By: Chuck Bentley, Crown Financial Ministries Dear Chuck, My husband is tired of my overspending. I struggle living on the budget he’s made because I make quick purchases rather than planning ahead. Then I feel guilty defending my decisions when the bills arrive. How can I get out of this cycle? Spontaneous Spender Dear Spontaneous, First, be thankful you have … Read More
A Saver’s Guide to Holiday Shopping
By: America Saves Ready or not, the holiday shopping season is here. With the multiple sale days between now and the end of the year, you can avoid being served a heaping side of seasonal debt along with your plate of honey-baked ham if you keep a few smart-saver tips in mind. Set Reasonable Expectations In 2012, it was reported … Read More
How to Save During the Holidays
By: America Saves Holidays are often an exciting time of the year. Spending time with family, enjoying time off work, and celebrating with family traditions are enjoyable activities. However, the holidays can also represent added stress due to the crunch on your wallet. It is hard to look forward to a holiday if you are worried about how to pay … Read More
Ask Chuck: The Secret to a Secure Future
By: Chuck Bentley, Crown Financial Ministries Dear Chuck, I am burdened with the terrible things I hear in the news. I’ve become anxious and wake up worried in the middle of the night. I’m especially struggling with the fear of not having enough money in the future. I grew up in poverty and have worked hard to avoid that for … Read More
A No-Cost Way to Prepare Your Credit for a Big Purchase
By: CFPB Thinking about buying a house, car, or other big-ticket items, and know you’ll be using credit? Before making a big purchase, your first step should be to take a look at all of your finances. Check out these five steps to prepare your finances that won’t cost you a penny! 1. Take advantage of your free annual credit … Read More
How to tell the difference between a legitimate debt collector and scammers
By: CFPB Dealing with debt collection issues can be challenging—especially when you’re not sure if the person you’re being contacted by is legitimate or trying to scam you. When an account like a credit card, auto loan, or cell phone bill becomes past due, the original creditor may attempt to collect the amount owed. The creditor may also hire a … Read More
Ask Chuck: Should I Co-Sign A Loan?
By Chuck Bentley Dear Chuck, So, I cosigned for a student loan and now I’m stuck paying for it. Is there anything I can do? Regretful Dear Regretful, Unfortunately, the same thing happened with my Dad and we have not found a satisfactory remedy. He was approached by an employee whose son needed assistance to get a “head start in … Read More
Back-to-School Strategies to Stay Out of Debt
By Bonnie Spain, American Center for Credit Education Q: I enjoy back-to-school shopping, but no matter how hard we try to avoid it, we always end up in debt. I don’t want to be paying for school supplies until December. Can you give us any suggestions to help us stay on track this year? A: Back-to-school shopping is the second-biggest … Read More
Top 9 Money Mistakes People Make
By Jim Garnett, The Debt Doctor After counseling average Americans about their financial problems for many years, I noticed early on that there is a common set of money mistakes people usually make. Money Mistake #1: Being comfortable with debt. Why would anyone choose to be a slave if he could choose to be free? One answer is because, over … Read More
Ask Chuck: Is Low Price Better Than High Quality?
By: Chuck Bentley, Crown Financial Ministries Dear Chuck, I like nice, quality things. My husband prefers lower prices. My perspective is that buying quality is better in the long run. Is there a right or wrong way to look at it? We are stuck on which refrigerator to buy to replace the old one we have now. Needing A Compromise … Read More