Finance Globe

Paying off a large amount of debt takes a lot of sacrifice. You have to cut back your spending and sometimes get creative about making more money. Even though it can be stressful and frustrating, the benefits of paying off your debt are worth it. You’ll save money in the long run. The longer you carry debt, the more you’ll pay in interest. Paying off your debt faster lets you save thousands of dollars in interest,...

If you need to borrow for your college or post college expenses, you should know what borrowing options are available to you. Generally there are two major sources of student loans. Federal and private loans are available to individuals, however federal student loans are much more common. There are also advantages and disadvantages to each, so please make sure you research before selecting your borrowing option. However it is important to note that no matter what...

It's normal for retailers to pitch credit cards to shoppers during checkout. The pitch usually comes with an incentive - like a discount on the initial purchase. More retailers are offering a new payment option for consumers: point-of-sale loans. Customers are offered the loans both in-store and online at checkout. Point-of-sale loans are often offered for big ticket items. With the ease of lending, the loans are also offered for online purchases regardless of price. The...

The information in your credit report has a major impact on whether your new applications for credit cards and loans are approved. Having positive information is key to showing that you're a responsible borrower. Your credit report can only contain accurate, complete, and timely information and you're allowed to challenge any information that doesn't fit the criteria for reporting. If you spot errors on your credit report, you can have your credit report updated by making...

Banks and fintech startups are increasingly offering personal loans for consumers who need to consolidate debt, make home repairs, or take care of other financial obligations. While personal loans are becoming easier to access, there still remains some risks to watch out for before you take on new debt. Fixed Monthly Payments There’s a fixed monthly payment based on your interest rate, loan amount, and repayment period. Payments can be difficult to make if you’re having...

Medical bills have the potential to hurt your credit just like most other types of bills. Medical bills can wind up on your credit report even if you have health insurance, since insurance companies don’t always cover 100% of medical services. Medical service providers don’t drop a medical bill on your credit report right away. They typically give you a give you time to pay the bill in full or make a payment arrangement first. In...

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recently released its 2019 Fair Debt Collection Practices Act Annual Report which discusses trends in consumer debt collection complaints. The FDCPA is the federal law that dictates what third-party debt collectors are allowed to do when they’re collecting a debt. The CFPB receives complaints from consumers about financial services businesses, including collection agencies. After receiving a complaint, the bureau opens an investigation and attempts to work out a resolution between the...

Consumer debt has been rising steadily as the economy recovered from the 2008 recession and overall consumer debt reached a record $13.5 trillion in the 4th quarter of 2018, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's report on U.S. household debt and credit. Rising levels of debt may not be good for the economy and especially on consumer wallets. Here are some ways you can tell if you're adding too much debt each month. You...

Trying to pay off multiple credit cards can be complicated. You have to break up your extra money between all your balances, which means you’re not making as much progress as you would if you could just pay one debt. Consolidating your credit card debt makes it much easier to pay since you can make a single payment. The hard part can be figuring out the best way to consolidate. Here are a few options to...

Some people know they have a good credit score, so they don’t see the reason in reviewing their credit report once a year. Conversely, some consumers know they have an average or poor score, which leads them to shy away from their credit report because they’re afraid of what they’ll find. Regardless of which group you fit into - or if you lie somewhere in between – you should get into the habit of reviewing your...