Archive for the ‘debt’ Category

Wal-Mart CEO: Recession Has Changed Consumers for the Better

Thursday, January 22nd, 2009

Suggesting that retailers “are closer to working men and women… than any other industry,” Wal-Mart CEO H. Lee Scott addressed the public once more in his farewell address after ten years at the helm of the retail megastore. Scott offered a candid take on the country’s current economy and where it’s ...

Giving Obama’s Stimulus Package a Closer Look

Wednesday, January 14th, 2009

President-elect Barack Obama’s proposed economic stimulus package has garnered a great deal of hope and optimism from those being directly affected by the recession, but that doesn’t exactly mean our country’s financial tide will turn on January 20 when the Illinois senator is sworn into office. In fact, Obama’s camp has ...

States Struggle to Support Their Unemployed

Wednesday, December 17th, 2008

As unemployment rates rise nationally, individual states are now facing the challenge of generating enough funds to pay for jobless benefits. The National Association of State Workforce Agency reported this week there are thirty states across the country turning to the federal government for federal aid to solve a crisis ...

Fannie Mae Foreclosures Won’t Evict Renters – Others Not So Lucky

Monday, December 15th, 2008

Fannie Mae announced Sunday that renters don’t have to fear eviction if their landlords get foreclosed. The loan association has reworked policies to allow tenants that are up-to-date on their rent to remain in their homes even after the foreclosure is underway. It’s a move that falls in line with ...

6 Reasons To Pay Off Debt Sooner Rather Than Later

Thursday, April 24th, 2008

Debt (and plenty of it) is the predominant way of life for millions and millions of Americans.  Good, bad or indifferent, it is the mode of operation for most of us.  That simple fact is the primary reason why the current "credit crisis" is as severe and wide-reaching as it ...

Keeping “Zombie” Debt D.E.A.D

Thursday, March 20th, 2008

The spread of "zombie debt" means that millions of dollars of debt long forgotten may come back to haunt the people that owed it in the first place.  A distant relative of much hated debt collectors, 3rd party collectors buy bad debts for very low prices.  Whatever money is collected yields ...

Instead of Foreclosure

Thursday, March 13th, 2008

There are many reasons why record numbers of homeowners are facing foreclosure.  Some got caught up in mortgages that didn't match their incomes; others got behind when interest rates adjusted upward; still others didn't know options other than foreclosure were possible when cash ran short.  Coupled with the other economic ...

Nothing Else Is Quite The “Same As Cash”

Thursday, January 24th, 2008

It is virtually impossible to watch television or read newspapers without seeing ads for "same as cash" financing options.  On first look, those options seem very appealing, especially for large purchases.  In fact, there doesn't SEEM to be a downside to "same as cash" promotions.  What's not to like about ...

Deal With Debt Differently

Thursday, January 3rd, 2008

It's the time of year when DEBT becomes a "four letter" word.  Consumers that spent more than they should have for Christmas gifts are dreading the arrival of the next credit card bills.  This dread and a promise to not get into this financial situation "ever again" has become an ...

Setting a Holiday Budget

Monday, November 26th, 2007

For longer than I would like to admit, my holiday budgets have consisted of buying gifts now and figuring out how to pay for them later!  I have always STARTED my holiday shopping with specific spending limits in mind but I have not stayed within those limits very well.  Even ...