What does it take to be financially healthy in 2020? If you ask a consumer credit expert or someone at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the advice may have a lot to do with the timing of your payments and not just how much you are able to pay and save in the new year. Buying A Car In 2020 If you plan to buy a car in the new year, staying financially healthy means not only shopping for the best new car or used car deal you can find. It … [Read more...]
How To Recover From Holiday Spending
Holiday spending is stressful, and many Americans overextend their credit cards, take credit card cash advances, and apply for new credit during their holiday shopping. How can you recover from all of the money you spent on Christmas presents or similar shopping “obligations”? The Simple Start: New Year Austerity Measures? Some people cannot afford to spend much after the holiday season, others choose not to purchase. No matter whether you’re … [Read more...]
Don’t Make These Four Credit Mistakes
Are you trying to repair your credit? Are you considering a major credit application such as a car or truck loan? Don’t make these four credit mistakes and you will get much better results from your efforts to get a better FICO score. Some credit fundamentals are fairly obvious: always pay on time to raise your credit scores, don’t carry credit card balances close to the maximum, and check your credit report on a regular basis. But after these … [Read more...]
Cash, Credit, or Debit?
A number of years ago, I discussed the cash or credit question on this blog. And I have to say, my opinion hasn't changed much. But in the intervening years (I say that as if this is something I have been pondering since 2008), I realized that I missed something in the discussion - debit! Let's break it down very simply. When you go to a store and pay for an item, you have three basic ways to pay for something: in cold hard cash, by swiping … [Read more...]