So you filed your tax return and got news that a tax refund will hit your bank account in the next few weeks. Naturally, your next question is: “What Should I Do With a Tax Refund?” 1. Reduce your credit card debt. You probably wouldn’t pay someone 15% (the average credit card interest rate for…
The answer to the question “Am I Living Beyond My Means?” is personal and fluid at different times in your financial life. But if you can answer “yes” to any of the six statements, there’s a good chance you might be. 1. You don’t have six months worth of your income saved. If your savings…
The average student loan debt is upwards of $30,000 for today’s college grad. How you can possibly establish solid financial footing for the future when you’re struggling to keep your head above water in the now? Here’s a five step plan to help you dig out from under student loan debt. Make payments no matter…
None of us like to lose money in a stock market dip. But you can use market downturns to deal with–or avoid–debt. In fact, the degree of panic you feel when you see that your retirement account balance has decreased is one of the most honest gut checks there is about the state of your…
If you used a credit card to finance your holiday purchases and don’t have the cash to pay your balances in full, now’s the time to form a plan for how you’ll dig out of holiday debt. (Or any debt you’re ready to shed, for that matter). Despite the many apps and budgeting software…
Debt consolidation loans might sound like an easy way to get out of debt. But there’s no need to pay someone to lower your debt, when you’ve got all the tools you need to do it on your own, starting now. (Plus, let’s be honest. The money they’d charge you to consolidate debt could go…
Most people have some kind of debt–whether on a credit card, student loans, an auto loan, or a mortgage. And not all of that debt is a problem. But when your debt climbs to a point that far outweighs your income, starts to lower your credit score, puts you in jeopardy of missing monthly payments…