Each new year, your excellent intentions are put to the test. You desperately want to escape from the ever-mounting pressure of your debt — and you resolve to do so. Unfortunately, the ability to stick to your resolutions eludes you. With your resolution to save and budget better, you create a convoluted spreadsheet, including every […]
Most people spend every dime they make, often before they make it. They spend it on movie tickets they don’t need, food they could’ve cooked, and knick-knacks they can’t afford — swiping the credit card and digging themselves deeper into debt with every purchase. Savings can never grow when your spending constantly chips at the […]
I consolidated my undergraduate loans in 2003, which in some ways was the golden age of student loan consolidation. Back then, consolidating was a solid method for reducing interest rates, reducing monthly payments, and taking advantage of lender discounts. Unfortunately, there have been many changes to the regulations governing student loan consolidations since then. Consolidating […]
One of the many gimmicks car dealers use is the promise of paying off your old car loan. If you trade in your car, the dealer agrees to pay off the loan on the vehicle. You end up with a new car, and you don’t have to worry about making payments on both the old […]
Bankruptcy is the nuclear option of debt relief: it may solve some of your debt problems, but it causes a host of others. So how do you decide whether you should file bankruptcy or continue trying to pay down your debt? If you’re considering filing for bankruptcy, here’s what you need to know to determine if […]
There are alternatives to bankruptcy. Remember when you went shopping for a new case for your iPhone 3 and came home with an iPhone 4S? Well, maybe you didn’t go shopping for a case, but most of us, at some point, have been shopping for one thing and come home with A LOT more than […]
