Kristy's Blog

From the FTC’s blog: The story started with an email from a company the family knew. It said ‘We received your order.’ That seemed ok; they had recently placed an order. A second email said ‘Your new mobile phone is on its way’ and listed a delivery address that wasn’t theirs. ‘That’s wrong!’ my co-worker […]

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Only a small percentage of the world’s working population are debt free. For many, the only reason they’re working is to pay off debt. Even rural areas are seeing an alarming increase in personal debt among its people. What is the reason for this increase in debt and what can be done about it? Not […]

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If you’re already struggling with your finances, the last thing you want is to wake up one morning and find out that your bank accounts have been frozen or your wages have been garnished. Unfortunately, aggressive debt collectors can do just that. Debt collection lawsuits have become more common in the last decade, and the […]

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Regardless of the financial strain you may find yourself under, keeping your debts out of collections should be one of your highest priorities. Not only do collections severely damage your credit rating, but negative entries remain on your credit report for seven years–sometimes longer, depending on the debt. In extreme cases, creditors can file a […]

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It’s a given that if you leave your student loans, tax debts or child support obligations unpaid, you’ll probably find yourself facing a wage garnishment. What many consumers fail to realize, however, is that commercial creditors, such as collection agencies, can also garnish wages under certain circumstances. Debt Collection Lawsuits and Civil Judgments No collection […]

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Most people use banks and credit cards these days, but the fees associated with the accounts can be brutal. There are many ways you can help minimize these unnecessary fees, though. This is Part 2 of our ways to save on bank fees. Shop around Just as with any other product or service, you need […]

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One of the biggest sources of revenue for banks comes from “hidden” fees. These fees are commonly assessed on overdrafts, but there are other ways to rack up charges, depending on the bank. Many banks aren’t upfront with their customers when it comes to these extra costs, so it’s worth your time to do some […]

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As higher education costs soar outside the reach of the average middle class family, student loans are becoming an increasing necessity. Once you finish your academic studies, the loans loom over you and become a source of overwhelming stress. But before you curl up in the fetal position and choose to ignore your new shackles, […]

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With a debit card, you can make a purchase in real-time using money in your checking or savings account. If thieves gain access to your debit card number, they can use it to make unauthorized purchases or withdraw cash. Thieves gain access to account numbers using the debit-card processing equipment of legitimate retailers. They do […]

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Q. How do you get a mortgage if you don’t have a good credit score? How do you boost your credit score? How long does it take? I am looking for examples of a minimum credit scores and different types of mortgages that can help people with lower credit scores. A. If you have bad […]

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