Author: Mehedi Hasan Moon
Spring and summer are traditionally hot months for homebuying, but some would-be buyers with student loan debt could encounter unexpected trouble.Nearly 10 million federal student loan borrowers may be facing delinquency, potentially dropping their credit scores by 150 points or more, according to a report released by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on Mar. 26. That kind of damage could torpedo homebuying plans. Here’s why this is happening, and what borrowers can do. Why delinquencies are rising From March 2020 through September 2023, federal student loan payments were suspended as an emergency pandemic measure. To transition borrowers back…
I’m all about the sheet pan dinners these days! This Sheet Pan Easter Dinner is particularly handy because it makes preparing your Easter dinner a breeze! Not to mention, it’s going to give your bank account the break it deserves. Loading up on vegetables like potatoes and Brussels sprouts means you can stretch the ham steak further to create 4 hearty servings. It really couldn’t be any easier to make a full meal for the holidays in less than an hour with minimal prep! All recipes are rigorously tested in our Nashville Test Kitchen to ensure they are easy, affordable,…
Wise Bread Picks ShareThisThere are several obvious reasons to give a hoot about your credit score, and very few reasons you should ignore it. After all, you’ll need a good credit score and a solid credit history if you ever plan to purchase a home or take out an auto loan. A bad credit score can even come back to bite you if you want to rent an apartment or apply for certain jobs. But your score isn’t the only detail you need to pay attention to. You also need to keep an eye on your credit report — the…
Most people love the idea of earning extra money. Swagbucks is one solution for making money from your phone by completing short tasks in your free time. While there are many ways to make extra money, Swagbucks is one of the most popular side hustle apps. This review will cover how the platform works and if it’s worth your time. What is Swagbucks? Swagbucks is a loyalty rewards website and mobile app, also known as a “get-paid-to” (GPT) site. You can earn rewards points by completing short online tasks. Then, you redeem the points for gift cards and cash rewards.…
For the past 15 years, the driving passion behind this website has been simple: to inspire and help people own less and live more. I hope, in one way or another, it’s been helpful to you in your pursuit. At first, this blog was the only resource I offered. I published articles three times per week and made them freely available to anyone who subscribed by email. (You still can, by the way.) But a website built on one-off articles has its limits. It becomes a stream of consciousness—topics shared in no particular order, simply based on what I was…
Some of the best bank account bonuses for U.S. account holders have a common home. That’s Chase Bank, one of the biggest and best-known banks in the country. Whether you’re looking for a new Chase checking account or savings account, you’ll find a Chase Bank promotion or bonus offer that suits your needs here. $100? $200? $300? Yep, it’s all possible. Not exactly free money, but not too hard to qualify for either. Read on for the details — and for account application links. These are the best Chase Bank promotions for new account holders right now. Each listing includes…
Falling behind on your debt can be frightening. You may wonder if the creditor will come for your property or sue you. Sometimes, you don’t even realize you owe a debt before a credit collection service comes calling. Luckily, you do have rights and options. Negotiating with your creditors can be a powerful tool to reduce your debt burden, improve your credit score, and achieve financial stability. In this guide, we’ll break down how to confidently negotiate with creditors and find a debt relief solution that works for you. Learn how to negotiate with creditors below. Why Should You Negotiate…
The average credit card interest rate is 21.07 percent.The Federal Reserve is taking a temporary break from hiking rates and so, it seems, are credit card issuers.Among the 100 cards tracked weekly by CreditCards.com, none advertised new interest rates. As a result, the average APR for new cards held steady Wednesday at its highest point on record.With benchmark rates stalled at a 22-year high, card APRs idle well above previous peaks Policymakers at the Federal Reserve could still announce one more rate hike before 2024. So APRs on most new card offers may still have a way to go before…
If sticker prices shock you, just wait until you see the interest rates… Answer: For a new car: 13.08%For a used car: 19.38% Questions: Give one example of an action that can cause a borrower to have “bad credit?” How does the interest rate affect the monthly payment on a car loan? Explain. Assume a borrower with bad credit took out a $20,000 car loan. Estimate what the total cost of the loan would be for a 60-month loan. Here are the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day that you can use in your classroom. Behind the numbers (Experian): “You can get a…
I get it—overspending is a real struggle. No matter where or how you shop, spending money on random stuff is always a temptation (I’m looking at you, $100-Target-run-disguised-as-a-quick-trip-for-shampoo). So, how do you keep from busting your budget? I’m here to share my best tips for how to stop spending money—so you can stress less, save more, and make faster progress toward your money goals. How to Stop Spending Money: 16 Tips to Stay in Control 1. Identify your spending tendencies. If you want to learn how to not spend money, you need to start with your money mindset. It’s important…