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: It is almost always better to insure yourself against income loss or death by purchasing regular life or disability insurance instead of credit insurance . When you finance cars, consumer goods, mobile home sales, and residential mortgages, salespeople may try to sell you four types of credit insurance: • credit property: insures against damage or loss to whatever item secures the loan • credit life: pays the loan balance in case of death • credit disability/accident and heal  More...

Terms of U se High debt and misuse of credit cards make it tough to save for retirement. Money that goes to pay interest, late fees, and old bills is money that could earn money for retirement and other goals. How much debt is too much debt? Debt isn't necessarily bad, but too much debt is. Add up what you pay monthly in car loans, student loans, credit card and charge card loans, personal loans - everything but your mortgage. Divide that total by the money you bring home each month. The r  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 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...

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: 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 The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) provides a wide range of protections for individuals entering, called to active duty in the military, or deployed servicemembers. It is intended to postpone or suspend certain civil obligations to enable service members to devote full attention to duty and relieve stress on the family members of those deployed servicemembers. When does the SCRA protect me? Most SCRA protection begins the day you receive your orders to active duty or dep  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: 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...