In the United States, it is very common to carry debt. According to a survey conducted by Pew Charitable Trusts, about 80 percent of American households have some kind of debt. The most common form of debt is a mortgage, although many individuals also have other monthly liabilities. These may include unpaid credit card balances,… Continue Reading
It’s a sad fact that the public school system in the United States does little to introduce children to the concept of money and financial responsibility. Even at the college level, colleges typically only offer such classes as an elective, if at all. The results of this lack of financial education are clear: a report… Continue Reading
Repairing a poor credit score takes a lot of diligence and work, but the payoff can be very exciting. For many people, reaching a credit score of 740, which is widely accepted as the threshold between good and very good credit, is a major milestone. At this point, individuals become candidates for virtually any form… Continue Reading
Modern technology provides a wide range of tools for taking control of our personal finances. While many people have heard of Credit Karma, which provides guidance with improving personal credit scores, or Mint, a budgeting app, individuals may be unaware of the many specialty personal finance apps out there. For example, a number of excellent… Continue Reading
One of the most pressing concerns for people nearing retirement is the possibility of running out of money. Unfortunately, this fear is grounded in reality. The Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRA) reports that more than 80 percent of Baby Boomers in the lowest income quartile will run out of money within two decades of retirement.… Continue Reading
In an ideal world, people retire after they have paid off all of their debt. However, this is not always possible for a variety of reasons. While you should try to eliminate debt in the years leading up to retirement, many people stop working while they still have monthly credit card bills, mortgage payments, and… Continue Reading
No one is born with innate financial knowledge. Unfortunately, this truth means that many Americans will have some major regrets in terms of how they handle their personal finances. On the other hand, individuals today have more tools than ever before to learn about personal finance and possibly avoid some of the most common mistakes.… Continue Reading
People who want to learn about personal finance have more tools than ever before with the growing popularity of blogs, podcasts, and more. One of the best resources that individuals can use to learn more about taking control of their finances are TED Talks, a series of presentations providing unique insight on a particular subject… Continue Reading
One of the most stressful personal finance processes that people may go through is purchasing a home, which includes everything from making an offer to securing financing. In a seller’s market, like the one we are currently in, individuals often face a lot of competition when they put in an offer on a home. For… Continue Reading
A survey that Bankrate conducted last year showed that only 20 percent of American adults have no financial regrets, while more than 70 percent of respondents said there were very specific mistakes that they wish they had not made. Among the respondents’ biggest regrets, the one cited most often was not starting retirement savings early… Continue Reading