Monthly Archives: March 2011
College financial aid advice for middle-class families
Finding financial aid for middle-income families is easier if you have a plan. Search for need- and merit-based, and don't forget tax breaks.
Thursday, March 10th, 2011 by By Steve Tarlow
30-year fixed-rate mortgage tied to demise of Fannie and Freddie
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, which only exists because of mortgage insurers Fannie and Freddie, is likely to disappear along with them.
Thursday, March 10th, 2011 by By Thomas Hart
Experian to include rental data in credit reports
Thanks to Experian RentBureau, some tenants will now be able to contribute to a good credit score by maintaining consistent rental payments.
Thursday, March 10th, 2011 by By Steve Tarlow
Payday loan APR Fees and How They Compare To Other Financing Rates
A fee of $32 on a $100 bounced check can have an APR as high as 2,336%. You would be surprised to see how other fees measure up.
Avoid bad buying practices and use credit cards to your advantage
Responsible credit card use can be beneficial to you and your credit report. Be careful; it's easy to develop bad habits with credit cards.
Thursday, March 10th, 2011 by By Ace Campbell
Climate change in Columbia driving US coffee prices sky high
Hot weather and heavy rains have hurt Columbian coffee production as global demand catches up with coffee drinkers in the United States.
Thursday, March 10th, 2011 by By Thomas Hart
Costs and benefits of financial reform laws
A year after the CARD Act passed, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau did a study to see whether reforms are working -- and they are.
Thursday, March 10th, 2011 by By Peter Stone
Installment Loans Online and How They Differ From The Average Payday Loan
One of the most liked features of installment loans is being able to pay them back over a much longer period of time then normal loans you may find locally.
Lawsuit lending the latest target of legislation
Lawsuit lending is a new industry that some legislatures are calling usury -- and others are calling a much-needed service.
Thursday, March 10th, 2011 by By Mary Rice
How to save money when world food prices are rising
Global food prices are rising and will likely continue to do so. However, there are ways to save money for the do-it-yourself inclined.
Wednesday, March 9th, 2011 by By Peter Stone
Welfare payments make up 35 percent of total US wages, study says
Recession recovery has led to a disturbing statistic: Social welfare payments and services make up 35 percent of wages in the United States.
Wednesday, March 9th, 2011 by By Steve Tarlow
The Ease and Convenience of Short Term Loans Needs To Be Managed In A Smart Way
It is not wise to go crazy with short term loans just because you can get them online with no credit checks, no collateral and without having to fax in tons of documents.
The best and worst organic grocery buys
Organic groceries are more expensive because they cost more to produce. USDA tests show that for some products it's more worth it than others.
Wednesday, March 9th, 2011 by By Mary Rice
House financial committee considers Missouri payday loan bills
Missouri HB 132 and HB 656 are a study in contrasting payday loan legislation. One would kill the industry, the other would deal reasonably.
Wednesday, March 9th, 2011 by By Steve Tarlow
Keep an eye out for commonly overlooked tax deductions
Millions of Americans hand the IRS hard-earned money that they could keep because they overlook deductions hiding in complicated U.S. tax code.
Wednesday, March 9th, 2011 by By Thomas Hart
What You Need To Know To Keep From Getting Trapped By Cash Advance Addiction
Cash advances are not a long term financial fix for spending spree addictions. Using them should be done so responsibly and in a realistic manner.
Applications for mortgage modifications spike with low rates
Mortgage applications have risen recently, though the spike was due to low interest rates spurring interest in mortgage modifications.
Wednesday, March 9th, 2011 by By Peter Stone
Global food inflation starting to hit US grocery budgets harder
Global competition for basic agricultural commodities is increasing pressure and causing higher food prices for consumers in the United States.
Wednesday, March 9th, 2011 by By Thomas Hart
The four basics of renting out your space
It is a great market for landlords to rent out housing, but you should take a few simple steps to protect your wallet from unexpected hits.
Wednesday, March 9th, 2011 by By Mary Rice
No Credit Check Personal Loans From The Comfort Of Home - A Good Thing or a Bad Thing?
Personal loans are so easy to get it worries some consumer groups. Like anything on the internet it pays to be informed before you pursue any online transactions.
Does Groupon hurt small business?
Groupon and other deep discount coupon websites are great for marketing. Small businesses should approach – but with some caution.
Tuesday, March 8th, 2011 by By Steve Tarlow
Facebook Movies streams films directly with Facebook Credits
Warner Bros. has released its first Facebook Movies option. Social network movie streaming might end up being a viable Netflix competitor.
Tuesday, March 8th, 2011 by By Mary Rice
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