Everyone usually knows they need to pay off their debt. However, it is much easier said than done. If you really want to get out of debt and stay out, there are a few habits that can help. Below are a few habits that can help you lower your expenses and pay off your outstanding debt faster. Track, record, and monitor all expenses: The first thing to do is to track, record, and monitor your daily expenses. This...
With the holiday season slowing moving into the past, it won’t be long before you’re reviewing your budget to see where things stand (if you haven’t done so already). Like many, you may find that you overspent during the holidays. From gifts to food, from travel to entertainment, you didn’t make the best decisions over the past month or so. Here are three important steps to take if you find yourself in this position: • Assess...
I wanted to provide everyone an update on my progress on paying off my student loans. This not only helps me keep track of my progress, but I hope it provide others in my situation an example as well as some helpful tips. I am officially one year in, and I have paid $17,400 towards my student loans. While this number feels great, I know I still have a long way to go. With my interest...
This may be an obvious statement, but since I haven't spoke on credit card debt in a few posts I wanted to reiterate it. Credit card debt is one of the worst kinds of debt! Avoid it as much as possible! People who are not financial savvy or are not informative on personal finances can easily get sucked in by credit card companies. While I put the ultimate responsibility on the consumer, credit card companies know...
When you apply for a credit card, you probably want to know whether you’re approved right away. Thanks to technology, there are many credit cards that can give you an instant approval decision in under a minute. If you apply for a credit card online, chances are, the credit card issuer will be able to tell you right away whether your application is approved. Instant Approval vs. Guaranteed Approval When you’re making an application, keep in...
Airline rewards credit cards allow you to earn points or miles that you can accumulate and redeem for free flights. Whether you’re a frequent flyer or you only take an annual vacation, an airline credit card can help you offset the cost of travelling. Here are a few things you should consider when you’re choosing an airline credit card. Look at the signup bonus. A signup bonus is a lump sum of rewards you can earn...
I just discussed the benefits of student loans since student loan debt has been in the media so much lately. As I do believe there is a real problem that is occurring, I wrote about some obvious advantages of student loans that help aspiring students. Now I am going to discuss several disadvantages of student loans and problems that can come up if the student does not realize what he or she is getting into. The...
Student loans and student loan debt has been in the media quite a bit recently, especially with how much student loan debt has increased over the years. Some of the criticisms are accurate, and a real problem may be arising. Yet I wanted to write some obvious advantages of student loans, and for certain situations, student loans can provide huge benefits for an individual. Can be great deals for a student: Many people are understandably hesitant...
If you are not a math wizard, and you do not have any kind of accounting / finance background, you may not know how to calculate your monthly interest payment. Yet I can guarantee you will have to pay a monthly interest payment throughout your life. Whether it is through a mortgage, a car loan, a student loan, or a personal loan, you will have to pay some kind of interest payment. I think it is...
Racking up debt is a problem for many people. It happens fast, and sometimes people do not realize the situation they are in until its too late. When you do realize you have too much debt and you want to begin paying it down, below are the most important things to do and consider when you are trying to pay down debt. Stop creating new debt: The most important thing to do first is to stop...
