Financial counseling is assisting clients in the development and creative use of all their resources to achieve economic financial security or well-being by generating alternatives from which the client chooses. Ultimately the client is assisted to improve quality of life with less wasteful resources. The processes are: (more…)

As of May 2002, consumers had about $712.2 billion outstanding in revolving credit, up about 6.8% from the previous year. Some of this credit is paid off each month; however, about 60% of U.S. households revolve some portion of their credit card balances. For those that revolve, the Federal Reserve Board reported that their balances were $4,100 in 1998. Other estimates show credit card balances as high as $8,000 in 2000 (McGinn et al. 2001). One out of five families with incomes under $50,000 spend at least 40% of after-tax income on debt servicing (Kennickell, Starr-McCluer, and Surette 2000). Needless to say, money spent on credit card debt is money that cannot go toward retirement savings. (more…)

Only 25 years ago, today’s ubiquitous use of “universal” bank credit cards might have seemed a futurist fantasy. Prior to the finance regulation of the financial services industry in 1980, banks made consumer loans as “installment” credit. Loan approval was based on an assessment of the applicants’ household income, personal assets, credit repayment history, and outstanding debt. Preferred clients had financial collateral and repaid their loans (pre approved auto loan) on a fixed time schedule. Similarly, financial companies and banks cautiously issued charge cards and revolving credit cards to low-risk clients, primarily upper- and some middle-income households, who used them for convenience or for business. (more…)

If your debt problem is not totally out of control, why not handle it yourself? It never hurts to ask lenders to lower your interest rates. Interest rates typically are not reported to credit bureaus. Some lenders may lower the rate to keep your business.

Do you want to be debt free? Do you want to be to travel the country and around the world without having to pay the bills? (more…)

Many people may not know just what an authorized user on a credit card are. This is when they have someone declaredon their credit card account in that capacity. By adding an authorized user to your credit card, meaning that person are authorized user that you give that person the right to use your credit card the same way as you make the purchase. Consequently, if you have an available credit of $ 1000 remaining on your credit card account and the person that you added, made a purchase of $ 1000, the remaining credit limit is now zero. (more…)

Paying cash means making some lifestyle sacrifices. However it has a concrete financial benefit: It will keep you from drowning in a sea of red ink on your voyage to the new economic world. But it also has an added emotional benefit: It adds meaning and value to the things you do buy. (more…)

Almost all of us are aware with credit scores and what it affect your personal financial planning. But not all are really know how FICO score is calculated. The first thing is to interpret FICO score is to realize that there are many FICO score factors to mark your final credit score. (more…)

One major key to controlling your debt—as you no doubt have heard before—is to stop paying interest on all loans. Revolving interest can be a money management killer.

Please take note that if you could not control your debt, your debt will control you. In current financial condition, debt is an all important element of your personal financial planning. (more…)

If you have credit card debt repayment problem, you are not alone. In this country, many people trying to manage their credit card debt effectively. Simply turn on the television and you will see the amount of some commercial ads about credit card debt program. If you like others that have debt and need help, you have several options to get the solution. (more…)

Having debts and personal loans are some of the most challenging and expensive thing that you can have. The stakes are very high, and the charge are high fees for missed payment and nonpayment. A more aggravating are the “small” debts that they have with credit cards, (more…)