Self-Help Articles

Your grandmother used to say: “A penny saved is a penny earned,” but these days a penny doesn’t seem to be worth much. If you drop one, it’s barely worth the trouble to pick it up. While it’s true that a single penny won’t get you far, it’s not true that a penny has no […]

Children seem to be born with an insatiable desire to spend. Whether it’s Christmas, birthday parties, or a trip to the local mall, children are never too shy when it comes to vocalizing their wants. And sometimes, they’re relentless. Parents face this on a daily basis. Dealing with the barrage of purchase requests becomes a

Dinner at your favorite restaurant, or the dentist bill for next month’s cleaning. That technical gadget you’ve been drooling over, or your home owner’s insurance which isn’t due for 120 days. The new fall fashion, or the car inspection sticker that expires in 32 weeks. Which ones are you most likely to spend money on

Do you know what your credit score means? Really, do you? You may want to make sure you are perfectly clear on that, because The Consumer Federation of America reported in September of 2004 that of 1,000 Americans they surveyed, only one third understood that their credit score measured their likeliness to pay off a

Many of us are bombarded on a daily basis with low-rate and no-rate credit card offers. Several a day can be seen stacked in mailboxes everywhere. But, the real question is, what do we do with these? Deciding whether to file them in the recycle bin or actually consider signing up is a chore in

Today, four tickets to a professional ball game, four hot dogs, and four sodas can run you over $200. The same goes for a trip to a theme park, and the food there may cost even more. Fortunately, family fun can be found for a lot cheaper than you might think, and your kids won’t

For far too many Americans, sweating it out financially until the next paycheck arrives is an all-too-common occurrence. What’s more, for those who find themselves in such a sticky situation, it’s not hard to imagine that saving money is high on the priority list. According to a recent survey from job-search site CareerBuilder, a full

Everyone remembers their first credit card. For some, the memory marks the beginnings of a successful financial journey… For others, it marks the beginning of a series of ill-advised purchases with the accompanying high-interest rates – and a descent into the murky waters of late payment fees, over-the-limit fees and a myriad of other ugly

When it comes to credit scores, a goal of a higher credit score is always better. Ranging from 350-850, your score can impart serious consequences on your financial life including what type of interest rate your credit cards carry, whether or not you’re approved for loans, your car insurance rate (in most states), and whether

Even when you’ve got a carefully planned budget in place, life happens. All it takes is one unexpected expense – say, a home or car repair; a random impulse purchase; emergency dental work; you name it – to knock your finances off course. Blowing your budget is frustrating, to be sure. But it doesn’t have

As much as Americans love to use credit cards – we have nearly $1 trillion in credit card debt to prove it – you’d think more of us would be well versed in the myriad of fees that often pop up on our monthly statements. But alas, many of us might find ourselves surprised at

Did you know your minimum credit card payment is rising? A new government program working to get Americans out of credit card debt is pushing credit card issuers to raise minimum monthly payments. Will you be able to make the higher monthly payment? Here are some tips for getting by. If you’re an American, your

There are credit counseling agencies that rescue people from the deepest financial holes. There are also credit counseling agencies that just shovel in more dirt. How do you tell them apart? Use the following credit counseling services checklist: Signs of a Reliable Credit Counseling Agency Better Business Bureau Membership The service’s website should have a

Thinking about conquering your mountain of debt but too scared even to give your debt much thought? Read this real-world scenario of how one person took the $10,000 credit card challenge and erase her credit card debt within a few years. Ever wonder how some people deep in credit card debt manage to come out

For many people, starting their own business is a personal dream. Before fulfilling your personal dream, it’s necessary to get your personal finances in order. At this early stage you’ll be using your own personal finances to start your business and if you want to succeed you must approach your personal finances with a professional

Tax time is spinning ever closer, but you still have plenty of time to get your small business taxes in order and be able to enjoy a worry-free spring. Here I have compiled a list of the top twelve tax tips for small businesses that will help you get your taxes done right and still