Let the hibernation begin
Even those of us who like to live in denial every year — wearing flip flops well into October, even in northern states — must now admit that fall has officially set in, and winter is well on its way.
The cold months cause many people to stay [...]
Debt Relief Would Be a Whole New Ballgame
The people of American are looking for debt relief any way they can find it these days, and it appears that the only way true gains in this area are going to be made is if major restructuring of America’s financial regulatory agencies [...]
Impact on nation’s retirement accounts
These days, it seems as if you can hardly turn on the TV or radio without hearing news of the current economic recession and its impact on our nation’s retirement savings accounts. And it’s true – many people’s 401K, 403(b) and IRA accounts have lost significant [...]
Bills, Bills, Bills
You see them every day, and you hate to open them. What more exciting news could they possibly bring than reminding you of your obligation? Don’t they realize there is a recession going on? Do they think you have extra cash lying around? Rather than looking at them [...]
Retirement funding
Many consumers are worried about debt relief as they reach retirement age. With news of Social Security and Medicare being tapped out within the next few decades, Americans are looking for other options to retire in comfort. Fortunately, there are some jobs that still focus on pension plan guarantees. [...]
Yes, you really can negotiate the cost of medical care
Although many people are not aware of it, the medical industry is one of the few American industries where negotiating the price is not only acceptable, but common. The reason many uninsured or underinsured people are quoted higher prices than insured [...]
Budgets are tight today
Today, many families are struggling with tight budgets. Even in better economic times, it can be difficult to find ways to save money when there’s little or none left at the end of the month. But when you take a really close look at your spending habits, [...]
Are Debt Collectors Haunting You?
I just received a phone call with a number I did not recognize. Naturally, I let it go to my voice mail. (After all, who wants to talk to a stranger?) The caller left a message, and out of sheer curiosity, I listened to it. The [...]
Hiring Family Members
The search for debt relief has been a strong incentive for business owners to employ their relatives. Statistics are showing that of the six-million-member pool of small businesses in the U.S., about 20 percent of those with 100 employees or more, involve two or more family members. Analysts [...]
Saving for college
While 529 education savings plans can’t really promise quick cash for college, in recent years they’ve gained prominence as an effective way for parents to provide for the future higher education expenses of their children. A 529 education savings plan is a tax-deferred investment, similar to an [...]
Summer plans
Now that the recession is leveling off, many people are getting ready to start using their credit cards again. Because the economy is projected to reach its turnaround point mid-summer, consumers are looking to use their cards to pay for summer vacations.
Marilyn Dean of Los Angeles, California stated, [...]
Over-the-top overdraft fees
The Associated Press reports that some senior congressional Democrats want to draw up legislation that would limit how much banks can charge customers in overdraft fees. Personally, I have been slapped with $105 in overdraft charges before for transactions that equaled a lot less than that, so I [...]
Hard-Hit Markets Feeling the Sting
Consumers need to find debt relief, but some people coming out of the hardest-hit industries may be the most desperate for it. Industries like auto, financial services, retail and mortgage were particularly damaged due to the recession. Although many job markets are showing nascent signs of [...]
Great Deals, Unbeatable Prices
People go to Wal-Mart for one thing; to save money. I don’t care what others have to say about the world’s largest retailer, Wal-Mart is one of the best places to go to reduce the probable need of a payday loan. I find just about everything I [...]
Credit repair companies
The credit repair industry has gotten a bad rap. Many companies have claimed to help consumers, only to charge them high prices for things the consumer could do for themselves, for free. Other companies have offered high-quality misleading services as “bringing your credit score up 100 points within [...]
Behind the plush image
When you think of an investment bank, the image that probably comes to mind first is a well-dressed banker sitting in a plush office on the top floor of a skyscraper. He or she leisurely sorts through a stack of papers on the desk, or takes an [...]
Internet banking offers benefits to customers and banks
The rapid rise of internet banking has been a key feature of the financial world over the last decade and a half. There are now banks that only operate online, and traditional brick and mortar banks have websites that allow customers to access [...]
Car Buying in a Recession
If consumers are in the need of a car, this may be the right time to use credit cards to do it. Most dealerships have huge inventories and no way to get rid of them. The recession has put auto dealers in difficult positions, since most [...]
Spending money
Consumers are still searching hard for debt relief in today’s economy. Although there are some signs that the recession is coming to an end, many people are still wary of returning to old spending habits and are looking for ways to cut back. Many normal daily activities were put [...]