Embarrassing money issues can rear their ugly heads at any time, putting any of us in situations that can be downright cringe-worthy.
But unlike embarrassing money issues that women have, the red-faced financial moments that men experience can often feel more personal.
Getting into debt is easy. It’s getting out of debt that’s the tricky part.
Unfortunately, many people who would like to eliminate their debt shoot themselves in the foot by making bone-headed mistakes that actually compound their debt problems.
In my New York Times bestseller, Zero Debt, I outline 30 strategies that I used to get out of debt and how anyone else can do the same thing.
Here are five of the simple strategies that will help get you on the path to being debt free – as well as some resources to help you get started:
Filed under: Credit, Debt, Credit Reports
So you first messed up your finances in your 20s, then made matters worse in your 30s. But now you’re ready to act your age, get serious about the business of fixing your credit and start writing your financial comeback story, right?
Whether you went on a few too many credit card-fueled shopping sprees, missed a series of payments that damaged your credit report or lost your job for a prolonged period of time, there are still ways to bounce back and take control of your financial future.
Filed under: Debt, Family Money, Travel
Buying a timeshare property may have seemed like a good idea when you signed the timeshare contract. But if you’re taking yet another “staycation” this summer – and really haven’t been able to travel as much as you’d like the rest of the year as well – you may have realized that you aren’t truly benefiting from your timeshare purchase.
Some people buy timeshares as potential investments. But that’s often an unwise move, since timeshares aren’t investments in the traditional sense, and they don’t offer the typical benefits that, say, stocks or bonds might, such as price appreciation or dividends.
Filed under: Debt, Family Money, Travel
Buying a timeshare property may have seemed like a good idea when you signed the timeshare contract. But if you’re taking yet another “staycation” this summer – and really haven’t been able to travel as much as you’d like the rest of the year as well – you may have realized that you aren’t truly benefiting from your timeshare purchase.
Some people buy timeshares as potential investments. But that’s often an unwise move, since timeshares aren’t investments in the traditional sense, and they don’t offer the typical benefits that, say, stocks or bonds might, such as price appreciation or dividends.
Filed under: Retirement, Career
The lifestyle that’s long been associated with the golden years — hobby-filled days, long vacations, adventures with the grandkids — could be changing, a new survey has found.
A growing number of Americans now expect to keep working into their 70s, according to The First Command Financial Behaviors Index, which reviews trends shaping financial behaviors, attitudes and intentions via a monthly survey of about 1,000 U.S. consumers.
Filed under: Debt, In the News
Two new studies suggest that your mental state – specifically being distracted and experiencing stress – can have a serious, negative impact on your finances.
Northwestern Mutual recently surveyed 1,000 Americans 25 and older to analyze their financial tenacity and self-discipline. Not surprisingly, the bulk of those polled admitted they were lagging in those areas.
Filed under: Retirement, Career
The lifestyle that’s long been associated with the golden years — hobby-filled days, long vacations, adventures with the grandkids — could be changing, a new survey has found.
A growing number of Americans now expect to keep working into their 70s, according to The First Command Financial Behaviors Index, which reviews trends shaping financial behaviors, attitudes and intentions via a monthly survey of about 1,000 U.S. consumers.
Filed under: Budgets, Debt, Saving Money
How well have you kept up with the financial resolutions you made back in January – especially the one that involved saving more money? Like most of us, your New Year’s resolutions may be all but forgotten.
With half the year already gone, if you don’t have much savings to show for the financial goals and resolutions you set earlier this year, it’s time for a quick financial checkup.