Filed under: Credit, Debt, Extracurriculars, Credit Cards
Here we go again. Just last month, we told you how the Kardashian-branded prepaid debit card — the one with a nearly $100 fee for a year’s worth of use — was yanked after an indignant attorney general threatened to open an investigation. Although this card is gone, the marketplace today resembles a game of debit card whack-a-mole: As soon as one disappears, more pop up in its place.
Filed under: Retirement, Retirement – 401(k), Retirement Advice
Unless you are able to predict the future with absolute accuracy, you can’t be sure how much money you’ll need to retire comfortably. You can be assured, however, that the sooner you begin socking money away, the more you’ll benefit in the long run. Our friends at Mint.com created this infographic to illustrate winning strategies to save for retirement. (Continue the story…)
Filed under: Banking, Personal Loans
As 2010 winds to a close, New Year Resolutions are on our minds and as always, getting out of credit card debt remains a big goal for many of our readers. There are many ways to cut credit card debt, but one of our favorite ways is to get a lower interest rate and a fixed repayment term with a personal loan from a peer-to-peer lender like Lending Club.
Joshua McElravy of Fremont, Calif., recently used lending club to consolidate credit card debt into a personal loan and was able to cut his interest rates from 24% to 26% down to 7.88% with a fixed 36-month term. (Continue the story…)
Filed under: Debt, Identity Theft, Consumer Ally, Credit Cards, Mortgages
The worst economic crisis since the Great Depression has provided happy hunting grounds for legions of unscrupulous scammers looking to take advantage of financially strapped consumers.
Filed under: Debt
Debt settlement companies can be very useful tools when it comes to reining in an out-of-control debt spiral. Unfortunately, a number of individuals, some criminal and unethical, others just inept and inefficient, have set up companies that end up making a consumer’s debt problems worse rather than better. In this series, WalletPop takes a look at the debt settlement industry, explaining how it works and talking to some of its players. This is the fourth and final installment in our debt settlement series.
Continue reading Debt Settlement Companies: The Still and Ever Present Danger
Filed under: Debt, Real Estate, Retirement, Saving Money, Wealth
Are you ready to get out of debt once and for all? Would you like a plan to pay off your credit cards, student loans, mortgage debt, car loans-and be out of debt for life? Well you’ve come to the right place! Because on January 5 — thanks to WalletPop and my publisher Crown Business Books — we are going to do something amazing, exciting and best of all, free!
Filed under: Debt, Real Estate, Retirement, Saving Money, Wealth
Are you ready to get out of debt once and for all? Would you like a plan to pay off your credit cards, student loans, mortgage debt, car loans-and be out of debt for life? Well you’ve come to the right place! Because on January 5 — thanks to WalletPop and my publisher Crown Business Books — we are going to do something amazing, exciting and best of all, free!
Filed under: Debt
Debt settlement companies can be very useful tools when it comes to reining in an out-of-control debt spiral. Unfortunately, a number of individuals, some criminal and unethical, others just inept and inefficient, have set up companies that end up making a consumer’s debt problems worse rather than better. In this series, WalletPop takes a look at the debt settlement industry, explaining how it works and talking to some of its players. This is the third installment in our debt settlement series.
After much thought — and a lack of sleep over your growing debt — you’ve decided to try to work with a debt settlement company to get some relief. But just how should the process work? (Continue the story…)
Filed under: Banking, Banking – Checking Account
Beginning in February, Chase will begin charging a growing number of its customers for basic checking accounts. What might raise some objections is who’s being singled out for these new fees: account holders who receive small direct deposits of less than $500. Right now, anyone who gets a direct deposit can have the $6 monthly fee waived, but that’s about to change.
If someone — say a person on unemployment, or a senior citizen receiving government benefits — gets less than $500 per payment period, they’ll be hit with the fee. Multiple deposits that add up to $500 don’t count. Consumers who use their debit cards to make five or more purchases in each statement period also can have the fee waived. (Continue the story…)
Filed under: Banking, Fraud, Identity Theft, Consumer Ally
An unusual investigation of non-bank automated teller machines in Massachusetts has found more than 300 ATMs operating without a license, and another 101 legal ones doing business despite various violations among their owners.