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You may be concentrating more on final exams and the end of school; however, for many parents they must look ahead to August and September when their student will be returning or entering college.  Paying for college is an expensive venture and many parents must assist their children in finding and securing student loans.  Because the student loan process never takes a summer break, there are student loan deadlines that every parent and student should know. To learn about student loan … [Read more...]

You really can find just about anything at a bankruptcy auction – even Curt Schilling’s bloody sock.  The sock is expected to bring more than $100,000 next month from an online bankruptcy auction.  When athletes or other famous people file bankruptcy, there is always the chance that something odd, unique, or in this case, gross will end up on the bankruptcy auction block.  I guess nothing is too gross for creditors to sell if it means they will get some of their money back. For more you can … [Read more...]

Whether it is the fact that there are more baby boomers than ever looking for a way to retire on a limited budget or the fact that as a society we are living longer but not healthier, baby boomers may create a new need for adult roommates.  It is a way to share expenses while maintaining a certain level of independence and autonomy.  Analysts from several areas of study are beginning to look at this trend and how it will affect our society and our economy. For more read, “Aging Baby Boomers … [Read more...]

If you are moving, you may already realize that moving can be expensive - - and that is just moving across town.  When you are moving across state or to another state, the cost of moving begins rising faster and faster.  Hiring movers, paying storage fees, posting deposits and paying for unexpected delays can eat away at your moving budget quicker than you anticipated.  Those are just the costs that you may have planned for when calculating the costs of moving.  There are some costs you may not … [Read more...]

Your financial health may very well live and die by your credit score.  The three major credit reporting agencies seem to hold consumers hostage as they report every little detail of their credit histories.  However, credit bureaus track more than just your credit history.  They also track other information such as your current and previous addresses and employers.  This is just one of the things that credit bureaus do that they do not necessarily brag about.  For nine more things you may not … [Read more...]

Union workers and retired individuals in Detroit have a new ally in the fight to protect pensions from being cut through Detroit’s bankruptcy. AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) filed a brief in an appeal filed by Detroit’s pension funds, General Retirement System and the Police and Fire Retirement System.  Bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes has previously ruled that the city’s pensions are not entitled to special treatment within the bankruptcy case.  However, several parties have … [Read more...]

Having too much debt is a problem for many people.  Many people had to rely on credit during the recession to make ends meet.  Now that things are improving, they are faced with paying off the debt they accumulated to make ends meet.  It may seem overwhelming; however, there are ways to pay off your debts.  The first step begins with creating a budget so you know how much money you have to work with each month. For more tips read, “10 Easy Ways to Pay Off Debt.” Image credit: lemonjenny … [Read more...]

It is extremely stressful when you are unable to pay your bills. It is even more stressful when you are being harassed by collection agents, bill collectors and creditors.  While some creditors and collection agencies abide by the rules for collecting debts, many do not.  They call at all hours of the night, they contact your job and some even show up on your doorstep.  The automatic stay provisions of the Bankruptcy Code protect debtors from this abuse. For more about the bankruptcy … [Read more...]

It seems that when everyone thinks about buying a home, they automatically assume they will borrow the money for their purchase using a 30-year mortgage.  However, this may not be the best alternative depending on your financial situation. There are more options available to homebuyers than just a 30-year, fixed rate mortgage.  Flexible rate mortgages, shorter term mortgages and or combinations of the two. For information on other types of mortgages that may suit your financial needs better … [Read more...]

There are times that we all spend more money than we intend to spend.  We splurge on a new outfit or something that is an impulse purchase.  However, roughly 5% of Americans struggle with a spending addiction.  Occasionally overspending becomes more of a daily occurrence.  Overspending can quickly become a serious financial problem causing those who cannot control their spending to accumulate massive credit card debt and get behind on their bills. To find out if your occasionally overspending … [Read more...]