Ever wonder how much home you can afford? While a home affordability calculator can be helpful, understanding the basics of determining how much of a mortgage you can afford will help you make good financial decisions. Whether you’re putting in an offer for a home right now or trying to save for a down payment and […]
How To Choose A Credit Card
Picking the best credit card for your needs can be a challenge, especially when credit card offers are constantly changing. If you’re in need of a new card and are asking yourself “which credit card should I get?”, there are a number of options for consumers of all background, regardless of your creditworthiness or history. […]
How To Make An Offer On A House
If you’re shopping for a home, you should probably know how to make an offer on a house and give yourself room to negotiate. Buying a home is a huge responsibility. It’s scary and exciting and will probably be one of the most important investments of your life. That is why it is important to […]
How To Sue Your Landlord
Suing your landlord is not a decision you make lightly. Most of the time, landlords are decent business-owners. The majority of landlords treat tenants fairly, make repairs when necessary, and as long as you pay your rent on time and don’t violate the terms of your lease, generally don’t bother you. Unfortunately, unscrupulous entrepreneurs exist […]
How Can I Improve My Credit Score?
Oh, the credit score. It can sometimes make or break a person’s financial success. If you have a high credit score, you will get the lowest interest rates and best deals when it comes to your home mortgage, car loans, insurance rates, and business loans. As long as you keep up the payments, the world […]
How Much Should I Save Each Month?
No matter what stage of life you’re at, saving money and maintaining a strong personal balance sheet is imperative to financial security. It’s one of the primary reasons behind giving allowances to kids: not just to teach the relationship between work and money, but also to introduce the idea of long term planning in regards […]
What Is A Good Credit Score?
A good or bad credit score can affect every facet of an individual’s or family’s financial life, from mortgage rates and auto loans to employer background checks and life insurance rates. Lenders, landlords and even employers consider a credit score a reflection of an individual’s reliability and honesty – correlating an individual’s management of their […]
Should I Pay Off My Mortgage Early?
To pay off your mortgage early or to invest the money instead? Over the years, viewpoints on mortgages have changed considerably. Many of us learned from an early age to pay off our bills or loans and get out of debt quickly. However, that theory seems to have changed over recent years. Sometimes leveraging your […]
Best Ways To Save Money
Looking for the best ways to save money this year? Saving money is a bit like dieting; it may not be enjoyable, but if you keep the goal in sight and exercise some restraint, you can succeed. With dieting, you make a meal plan, and with saving, you make a budget. The goals may seem […]
Credit Score Range – What Is A Good Credit Score?
Credit scores are some of the most confusing, yet essential components of personal finance. Reminiscent of our school days, consumers are basically “graded” on how well we manage our finances, ranging from Excellent to Poor, rather than A to F. If you’ve never applied for a mortgage or auto loan, you’ve probably wondered “what is […]
Best Credit Card Reader For Small Business
With so many incidents of identity theft and fraud lately, ensuring safe credit and debit card transactions is becoming a top concern for business owners – and not just large retailers like Target and Home Depot. In fact, because they oftentimes don’t have the resources for investing in high-tech online security systems, fraudulent transactions can […]
Student Loan Debt – Refinancing and Consolidation Explained
Once a student graduates from undergraduate or graduate school, there are endless paths to take. Some land a job right away and begin to establish both credit and income as well as earning potential. Others have trouble finding quality employment and the worries mount. How will student loans be paid off after the grace period […]
Credit Unions vs. Banks
During the 2008 financial crisis, many people began losing their faith in the American banking system. With a storm approaching and systemic risk seeming inevitable (in which banks are so heavily interconnected that the failure of one would lead to a failure of them all), countless banks were forced to fess up to the risky […]
How To Trade In A Car
Got a car you just want to get rid of, sell, or trade-in? It really doesn’t matter whether it’s an old car or just one you simply can’t afford anymore – you have dozens of options. With the used car market booming, dealerships are even cold-calling and sending out letters to find owners who are […]
How To Write A Check
Not sure how to write a check? Many young people these days have probably completely forgotten about checks. In the last 5 years, I think I’ve written about a dozen checks. With debit and credit cards, bank transfers, ACH and wire transfers, PayPal, and other mediums, it doesn’t seem like we use personal checks all […]