This is a guest post from Becky House, who offers some practical advice on how you can improve your credit score.
With lending restrictions and employment options tight, now is the perfect time to work on improving or maintaining your credit score. Below are some quick tips that can help you manage your credit effectively so you have the credit you need when looking for employment, purchasing a home or simply want to make sure you qualify for the best rates for any loan.

Open a checking and savings account at a bank or …read more

One of the things that can hold you back on the path to financial freedom is bad habits. There are plenty of poor personal finance decisions that you could be making. However, unless you make changes to the bad habits that engender these moves, you will find yourself never quite reaching your full financial potential. Here are some things you should consider as you work toward changing your personal finance style:

Acknowledge that you have a problem, and that you can fix it. Many people avoid taking responsibility for their finances, instead pushing off their situation on external factors. While there …read more

Planning for your retirement is certainly very important, as you will need to make sure that you squirrel away enough money throughout your working years so that you can retire in luxury. However, reaching retirement age does not mean that you can stop being so vigilant about investing your money in the right places. Various economic factors can add up to make how you invest after you retire just as important as pre-retirement investment.
For example, rising inflation can have a significant impact on the value of your assets. Even a modest rise in inflation over the next twenty to thirty …read more

It used to be that almost no credit card came with an annual fee. Issuers wanted to be competitive, and that only worked if they didn’t charge annual fees. However, with the Credit CARD Act’s passage earlier this year, things are changing a bit. Credit card issuers are looking to replace some of the lost revenue that is likely to result from being forced ti adopt more consumer-friendly practices. As a result, credit cards with an annual fee are making a comeback.
Check for annual fees on your credit cards
LowCards.com is reporting that new credit card offers coming with annual fees …read more

There has been a lot of play given to the idea of refinancing your home mortgage loan. With interest rates so low, it is no surprise that many people are interested in refinancing and saving tens of thousands of dollars over the life of their home mortgage loans. However, many people are overlooking the fact that auto loan interest rates have also come down, and you might be able to save thousands of dollars on your car loan.
When my husband and I borrowed for our first car as a married couple, on our own credit and income, things were different. …read more

One of the ways that credit card issuers make money is by charging high interest rates and attempting to keep you in debt. Minimum payments are purposely low so that you can continue to pay them, and interest rates are high so that credit card companies make more money. This system is an indispensable part of the way that credit card issuers make money. It is also a very large part of the way our economy works.
But what would happen if all the debtors revolted, like this woman advocates? In reality, if credit card issuers lowered their rates and moderated …read more

One of the things you hear from personal finance bloggers, gurus and even financial planners is that you should keep track of your expenses. However, few of us really do sit down and look over what we’re spending our money on. Over at Frugal Dad, there is a great post on running your household like a business. One of the items that really stuck with me was the idea of a financial review.
Review your spending
It is vital that you review your spending. Keep track of your expenses so that you can review where your money is going. Organizing your expenses …read more

This is a guest post from Debbie Dragon.
Now, more than ever, it’s all about finding ways to spend less and save more money. Nearly everyone has felt the pinch, whether it’s at the grocery store, the gas pump or in the paycheck. Things keep getting more expensive, but many people aren’t making any more money. In fact, for a huge number of people, they’re making less due to layoffs, cutbacks and downsizing.
So how can you start spending less and saving more? Is it even possible in this economy? Here are five quick tips to help you get started.
1. Write it …read more

Consumers are reducing their credit card debt and developing better financial habits.

Are you addressing the underlying root causes of your financial problems?