To Lease or Not to Lease…
Leasing vs. Buying. Which is better? Many think leasing is the best option when purchasing a vehicle because you can get a bigger car for a smaller monthly payment. Here is the one thing we suggest you remember about leasing a vehicle: Continue reading “To Lease or Not to Lease…” »
How to Dispute Discrepancies on Your Credit Report
The odds of there being error on your credit report are pretty good. Errors do occur frequently, but they can also be fixed. Here is the recommended way to dispute errors with the Consumer Reporting Agency. Continue reading “How to Dispute Discrepancies on Your Credit Report” »
Your Weekly Financial Review
How often are you looking at your personal finances and your budget? Each month? Every two weeks? Do you know how much money you have to spend this week? What’s in your budget for your next trip to the grocery store?
Financial stability and long-term financial success essentially require that you establish a monthly spending plan and that every week you look at it, adjust it, and ensure you’re living by it. Continue reading “Your Weekly Financial Review” »
Combating Poor Spending Behaviors | Impulse Spending
We ALL face challenges when it comes to our spending behaviors. In this country, there is a seemingly endless list of “things” that sound fun, interesting, or enjoyable, or that fit the “got-to-have-it-now” mold.
We typically lump these items into the Impulse expenditures. They might come in the form of large purchases like cars, ATVs and vacations, or they can be more mundane things we spend money on, like clothing, restaurant meals, toys for the kids, or even a new cell phone. Continue reading “Combating Poor Spending Behaviors | Impulse Spending” »
Focusing Your Financial Energies
In these unsettled economic times, we offer the following suggestions for your household finances:
- 1. Continue to make payments to your creditors if you’re in the process of paying off debt. Having fewer of the proverbial creditors “knocking on your door” means less of a likelihood of additional and unexpected fees and/or interest rate hikes. Continue reading “Focusing Your Financial Energies” »
Winter Blues? Start Planning Your Summer Vacation Now!
This morning on the way to work, I noticed the skies were darker than usual and the air had a bit more of a bite to it.
Everything had that gloomy winter tinge and it occurred to me that all of the fun the Holidays brought have now come screeching to a halt.
No more turkeys in the oven or jolly St. Nicks at the Mall, gone are the candy canes and gift exchanges. Yep, this is the part of winter I have come to dread.
I started imaging a blissful Summer vacation, somewhere in a warm paradise, miles away from anywhere and far away from my dreary morning commute.
I have ideas on where I want to go and what I would like to do. I just haven’t really planned for it yet.
What a better way to beat the winter blues?
Take this time to prepare and save for your vacation. Not only will you be ahead of the game financially, you will also find ways to squeeze in as much as possible into your trip. Continue reading “Winter Blues? Start Planning Your Summer Vacation Now!” »
The Unintended Consequences of the New Credit Card Legislation
With the recent passage of the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure Act of 2009 (CARD), credit-issuing companies stand to lose a significant revenue stream, namely, penalty charges.
No one can reasonably believe these businesses will accept a reduction in their profits without seeking to replace that income elsewhere in their operations.
With the curtailment of penalty charges and seemingly arbitrary consumer interest rate increases, banks and credit card companies will likely try to recapture lost revenue through expanded fees and service cuts. Continue reading “The Unintended Consequences of the New Credit Card Legislation” »
Debt Reduction Services on FOXBusiness.com
I wanted to share an article with all of you that was posted on www.FoxBusiness.com this morning. Our Director of Education, Todd Christensen, provided information to reporter Susan Ladika in regards to the increase in Bankruptcy filings in 2009.
The article may be read in its entirety by clicking on the following link: Continue reading “Debt Reduction Services on FOXBusiness.com” »
Motivated Savings
Happy New Year to all of our clients and friends! Have you, as many people do, considered changing or creating some personal habits this year? Hopefully the development and implementation of an improved savings strategy is among your resolutions. To encourage you to save money and live debt-free, we suggest the following steps that can motivate you to build your savings in the coming year.