About Wesley LeFebvre

Owning a piece of land without a developed structure on it can be a smart financial move. Building on the property in the future may lead to your dream home or keeping it in the family to pass down from generation to generation may create your legacy.

The three major consumer credit bureaus in the United States are Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. There are several reasons why you might need to contact one of these companies. However, they don’t make it easy to get in touch with someone over the telephone. That’s the main reason we’ve compiled this list of telephone numbers […]

When it comes to seeking medical attention, people without regular doctors may automatically assume they need to go to the emergency room (ER). And while a visit to the hospital emergency department (ED) is absolutely warranted for real medical emergencies, a non-emergency visit could end up costing patients a small fortune.

Next to a car, a motorcycle is one of the most common vehicle expenses you’re likely to take on in your lifetime. After you add up the cost of a bike purchase, fuel, repairs, and accessories, owning one can get expensive. Then you’ll also need to buy insurance. When it comes to cars, many people […]

It is that time of year when people start thinking about getting out on the water. For some of you, that means buying your first boat. While for others, that means buying another one. The decision to add a new or used boat to your vehicle lineup is a big one. Even for the most […]

When you were in elementary school, junior high, or otherwise, did your parents or someone else ever offer to reward you for good grades? Maybe it was as simple as buying the toy you wanted, increasing your allowance, or buying your first car.

Taking some well-deserved time away from the normal work or life grind is a necessity for most people at least once each year. Whether solo, with a friend, significant other, or the entire family, simply thinking about a vacation can be relaxing. However, it can also be stressful for many of us when it comes […]

Whether for summer vacations with the family, to live in, or the desire to make road trips feel more like home, an RV is a great thing to have when you’re planning to hit the open road. As with most vehicle purchases, an RV can put a significant dent in your wallet though.

Spring break and summertime are often busy seasons for kids and their parents, with camps and other non-school activities that fill the long days. One way to pass the time is to add a bit of a financial lesson to the mix – while also getting children engaged in the entrepreneurial spirit early on in […]

Many older Americans have worked decades to save for a stable, well-funded retirement, but managing that savings and wealth over time can present some challenges. On the banking front, seniors need to have options suited for their specific needs when it comes to checking and savings accounts, customer service, branch availability, and fraud protection.

Purchasing a mobile home is one method to enter the housing market in an affordable way. Mobile homes are far less expensive than stand-alone single-family homes, and because they are manufactured to be moved, mobile homes are often treated as personal property instead of real estate.

Whether you’re planning to buy a new car, or sell, refinance, or repair your current automobile, it’s important to have an idea of a vehicle’s full value. But how can consumers check the value of their own used car, truck, or SUV?

With each new year comes the perfect opportunity to reflect on the progress of your financial life and create actionable goals for the 12 months ahead. While most people focus on saving more money and paying down debt, others place importance on shifting behaviors around money management and increasing their income in an attempt to […]

Accessing your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus is a reasonably easy process when you utilize the free Annual Credit Report website, but that won’t include your credit scores. Luckily you can also request access to your credit scores through alternative sites for free. Some of which also display your full […]

A (preapproved / prescreened) offer is an insurance, credit card, home mortgage loan or another firm credit offer that arrives on paper by postal mail. It usually congratulates the receiver and implies the offer has already been approved for them. This can be of great benefit to someone interested in applying for new credit; however, […]

Getting in touch with an actual human being at each of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) can be a real pain, but it shouldn’t be. Unfortunately, the majority of our reader comments have been regarding the frustration felt when calling these credit reporting agencies to reach a real person to discuss […]

Having good credit is something most responsible people strive to achieve. Good credit opens doors to purchase a vehicle, home, or even a business. For those who have damaged credit or are just starting out with credit, a secured credit card can be a great option for building and rebuilding your credit score. But a […]

Many drivers may not fully understand the concept of financing a vehicle. The reality is that you don’t own the financed car, truck, SUV, motorcycle, or other vehicle outright until your loan is paid off. Until then, a missed auto loan payment may give the creditor the right to repossess your vehicle.

Having a spotted credit history is an unfortunate circumstance that can affect anyone. A missed payment (or two), a bankruptcy filing, or an account in collections each has a negative impact on your financial reputation, represented by your credit history report and score.

