There may come a point when you realize you’re unable to pay a creditor in full. While you could default, it’s much better to contact your creditor with the idea of negotiating your debt. As scary as it may be to make this call, once you’re on the right track you’ll realize that it’s not nearly as difficult as you thought. Here are five tips for negotiating with creditors: 1. Know Your Story Go into the...
Nowadays you can do so much on your phone, including your personal finances. There are also a ton of options out there and they are not all equal! Below are my favorite budget and personal finance apps. Mint: This is the gold standard app for your personal finance needs. The app is effectively an all-in-one resource for creating a budget, tracking your spending, and monitoring your overall finance needs. Mint lets you know when bills are...
If you have performed any research on the investment advisor industry recently, you likely have seen a lot of companies offering robo-advisor investment solutions. A lot of people might not fully understand what robo-advisors are and how they work. Below is a summary of robo-advisors. Please feel free to comment in the comment section below if you have any positive or negative experience. Robo-advisors are a new online software that helps you manage your investments. The...
As I discussed last month, a 529 plan is a great way to save for your children’s future. However, many people may not know what a 529 plan is and what kind of benefits it offers to you and your children. Below is a high level summary of what a 529 plan is. Please feel free to include any questions or experiences with 529 plans in the comments section below. A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged...
When you apply for a credit card it’s your hope that you receive an instant approval. Unfortunately, this may not be the end result. It’s always possible that you could receive a denial, thus forcing you to take a few key steps in the near future. Here are five things to do if your credit card application is denied: • Read your adverse action letter: the credit card issuer is required to send you an adverse...
Placing a security freeze on your credit report is one of the best ways to protect yourself from identity theft and thanks to changes in federal law, you can now do it for free. What is a Credit Report Freeze? Freezing your credit report locks it to new inquiries. Businesses that use credit information in their lending decisions would decline an application when they can’t access your credit report. Would-be identity thieves would fail in opening...
According to Kelley Blue Book, the average cost of a new car is approximately $36,000. For some, this may be the perfect price point. For others, it may be entirely too expensive. As you shop for a new vehicle, it’s important to do so with your budget in mind. If you don’t, you could fall prey to all the bells and whistles, thus paying more than you can comfortably afford. Here are three basic things to...
It doesn’t matter how many children you have, you’ll soon come to realize that keeping your house fully stocked with supplies would be in your best interest. After all, you never want to find that you’re out of diapers, formula, or another essential item. While you can always purchase what you need at a local big box store, there are many reasons to get into the habit of buying online: • Lower prices. There’s no better...
Most major hotel chains offer a co-branded credit card that allow you to earn points that you can use toward hotel stays. Frequent travelers can benefit from having a hotel credit card. Depending on the card you choose, you may be able to earn rewards on all your credit card purchases, not just your hotel purchases. Take a look at multiple hotel credit cards and compare them to decide which hotel credit card would best suit you. The signup...
A home purchase is a huge decision. There is a lot to factor in, and it may end up being the biggest financial purchase you make in your life. Below are a few indications that would let you know you might be ready to buy a home. 20% in Savings: Many people/websites have different opinions on this, but I recommend having at least 20% of your home purchase in savings you can use as a down...
