In addition to some people opting to walk away from their mortgages, the temptation to default on student loans is growing. Unfortunately, defaulting on student loans can have even worse consequences than defaulting on a mortgage. So, let’s go over what will happen if you default, and options for avoiding default. What Qualifies as Default? The government …
Tax refunds have started rolling in. Although the IRS told us not to expect our until mid-April, they actually sent it already. I quickly transferred that baby to our savings account where it will earn a few pennies until we start buying furniture. This year’s refund is expected to average $3036. So what should you …
So, it finally happened. I committed the most unfrugal act of getting a smartphone. However, I still managed to squeeze a bit of frugality into it, even though it’s a big budget change. Not only did I buy a smartphone, but I had to break my current contract and pay a $70 termination fee to …
Last night my husband I looked at our 50th house since our home-buying odyssey began. I knew the moment I walked in the door that it wasn’t the right house. I couldn’t do that when I first started looking, but now I know. If you’re not quite sure you’ll know when it’s right, here are …
Nine Signs It’s the Right House For You, and One Sign It Isn’t Read More »
When the economy was humming along, fashion magazines liked to tout high-priced accessories like shoes and handbags, or even whole outfits, as “investment pieces.” I don’t care how rare or expensive a piece of clothing is, it’s not an investment. It will likely not increase in value over time. The mere suggestion that it will …
Yesterday I talked about setting up a garden share day, for you home gardeners. But what if you don’t have a home? Condo and apartment dwellers can still enjoy the gardening experience. You just need to join a community garden. True, you won’t be able to plant some of the larger items like fruit trees, but you …
Last week I got a letter from Chase informing me that they were canceling my former Washington Mutual card. The result? A free credit report! The Initial Shock of Having a Card Canceled I’ve had several credit cards canceled due to inactivity over the last year or two. I didn’t find out about the gas card or …
Get a Free Credit Report if the Bank Cancels Your Credit Card Read More »
For those of you in Canada, happy Thanksgiving! For those of you in the US, you’ve still got six weeks until the big day. However, it’s not too early to start planning your menu, especially if you’ll be baking or require a lot of ingredients. Once you have your menu planned, make an ingredients list and check …
There are two kinds of personal loans – the loans you receive from banks and the loans you receive from individuals. For most people, personal loans from individuals take the form of family loans, but they can also be fraught with tension. Now, you can also give or receive personal loans to people you don’t …
Yesterday, Good Morning America featured a story explaining how you buy a house for half price. They kept touting it as half-off or 50% off. Except it wasn’t. At one point they did explain that the homes were 50% from their last sold price at the real estate peak. But that doesn’t mean the house …
That Makes Me Stabby: These Houses are NOT Half-Off Read More »
