Few of us have such a poor grasp on finances as Homer Simpson who, in the episode Boy Scoutz ‘n the Hood, was upset to find a twenty dollar bill under the couch when all he wanted was a peanut. You probably wouldn’t have to hold an internal conversation during which your brain explains money can be exchanged for goods and services. But just because you have the basics down pat doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot left to learn about finances. According to Standard & Poor’s Rating Services … [Read more...]

Your annual Fourth of July barbeque doesn’t signal the end of your summer. It’s only just begun, and you have plenty of time to see the world before the heat of the season sizzles out. The timing might be right, but you may be hesitant to book your next trip. It’s not the latest terrorist attacks around the globe or rising geopolitical issues that keep you from travelling the world. It’s your budget. You’re by no means one of the top 1% but neither are you fully care-free. You’re solidly … [Read more...]

It used to be that credit cards were frowned upon and had a bad rap.  Growing up it seemed to be that you only had a credit card on hand for emergencies, and that if you ever used one for purchases, it was that you didn’t have the money at the time.  While it could be true that you don’t have the money, and want to pay it back over time, if used responsibly, credit cards can actually make good financial sense.  Using carelessly, and you could put yourself into credit card debt that could take … [Read more...]

If you are looking at borrowing from any lender, whether it be a mortgage, car loan, credit card, or even insurance, your credit score will likely be the first thing checked when you fill out a credit application to see if you are worthy of lending to.  While income is definitely factored in for loan approval, credit score is what will decide which rate and terms you can get, or if your score is too low, even being turned away at all.  Even the slightest increase from the best rate could cost … [Read more...]

Talking finances can be a tough situation.  In one respect, you could be concealing yourself in one extreme to the other; hiding that you are secretly wealthy, or are in financial trouble.  Whether you are walking down that aisle, have been married for a decade, or are in a serious relationship where you are sharing the finances, it is better to have your affairs in order the earliest you can, so that you can focus on the goal at hand, which could be paying off debt, saving for a house, or … [Read more...]