Anyone can fall into financial difficulties when it comes to their credit history and score. A few simple mistakes often lead to big consequences, like not being able to get the credit you need for a major purchase or consolidating debt when interest rates are low.

Building and sustaining good credit is a necessary part of a healthy financial life, but it is often easier said than done. Missing a payment on a debt here and there, filing bankruptcy, or having an account transferred to a collection agency all have negative impacts on your credit standing.

It’s common for people to get into credit trouble, especially when unexpected circumstances arise. Financial emergencies can lead to taking on a significant amount of debt which may result in late payments, collection accounts, bankruptcies, and foreclosures.

Credit repair is a necessary means to end for some individuals. By going through the process with an experienced firm, consumers have the opportunity to let reputable credit repair professionals help them navigate disputes and other common credit issues that drag down their credit score.

It can get old hearing about the importance of fiscal responsibility and maintaining healthy credit scores, even if you have a love of personal finance. But for this round of financial literacy, take a deep breath and relax. We will cover what FICO credit scores are and how to use this information to increase your […]

If you have faced challenges getting approved for credit accounts due to a less than perfect credit score, then you want to spend some time figuring out why you’re being declined. It could be due to late payments, overspending on credit cards, or other negative marks on your credit report. Regardless of the reason, there […]

Every now and again I’m asked if it’s possible to check someone else’s credit report and credit score. The answer, of course, is “Yes”. However, before I offer any advice as to how this is accomplished, I first make sure to ascertain the individual’s particular motivation for looking it up.

Personal savings and internally generated cash are relatively low-risk ways to start and grow your business. But if you really want to adopt an abundance mindset by scaling it, accelerating growth, and still staying on top of cash flow, you will need business credit.

If you’ve recently gone through a tough time or experienced another type of hardship that affected your credit, you may be concerned about your credit card options. Perhaps you’re looking to rebuild your credit score, or simply need an account to make Internet purchases and pay your bills online. Luckily, there are a few products […]

Credit cards can be extremely beneficial, but when they become lost or stolen it can be a nightmare. Newer technology exists that can aid in reducing the negative impacts of misplacing a card or having it stolen. Depending on which credit card company you use, here are a few tips to protect yourself from credit […]

When thinking about applying for a new credit card and researching the different types of credit cards available for businesses and consumers to choose from, there are usually four lines of thought that come to a person’s mind. These are typically categorized into four major groups: type, style, issuer and brand or networks.

When someone opens an account of any sort at a credit union, they are in essence given a small membership interest in that credit union, and are as a result, a shareholder. This is more commonly known as being a member of the credit union.

When searching for the right credit card the terms secured and unsecured may pop up from time-to-time. Many consumers find these terms confusing without further explanation nearby. Some wonder if it has to do with the “security” of a credit card. Is one type of card more secure than another? It actually has nothing to […]

When you’re buying or selling a home in today’s market, getting the best price and saving money is the name of the game. This is one of the reasons why discount real estate brokerages are becoming so popular. But how do these discount brokerages work for you? The typical brokerage fee to list your home […]

APR is the acronym for several terms, but here we’re referring to it as the acronym for Annual Percentage Rate. In simplest terms, APR means the annual cost for the privilege to borrow money.

There are four major credit card networks in the U.S. The network brands are Visa®, MasterCard®, American Express® and Discover®. Credit card networks are different from credit card issuers in that they handle the transactions between merchants and issuers, whereas issuers such as Chase and Capital One, provide the financial backing and help to develop […]

Sadly, a reader’s husband passed away last month. Over the weekend she asked us what steps she needs to take in regards to reporting his death to the credit bureaus. It saddens me to hear of anyone’s death, and that’s why we decided to get right to work and help her figure out EXACTLY what […]

Small Business Administration (SBA) loans are one of the most powerful tools small business owners can take advantage of, but far too many entrepreneurs do not even know these loans exist. The SBA has a long and storied history in the United States of helping entrepreneurs fuel their dreams, too much to go into right […]

Did you know that in ancient Egypt, everyone had to pay a tax on cooking oil? In addition to this, the Pharaoh had a monopoly on cooking oil, and the reuse of cooking oil was prohibited. Similar to that, the following are some craziest quirky taxes throughout history that seem really weird, strange, and unusual […]