May 31st, 2011 Many people say they can’t afford to save. Neither can they afford to be ill-prepared for the inevitable money-gobbling emergency. When preparing your budget be sure to include a savings category with money ear-marked for that purpose each month.
May 27th, 2011 Simply put, don’t spend more than you make. To accomplish this, put the credit cards away. Many well-meaning people resort to living off of credit when facing a financial crisis, digging an even deeper financial hole. Instead, try living on a cash basis. People who do this typically spend 20 percent less, and they do [...]
May 26th, 2011 If you don’t know where to start or you’re not sure what to keep or toss, consider contacting an NFCC Member Agency. From financial education to debt management services, NFCC’s nonprofit agencies have certified credit counselors who offer low-cost and free financial educational information, money and credit management advice, and debt reduction services. To locate [...]
May 25th, 2011 Last week we gave you tips on getting started to living a debt-free lifestyle. Now part 2 of the lesson…Turning Your Goals into a Reality! • Find hidden money in your budget by tracking your spending for 30 days. • Create a spending plan which includes all living expenses, debt obligations, and money for emergencies. [...]
May 24th, 2011 Limit the number of credit cards you own and carry. Use just one card if you can – the fewer you have, the easier it is to remember your balance and keep track of total purchases. If you’re unsure which credit cards to cancel, carefully read your monthly statements to check out the annual fee, [...]
May 23rd, 2011 When a natural disaster strikes, you think first about the lives of those closest to you. But a close second on your list should be securing your quality of life – and that means your finances. The tornadoes and storms that rocked the Southeast and Midwest could rack up more than $5.5 billion – with [...]
May 20th, 2011 Intrigued? Well, here are some tips to getting started: • Know where you stand. Start by getting your credit report free of charge at www.annualcreditreport.com. Review it for accuracy, and dispute any errors. • Order your credit score. It’ll be fun to watch it go up as your debt goes down. • Set your debt-free [...]
May 19th, 2011 Everyday millions of consumers get home from work to find a small stack of credit card offers in their mailbox. These offers, many of them from the same credit card issuers who sent you an offer last month, purport to offer you new credit cards. These are called “pre-approved offers of credit” and account for [...]
May 18th, 2011 Not knowing where anything is can result in multiple purchases of the same items. Keeping a place for everything, and putting everything in its place can save you time and money in the future. In addition to substantial late fees, misplacing bills could potentially lower your credit score.
May 17th, 2011 NFCC Hosts Campaign Bringing Awareness to Benefits of Debt-free Lifestyle During April, Financial Literacy Month, NFCC Member Agencies collected more than 5,800 pledges from consumers to become debt free. The Take the Debt Free Pledge campaign allowed consumers to make this voluntary commitment as their first step toward embracing a new financial lifestyle. Consumers who [...]