Terms of Use Tax refund loans, also called instant refund loans , or refund anticipation loans , target lower income consumers, but many other moderate-income families fall victim to these offers, as well. For a loan fee ranging from $30 to $115, you receive a loan for the amount of your refund (usually up to $5,000) within one to two days. When your refund is received in a special bank account set up by the lender, the loan is repaid. Cash-strapped taxpayers have paid outrageous loan, a  More...

Terms of Use: Your Get out of Debt Step-by-Step Roadmap You've heard the old saying, live within your means. Easier said than done for some. The important thing is that you've reached a point where you realize your life would be a lot less stressful if you didn't have bills to worry about. Short of winning the lottery, what can you do? Here's help. Four rules to live by: 1. Be realistic! If you are spending $500 a month now on food, don't expect to cut your grocery bill t  More...

Terms of Use: Friendly looking people proclaiming the benefits. Smiling representatives, extending a hand. The ads for payday loans and check cashing services are appealing and perhaps you've been tempted to check them out. What is a payday loan? Payday loans are usually small, short-term, high-rate loans intended to get you cash before payday. The idea is that once you receive your paycheck, you'll pay off the loan. These loans may also be called cash advance loans, check advance loans or p  More...

Terms of Use Grey charges are charges made to your credit card that you may not even notice. Some examples: Remember the free magazine subscription you started receiving? It may have only been for an introductory period, then the paid subscription kicks in and your credit card is charged What about the newsletter that let you sign up for a free trial? How about an old domain name that you registered? Did the kids sign up for a gaming membership? Maybe you signed up for satellite radio   More...

Terms of Use How to Deal with Debt When You're Out of Work You've found yourself without a job, not knowing how long you may be unemployed. What can you do now to manage your finances in the short-term and long-term? Here's a six-step plan: Step One: Prioritize your debts Step Two: Talk with your creditors Step Three: Pay what you owe (at least the minimum payment amount) on time Step Four: Cut back on your expenses Step Five: If you have to borrow, find the least expensive sources  More...

Terms of Use: The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act applies to those who collect debts owed to creditors for personal, family and household debts, including car loans, mortgages, charge accounts and money owed for medical bills. A debt collector is someone hired to collect money owed by you. A debt collector may not: Contact you at unreasonable times or places, for example, before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., unless you agree, or at work if you tell the debt collector your employer disapproves  More...

Terms of Use: When the amount of debt you have seems impossible to ever repay, one of the options you may consider is filing bankruptcy. This option, of course, should never be entered into lightly. Be sure that you have researched the pros and cons, and that you have considered alternatives to taking this drastic step. Discharging your Debts Having your debts erased is called getting a discharge of your debts. A discharge is actually a court order that proclaims that you do not have to pa  More...

Terms of Use: If you can't make your mortgage payments, your lender can foreclose on your home. Foreclosure is a process that can begin immediately and will result in your losing your home. Most lenders, however, will allow you to miss a couple of payments before starting foreclosure proceedings. If you're at risk of missing a mortgage payment, contact your lender immediately. While the process of foreclosure can take several months, be aware that the process itself will be a costly   More...

Terms of Use When you apply for credit, a creditor may not: Ask about or consider your sex, race, national origin or religion Ask about your marital status or your spouse, unless you are applying for a joint account or relying on your spouse's income or you live in a community property state (Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas and Washington) Ask about your plans to have or raise children Refuse to consider reliable public assistance income or regularly r  More...

Terms of Use If you want to repair your credit, begin by paying off old debts and correcting any issues on your credit report. Perhaps you've been tempted by the credit repair advertisements you've seen that promise to fix your credit report. The fact of the matter is that there is nothing you can't do yourself (free!) that a credit repair clinic can legally do (for a fee!) to fix your credit report. To request a free copy of your credit report, check out the related link below  More...