MelissaWhen you’re looking to sell a home, one of the best ways to save money at closing is to do all the legwork yourself. Selling your own home can cut out the expensive middlemen, including real estate agents and brokers. This strategy also ensures you have full control over the advertising, negotiations, and purchase and
Managing money presents challenges for many individuals, primarily when little to no education is provided on financial literacy throughout childhood or as an adult. Personal financial management may be even more difficult to champion for those struggling with mental health concerns. Several obstacles can complicate one’s financial picture, from problems with executive functioning and memory
The Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) market continues to grow, offering consumers flexible payment solutions for everyday purchases. Major BNPL providers like Affirm, Klarna, and Afterpay have refined their offerings to make installment payments more accessible, with some introducing subscription-based plans and enhanced budgeting tools. While BNPL can be a convenient way to manage expenses
The Fair Isaac Corporation, better known as FICO, is the most commonly used credit score model by lenders and other creditors. Since its inception in the 1960s, the credit scoring company has developed and implemented several iterations of the FICO credit score, many of which are still used in evaluating credit applications today. As consumer
Like personal credit, businesses establish credit profiles, histories, and scores over time. A business credit score is as important as an individual’s credit information, given that companies need to be able to show outside investors and potential lenders they have a track record of paying their bills on time and in full. When business credit
To fully embrace Black History Month, it may be beneficial to take a step back to understand how racial disparities in the United States have wreaked havoc on black and brown families and their financial lives. According to research published in 2016, the gap between black and white families was tenfold. The average net worth
In an era where identity theft and fraudulent credit activity are prevalent, it is imperative that consumers have security tools to keep their financial lives protected. Luckily, the three major credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – along with the federal government have implemented steps that consumers can take to help safeguard their personal information. The
There was a time when travel, specifically hitting the skies, was reserved for the well-to-do. As increased demand from consumers led to greater supply, the need for amassed riches to get out of dodge toned down drastically. However, traveling by land, sky, or sea comes with other challenges above and beyond the cost considerations alone.
Being responsible with money doesn’t come naturally to everyone. Mistakes are made, especially early on in life. That could include overextending yourself when it comes to purchases made on credit, missed or late payments causing your interest rates to go up, and ignoring missteps to the point they get you deep into debt. Additionally, things
Personal loans can be used for a variety of financial needs, from debt consolidation to paying off taxes, home improvement, or financing a major purchase. Securing a fixed-rate loan with a predictable monthly payment can be more cost-effective than a double-digit interest-rate credit card. Several lenders offer personal loans, including credit unions and traditional banks.