Education Archives

The Secret of a Budget

I WENT EVERY DAY DOING THE SAME THING AND GETTING NO WHERE, then finally I started tracking my results so I could improve my spending.

What you will see in a credit report

Here is a list of what you will see on a credit report:

Accounts/Trade lines: This includes credit cards, auto loans, mortgages, real estate, installment loans and revolving debt like department store cards. The report will include information on the accounts such as the balance, payment history, terms, and account status – such as whether the account was put into bankruptcy, charged off, or repossessed.

The Real Scoop on Credit Counseling

You have probably seen ads on television, the radio, and the internet promoting to “lower your interest rates,” “reduce your monthly payments,” “end collection calls,” and “get you on the road to financial freedom.”

How to Pay off Collections

Collection companies have done a great job over the years of convincing consumers that paying off collections will raise their credit scores. Many are actually surprised to learn that paying off collections will actually lower their credit scores.

Know Your Rights- How Debt Collectors Could Be Breaking the Law

A strong federal law, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, protects consumers against certain unfair collection practices. It applies only to outside or third-party debt collectors (not creditors collecting their own debts) and only for personal (not business) debts. State laws may provide additional protection.

Fixing Credit Report Errors

Fixing credit report errors requires knowing who to contact to resolve a variety of errors that may be found as you examine your report.

Fixed Expenses Vs. Variable Expenses

I get asked every week from a client, How can we separate our expenses and learn how to create a budget. My answer is usually the best way to attack a problem is to start with the problem. Ourselves? Our budget is not the problem, the money we make is