Some time ago I wrote a rather blistering article about Payday Loans which you are welcome to read. But because of its tone, I decided to take a second look at this multi-billion dollar industry in order to learn and to offer you, the re...

Okay, you feel your debt is out of control and it is too late to say, "I wish I had taken action sooner." What do you do? First of all you don't panic and you keep things as simple as possible. Secondly, look to see just how bad it really...

When the month continues to live on well after the money is spent, a very logical approach is to utilize the equity in your home to alleviate the pressure. But is this a good idea or a bad one? Take a look.Consolidating may free up your...

The way to more spendable money is not complicated. You either decrease expense or you increase income. Decreasing expense is the subject of numerous other articles at this site. Increasing money and doing it through a common sense approa...

Gift Cards Can Be GoodYou can barely walk thru a grocery store or many other outlets without seeing racks and racks of gift cards. Are they safe and are they as convenient as promoters would have you think they are?The Office of the Compt...

If you ever wanted to get ahead financially... if you ever thought you wanted to get out from under a sea of debt... if you ever wondered where the money went... YOU NEED A BUDGET! But how do you develop a good budget and how do you stick...

Credit cards are just like drugs. There is no better analogy. They offer short-term pleasure and long-term pain. They give the illusion of having more money than you actually do. Then you live with less because each month a portion of you...

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says, "If you or someone you know is in financial hot water, consider these options: realistic budgeting, credit counseling from a reputable organization, debt consolidation [debt negotiation], or bankru...

Bankruptcy is available when all other debt payment measures have failed and the unpaid debt is simply beyond the means of the consumer to repay. It is essential, then, to understand debt options prior to bankruptcy and to determine whic...

Can I improve My Credit Score? The first and most essential trick to improving your credit score is insuring the accuracy of each of your credit reports. Only after you are certain of their accuracy should you begin planning other steps t...

You can eliminate all debt in the fastest possible time by starting an avalanche.I recognize that starting or getting caught in an avalanche probably would not be your idea of an enjoyable time. But what if I told you that the principles ...

Secured Credit Cards Can Be GoodIf you are unable to get a normal credit card because of poor credit, all hope is not lost. A secured credit card is different in that it utilizes funds a consumer has placed in a savings account. The secur...

If you are an employee, you can get a 40% pay raise without ever asking the boss. And it's all tax-free. Similarly, if you are an employer, you can show each of your employees how they can earn a 40% pay raise and it won't cost the employ...

In the field of debt collection and delinquencies, judgments and judgment risk factors are a very real concern. Will a creditor sue and seek legal judgment against me? If he does, what type judgment might it be? What exactly is a judgment...

Chris Tapp, UK deputy director of Credit Action, said: "Retirement should be a time for some well-earned relaxation, but for all too many it is a time of financial stress... when we consider that inflation hits the over-60s hardest, pensi...