Spring is in the air, and with that comes the urge to clean out the cobwebs in our lives, including our finances.  Here are five ways to get started decluttering your financial life.   1. Redo Your Budget Revisit your budget at least once a year to get aligned with your spending. Redoing or refreshing your budget can also help you decide if it’s not working. There isn’t just one way to&#8230 ..read more

For many, the holidays bring fond memories with friends and family. But this gift-giving season can take its toll on your wallet. If you want to take charge of your finances in the coming year, here are some tips to get you started. Budget Budgeting can seem like a pain, but it can also help you directly impact your spending. Whether you already have one or need to create one, the new year is a&#8230 ..read more

While the holidays are an exciting time of the year, they can also cause a lot of anxiety overfinances. In fact, a recent survey found that 71% of people are stressed about spending thisholiday season. Making sure you have a good handle on your credit is a step toward ensuringyou have a less stressful holiday. Here’s four ways you can combat holiday overspending and keep your credit score&#8230 ..read more

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) recently released a report showing that debt settlement (also known as debt relief) scams are rising. As of June, 1,794 consumers claimed they were defrauded by debt relief and credit card scams, with the organization noting they were tracking to receive 3,588 complaints by the end of the year. Since 2020, the BBB has logged almost 12,000 complaints of a similar&#8230 ..read more

High interest rates can make paying down credit card debt more stressful than other debts. With the national average credit card interest rate around 24.45% (as of September), this is especially true now. Many Americans are feeling the pinch in their bank accounts, so a debt management program (DMP) may be a good choice for you. According to the Federal Reserve, in the second quarter of 2023,&#8230 ..read more

Roughly more than 45 million Americans owe as much as $1.6 trillion in federal student debt, according to the U.S. Department of Education. With the student loan forbearance program coming to an end in October, Experian data shows the average monthly payment borrowers can expect to pay will hover around $200. For those already struggling or on the brink of debt, student loan repayment may be an&#8230 ..read more

After more than three years of relief, the payment pause on student loans is coming to an end. The U.S. Department of Education recently announced that student loan interest will resume September 1, 2023, and payments will be due starting in October. This student loan news affects millions of Americans, which creates an excellent opportunity for scammers. In fact, BBB has already&#8230 ..read more

Taking charge of your finances so you can get out of debt is an important step toward recovering financial stability. To get there, seeking help from a credit counseling organization can not only help you get started, but provide consistent support as you pay down debt. Typically, credit counseling organizations are nonprofit agencies that provide counseling from certified counselors. How Does it&#8230 ..read more

Earlier this year, Bankrate.com reported that Americans carrying credit card debt month-to-month had increased from 39% last year to 46% this year. Why Has Credit Card Debt Increased? With the cost of inflation hovering around 5% (down from an all-time high of 8% in 2022), many people are feeling it in their wallets and on their credit cards. If you’re finding that your discretionary income has&#8230 ..read more

In 2022, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reported that Americans spent collectively more than $120 billion in credit card interest and fees that year. With the national average of interest rates on credit cards continually creeping up, that spend is only going to be higher.   If you pay your credit card balance off each month, the average interest rate of more than 23% won’t&#8230 ..read more