Equifax, one of the world’s largest suppliers of credit information and related services, recently announced a data breach that may have affected as many as 143 million consumers in the United States. The company went on to explain that “criminals exploited a U.S. website application vulnerability to gain access to certain files.” At this point, Equifax believes that the access occurred from the middle of May 2017 through July 2017. The information accessed by the criminals...
Have you come to find that your car payment is entirely too high? Is this having a negative impact on your budget and finances as a whole? Are you hoping to make a change? It’s extremely common to bite off more than you can chew when purchasing a vehicle. You get so excited about pulling the trigger that you overlook the impact your new payment will have on your financial situation. If you find yourself in...
It’s imperative that you fully understand the many details associated with your credit card. If there’s anything you don’t understand, you should take the time to clear the air in the near future. When you first applied for your credit card, there’s a good chance you put a lot of time and energy into learning more about everything it had to offer. However, as time went by, you forgot about the most important details. With this...
As a small business owner or office manager, there may come a time when you need to take a hard look at your spending. Did you know that approximately two-thirds of Americans don’t budget? While this number may or may not be as high in regards to small business, nothing changes the fact that you need to pay close attention to every last dollar you spend. This leads us to an important question: are you overspending...
Are you ready to leave your corporate job behind and become a self-employed professional? Do you require some funding in order to make this move? If you don’t know how to fund your self-employed venture it doesn’t mean you are out of luck. It simply means that you need to become familiar with the many options that are available to you. Here are three forms of funding that you absolutely need to consider: • Personal savings....
Even though we are several months away from the holiday season, it will be here before you know it. While some people enjoy waiting until the last minute to shop for gifts, others realize the benefits of getting an early start. Would it be crazy to start your holiday shopping today? Rather than shoot down this idea, here are a few reasons why it makes sense: Not buying everything at the same time. When you buy...
There is nothing more stressful than facing a personal emergency that has the potential to negatively impact your finances. From a serious illness to a major car repair, you never know what you will face in the future. This is why you need to be prepared for anything that could come your way. Although everyone is facing a different set of circumstances, here are some of the best ways to pay for a personal emergency: Emergency...
Have you ever heard the old saying “don’t bite off more than you can chew?” In short, this means don’t take on more than you can comfortably handle. Unfortunately, many people make this mistake when buying a home. While your intentions are good, it’s easy to become so overwhelmed with the process that you end up overspending. If you’re concerned about going down this path, here are three steps you can take: Know your absolute maximum...
Are you considering a loan from a family member or friend? Are you familiar with the many ways this could benefit your finances? The advantages of this type of loan are well documented. In addition to a lack of paperwork, you may find somebody who is willing to loan you the money interest free. Does it get any better than that? While you may be attracted by the many benefits of borrowing from family or friends,...
If you find yourself in the market for a new car, it won’t be long before you’re sitting face to face with the finance manager (unless you’re paying with cash, of course). Reaching this point means you have found your next vehicle and are ready to finalize the purchase. As you make your way through the process, here are some of the more important questions to ask: What is the total amount financed? While the monthly...
