Having more than $10,000 in student loan debt has a way of piquing your interest in personal finance. And because my degree was in English and public communication, I get to share that interest with you. My wide-ranging stories on money and business have run on Business Insider, the Christian Science Monitor, Reader’s Digest, the front pages of MSN.com and Yahoo! Finance, Money Talks News, and the South Florida Business Journal. In my free time, I like to jump off skyscrapers and play video games.
Experts say there’s a definite relationship between debt and depression. But we don’t like talking about either one.
Millennials get a bad rap. On the bright side, it might be pushing them to excel.
Housing affordability is a major concern, but that doesn’t mean home ownership is out of reach. From Chicago to Dallas, the salary required to afford a home might be less than you’d expect.
Nothing in credit lasts forever — good or bad.
The worst way to get out of debt is to pay the bare minimum. Find out how much that would hurt where you live.
We’re most scared of dealing with emergencies, losing our jobs, and outliving our savings.
This spooky map looks at how long it takes to pay off the typical credit card debt in every state.
The federal agency continues to aggressively battle companies that confuse and shortchange consumers.
After the holiday season, back-to-school shopping is the second largest spending event of the year. Nearly half of Americans will shop online, according to the National Retail Federation. In total, they’ll spend an estimated $83.6 billion — a more than 10 percent jump over last year, and a five-year high — to get grade school […]
Our expenses keep going up, but our credit card debt is lower than it was a decade ago
This year’s Halloween spending is expected to top a ghastly $8.4 billion, the highest figure since the National Retail Federation began surveying consumers about their holiday spending. Where do the sale of Halloween costumes fit into that number? The biggest chunk of that is on costumes: $1.5 billion on costumes for adults — $1.17 billion […]
The federal government tries something novel: clarity.
Parents are making sure their kids don’t learn the best lesson college can teach — financial independence.
Why pay a bank to use your money? Avoiding fees involves some simple tech and even simpler questions.
Most people don’t know that if you’re saving for retirement on a modest income, the federal government will cut you a break on taxes.
A majority of former homeowners say they’d rather keep renting than buy another home. Here’s all our advice for the new breed of nomads…
If you make less than $60,000 a year, you don’t have to pay for an accountant or online tax software. You can get free tax prep and a fast refund.
Despite saving as much as 30 percent, pay-as-you-drive insurance has a lot more haters than it did a year ago.
Are you spending and saving better than your peers? What they’re giving up might surprise you
These cards have a bad rep for a good reason, but done right, they’re cheap, free, or even profitable.
No stats are available, but our research shows dining out makes you a prime target. Here’s how to protect yourself.
The latest writing on student loans is equal parts crazy and useful. Here’s what you need to know.
New studies show a lot of people want to be in charge but aren’t cut out for it. Here’s how to enjoy the perks of leadership without the work.
Start saving, and learn to read medical bills.
It’s National Cyber Security Awareness Month, and we have a lot of new things to be aware of.
Unless you’re in the 1 percent, you don’t want to live in these neighborhoods.
With 29 days until Halloween, here are some frightening (or funny) holiday statistics…
A new PBS documentary about the psychology of spending translates neuroeconomics into plain English
A life insurance company wants to remind you some debts don’t get buried when you do.
American Express and Fannie Mae aren’t sure how much we’re saving, but they know we’re putting a lot more on credit cards for major purchases this year.
If you own a home, you insure your stuff against fires, theft, and other disasters. But most renters don’t.
If we think of the government at all, we usually think about the money they take away in taxes. But it taketh and giveth away, too.
Programs that track your speed and braking habits are becoming a more popular way to save.
How is it that your dog has life insurance, but you don’t have a 401(k)?
But it could happen sooner with your help.
Not yet, but they’re still worth exploring — along with a lot of other changes in the college landscape.
The rules and dates for tax holidays are ridiculous. So we simplified the most up-to-date info as much as possible.
Last week, Illinois sued two companies that promise to reduce or eliminate student loan debt. Here’s how to find legitimate help.
Not every product has predictable pricing trends, but here’s what we know.
A young artist named Christopher Kosek draws a comic book about student debt, but it sure ain’t funny.
A lot of companies offer tuition reimbursement, but few say how much in public.
Student loan refinancing is out for now, but President Obama and Democrats are pushing for more help.
There’s a lot of safety advice — a lot of it vague, obvious, or expensive. Here’s what we think is best for your time and money.
A health savings account may be the best retirement saving account you’ve never heard of.
Most Americans have some majorly mistaken assumptions about retirement. How many of these do you fall for?
You might figure a city that bankrupted itself would be full of people who can’t manage credit. But it’s not.
I was a grad student who made costly mistakes and racked up big debt. Here’s how to avoid what I did.
A lot of them involve free stuff. Time to get a library card.
Credit scores are complicated, and some people mix you up on purpose. We break it down for you in plain English.
Time to unmask 10 lies, delusions, and half-truths about credit.
