Channel surfing last Friday night, I caught a few minutes of Suze Orman on CNBC. She had on her show not only the worst case of “living above your means” I have ever seen, but the worst case Suze has seen, too! Read the rest of this entry »

Loan modification companies are sprouting up left and right to take advantage of embattled home owners at risk of foreclosure. If this includes you; watch out. Some loan modification companies are nothing but down and dirty scams. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s never a good time to be in credit card debt, but I’ll be honest: the nasty economic climate makes it an even worse time to be in debt.

Creditors are jacking interest rates and employers are slashing jobs—a combination that could land any of us between a rock and a very hard place. If you haven’t taken action on your unpaid debt yet—or have slipped from your plan—reread these eight fundamental ways to dig out from under your credit card debt. Read the rest of this entry »

Believe it or not, bankruptcy is not a dirty word. Yes, it’s far better to never go into bankruptcy. Most people seem to get that.

But what many do not understand is that sometimes, bankruptcy isn’t just a way to protect yourself from creditors—it is sometimes the best financial decision you can make. Read the rest of this entry »

Are you a cold-blooded killer? I hope to be. I wake up some mornings in a cold sweat because for the past ten years, I’ve been in an abusive relationship. My abuser? Lots and lots of debt. I’d never advocate killing a person, but I do advocate this: Murder your debt. And start planning now. If you’ve been carrying debt around for a while saying you’ll make a plan to pay it down soon…that time must be now. Unless you like living really dangerous, the global economy is just too uncertain for you to be in debt. Read the rest of this entry »

Jessica writes: I’m a 23-year old undergraduate student with tons of debt that is all in collections. I only make $50 a month plus room and board as a residential assistant. I feel overwhelmed because I just can’t do anything about it right now. Do I have any options? Read the rest of this entry »

Pam asks: Three years ago I racked up debts on several credit cards. I paid those cards off and closed them. Today, my only card has a 19% APR and no rewards. My credit score is only about 600 because I was (quite) late a few times. Today, I am debt free except for $3,000 on this card. I’ll pay it off in a year, but I hate paying 19% interest. Can I qualify for a balance transfer credit card? Read the rest of this entry »

Credit card and loan delinquencies are on the rise, reports the American Bankers Association. Existing mortgage woes, a shaky job market, and rocketing gas and food prices may be to blame, but falling behind on credit card payments is bad, bad news for all of us. Even those who with spotless payment records may begin to see interest rates creep up and credit limits shrink as banks adjust their credit card products to reduce risk. If you fear you may soon have trouble making credit card payments – or have already fallen behind, here’s what to do. Read the rest of this entry »

Struggling with credit card debt? Low-rate balance transfers can save you wasted cash. But before you transfer a balance, double check to be sure moving your balance won’t do more harm than good. Read the rest of this entry »

Vacations, whether on a local beach or exotic foreign city, are important rewards. Getaways both motivate and rejuvenate, and after a year of hard work, we deserve it.

Unfortunately, what we deserve and what we can afford can be two entirely different things. Here are six ways to save on your next vacation, so you don’t have to say: “I’ll have another Mai Tai and $623.94 in finance charges please.” Read the rest of this entry »