Payday Loans: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

money

For many people, a payday loan seems like the answer to their prayers. When viewed as a simple salary advance, it would seem that you are just getting paid a little bit ahead of schedule. But as with any kind of loan, there are massive risks associated with borrowing money, be it a payday loan [...]

10 Ways to Live a Frugal Lifestyle to Help Your Savings | The Layman’s Guide

save your pennies

Whether you are steadily employed or facing redundancy, there are some universal rules that apply to saving money. Even if you are fortunate to be receiving a steady income, there are some simple tips that can improve your chances of staying solvent in a downturn. 1.       Skip Your Morning Coffee The chances are that there [...]

Critical Personal Finance Documents

documents

Are all your important personal financial documents in your possession? Organized and in one place?  Or are they scattered about, the idea of consolidating them a vague nag in the back of your mind? Have you made the mental note to pull everything together, maybe you have even purchased the file cabinet and then left [...]

7 Ways to Cut Costs this Spring and Increase your Monthly Savings

tulips in spring

The first day of spring has come and gone, Daylight Savings Time is in full effect, and spring jackets are making their exodus from the closet and out into the fresh air. It’s that beautiful time of year when the cold, drab days of winter give way to the warm, longer days of spring. And [...]

The Right To Work in Indiana

indiana

Indiana has just become the first state in more than a decade to enact the Right to Work (RTW) provision, adding it to the state’s existing labor laws. They have become the 23rd state in the U.S. to enact this law, and they are the first among the upper Midwest states to put the RTW [...]

Save Money and Make the Summer Productive!

basketball hoop

With the summer approaching, many families are starting to think of ways to enjoy the sunny weather without breaking the budget. And while the pleasant weather evokes dreams of relaxing holidays and other fun activities, the fact that we sould remain mindful of how we spend our money and try our best to keep expenses [...]

Can I Still Get A Mortgage With Bad Credit?

real estate home on lake-gif-smaller

Although the credit crunch has markedly altered the market for adverse credit mortgages, it may still be possible to find a suitable deal. Most adverse credit mortgages at the present time are arranged via brokers. Given recent economic developments, you may be asking ‘can I get a mortgage with bad credit?’ The somewhat unsatisfactory answer [...]

How to Build Up a Credit History From Scratch

credit history

You can lack of credit history for a number of reasons, not just irresponsible credit card use. Perhaps you’re a student – or have been one until recently – and as such have never wanted or needed to apply for one before. Not having required credit before is another reason why you might have an [...]

Are Free Credit Reports From Credit Karma Really Free?

credit karma

I almost never watch TV in the morning during the week but this morning was one of those rare exceptions.  I think I turned it on simply to see what time it was since I didn’t have my phone next to me so on went Sportscenter for a few minutes. And I saw an interesting [...]