Say you’re up to your eyeballs in consumer debt. You realize this, and head to to your local library to check out the personal finance section, looking for a way out. Upon reaching the personal finance section, you are faced not with a maze of twisty little passages, all alike, but with perhaps a dozen … Read more
Figuring out what to do with your income is fundamentally what budgeting is all about. If you don’t have consumer debt, the choice, once you’ve accounted for expenses and charitable giving (including tithes), the money is either saved or invested. Just put the money to good use working for you. If there’s a $15,000 credit … Read more
They make $150k per year. There should be a bit of slack in your budget when a couple makes six figures between them, right? I suppose it makes a difference where they live, how much house they have, and possibly other circumstances a bit beyond their control, but $150k per year should give a bit … Read more
This movie by now is old news in the finance blogging community but I watched Maxed Out last night. It shows interviews with these folks, among others: A woman who spent years (I think) reclaiming her credit record and good name after someone thought that she had died rather than her daughter, who did die … Read more
First off, a big thank you to The Consumerist and The Simple Dollar and others for linking to my article on seven prudent things to do with a small windfall. I’m glad you found it worthwhile! The Consumerist linked to an article on CNN Money that discussed this issue as well. Walter Updegrave gave advice … Read more
Windfalls can be either an excuse to spend lots of money or they can be excellent tools for strengthening your financial disposition. Reducing debt is one of a number of prudent things that can be done with a year-end bonus, yard sale proceeds, or any other one-shot income event. If you have consumer debt, then … Read more
I received an e-mail from a person who found my site through Google. The person wrote: I am a Silver PowerSeller on eBay. I maxed out all my credit cards and I have very low credit score. I used my American Express to pay for the eBay fees and some inventories. I need a fast … Read more
Because the definition of “everyone else” is open to interpretation. Liz Pulliam Weston’s article on MoneyCentral today is a continuation of her stance that mainstream reports of American indebtedness are wrong on the high side. The big lie about credit card debt, she contends, is that many often-cited figures of household credit card debt are … Read more