and end up misleading us about the true impact of consumer credit card debt on our economy. While the average credit card…
read moreMany educators and businesses use the SMART goals concept, which was created by Paul J. Meyer and spelled out in his book Attitude is Everything. We think the SMART goals system can be a good tool for debt counseling; any financial goal we recommend should be SMART. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and…
read moreOne tactic that many consumers use to ensure that their credit reports are accurate and up-to-date is to add a 100-word statement to the report. We routinely recommend this action as part of our debt counseling advice. Some critics warn against the 100-word statement. They think consumers who write a statement are handing collectors the…
read moreOur credit coaching and debt management plan services aren’t intended to improve one’s credit score, but the free financial literacy education we offer can teach you to the right ways to improve your own credit score. The Federal Reserve offers 5 Tips: Improving your credit score, which include: Requesting your credit report and ensuring its…
read moreStore cards, or credit cards offered by a particular retailer, are rarely recommended by financial experts. The interest rates are higher than average, and consumers usually sign up for them to get a one-time discount on a specific purchase. For the record, it is a terrible idea to sign up for a credit card just…
read moreEarlier this year, the Department of Education and the Treasury Department released the results of their third annual financial literacy challenge, a test administered to high school students throughout the country. The average score this year was 69%, a sign that today’s students are ill prepared for the financial responsibilities that they’ll face as young…
read moreNo-interest credit card offers are increasingly common these days, and while they may seem incredibly attractive, here are a few things to consider before rushing into one of these deals. While you may get 0% interest for a few months, maybe even a year, do you have to pay any fees during this period? Read…
read moreIf you’re a parent looking for a college savings calculator to help plan your family’s education funding, you should be thinking about 529 plans. A 529 plan allows you to save for future college expenses. You can start saving at any time and build up funds as your child grows. You can use a college…
read moreThe best debt help we can offer is to teach consumers to manage their credit effectively. One key to this end is to review every statement you get. Too often, we pay the bill and file it away without taking a few extra minutes to review it fully. Credit card companies do occasionally make errors,…
read morePeople seeking credit counseling advice are often curious about cancelling credit cards. We’ve written frequently about how closing accounts isn’t necessarily good for your credit score, but once an account is closed it can’t be used to accumulate more debt, making credit counseling that much easier to achieve. Whether cancelling credit cards is or isn’t…
read moreUnder the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, debt collectors are required to identify themselves in any communication with a debtor. This rule prevents collection agents from tricking consumers into returning calls or other communications without knowing the nature of the communication. There are also privacy protections built into the FDCPA that prohibit collectors from disclosing…
read moreWhen it comes to “opting out,” we’ve long advised consumers to opt out of receiving pre-screened credit card offers using Opt Out Prescreen and from other offers that entice you to spend outside of your budget. Use this quick-reference guide to get your name off these marketing list Opt Out Prescreen Opt Out Prescreen allows…
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