If you’re dealing with debt, you’re not alone. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), from 2018 – 2020, Americans spent over $120 billion per year on credit card fees and interest.[1] The good news? You may be able to get some financial relief. Read on to learn about debt relief programs and debt

If you have a personal loan, paying it off early can reduce your monthly expenses and save you from paying more in interest.  However, having a personal loan paid off early may also come with unintended consequences. It can impact your credit score, cost you hefty prepayment penalties or prevent you from using that extra

It’s hard to wait for your income tax refund check when you need your money sooner. If you know you’ll receive a reimbursement when filing your return, you may want to consider a tax refund loan. Some tax preparation services offer tax refund loans or refund anticipation loans. You receive an interest-free advance, as a

Debt can be a powerful tool when you want to buy a home or a car or go to school. But sometimes debt stinks. Take away mortgage debt, student loan debt and auto loan debt and the U.S. still has over $1.3 trillion in debt from credit cards and other forms of debt.[1] While we

When you borrow money from a lender, you are taking on a risk – and so is your lender. That’s why a loan’s repayment terms and conditions are typically meticulously spelled out. Some loans are short-term and can be repaid within 36 – 60 months (3 – 5 years). On average, long-term personal loans have

If you’ve ever gone shopping, either online or at a brick-and-mortar retailer, you’ve probably seen something you wanted, wished you had the money to buy it and moved on. Retailers understand it isn’t always easy to buy something if you have to put up all the money upfront. That’s one key reason they now offer

There are a lot of good reasons to move, especially when it comes to finding a home for yourself and your family. In fact, between 2017 and 2021, 40% – 50% of all movers cited housing-related reasons as their reason for moving.[1]  But moving can also be expensive. Moving out of state can cost almost

Personal loans can be a big help when you need money in a relatively short period of time. A personal loan can help you with emergencies, cover home repair and renovation costs, help you consolidate high-interest debt and much more. But when tax time comes around, you may find a personal loan doesn’t come with

It’s not unusual to carry credit card debt from time to time. But most of us know that paying off this debt, especially if it’s high-interest debt, is a good move. After all, reducing or getting rid of your credit card debt not only helps you save money (and reduces the stress of carrying debt),

Whether you need an emergency loan, auto repair financing or funds to pay for moving across the country, the number of loan options available can feel overwhelming. And if you need cash fast, have bad credit or have a high debt-to-income (DTI) ratio, a high-interest loan may be your only option. High-interest loans are usually

Lending money to relatives can have potential benefits and drawbacks for both the lender and borrower. However, family loans can work out well when planned for despite the risk. Similar to other types of loans, family loans have legal requirements, tax implications and IRS guidelines to follow. Family loans need clear communication, including upfront disclosure

When we think of predatory lending, some of us might imagine the stereotypical loan shark. You know, the slightly menacing lender who lends money at ruinous interest rates and threatens to send someone to break a beloved appendage if we don’t pay on time. The truth is, predatory lending is more common than many borrowers

Adulting has its fun side, but paying bills usually doesn’t fall in the fun category. For many of us, paying bills can be time-consuming, boring and even stressful. What wouldn’t we give for a convenient, easy, efficient way to pay our bills? Thankfully, a solution exists: automatic bill payments. Automatic bill payments can rid you

Big expenses usually require big loans. You wanna buy a house? You’ll likely need a mortgage. You wanna renovate your kitchen? You’ll likely make use of a home equity loan. But what about smaller – yet significant – purchases? For those, you might want to consider point-of-sale (POS) financing. We’ll review what a point-of-sale loan

Buying a car can be costly. It’s no wonder a lot of people purchase a car with an auto loan. Between your car loan payment, car insurance, gas prices (and the occasional snack), your monthly costs to travel from point A to B can add up fast. If your debt has you feeling like you’re

The day you’ve been dreading as a car owner has finally arrived. Maybe your car made a weird noise, a rock hit your windshield or you walked out of a store only to discover a flat tire. A peculiar noise, a cracked windshield or an unwelcome flat can be more than a personal inconvenience, it

Maybe you’re a devotee of the #RemoteWorkLife or have been inspired by perfectly curated #VanLife videos. Maybe you’re ready to fulfill your dream of a cross-country road trip with your “hotel” traveling with you from town to town. Whichever hashtag (or fantasy) is motivating you, you’re ready to experience the freedom of the outdoors on

Riding a personal watercraft (PWC), like a Jet Ski or a Sea-Doo, is exhilarating for water sports lovers. And because some models are roomy enough to accommodate up to three passengers, a small family or friend group can ride the waves all summer long. A Jet Ski or Sea-Doo can be expensive, but owning one

Let’s talk credit! Credit is money you borrow and must repay. Depending on the type of credit account it is, you can use it for different purposes, like buying a boat, funding a wedding or buying an investment property. There are two main types of credit available to borrowers – closed-end credit and open-end credit.

Imagine, if you will, a pickle barrel at a grocery store. It’s filled with pickles you can take out, put in a bag and pay for. Of course, you only pay for the pickles you take out. And once you eat the pickles you bought, you can buy more pickles – again and again –

Applying for a business loan can be a great way to get the financing you need to grow your business. But did you know that it can affect your personal credit and may make it harder for you to borrow money for things like getting a mortgage? We’ve put together a guide to help you