Get smart with your money
Dear Liz: You recently wrote about student loan forgiveness. After 15 years as a public defender, my wife was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and could no longer pursue her career as a lawyer. She applied for forgiveness of the federal student loans she used to attend law school. About three years later, the loans were […]
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Dear Liz: Someone recently asked you about whether they were responsible for their mother’s credit card debt, and at the end of your answer you suggested she talk to a bankruptcy attorney. How can you promote that kind of irresponsibility? Answer: Some people are quite firm in their belief that bankruptcy should never be an […]
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Today’s top story: How to prepare your finances for the end of the year. Also in the news: Strategies to prevent holiday shopping binges, why your employer wants you to save for retirement, and what to do as you approach retirement. 5 Year-End Personal Finance Tips Preparing for the new year. 3 Strategies to Prevent […]
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Today’s top story: Beware the dirty tricks of student loan collectors. Also in the news: Tax tips, the best strategy for holiday shopping, and busting some digital banking myths. Watch Out for These Student Loan Debt Collectors’ Dirty Tricks Stay on your toes. Beat the Crowd With This Smart Year-End Tax Move Understanding capital losses. […]
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I recently used the College Board’s “estimated family contribution” calculator to see how much we’ll be expected to pay when our (currently pre-teen) daughter heads off to college. The answer? Roughly half our annual incomes. Each year. No colleges actually charge the amount we’d theoretically be expected to pay. So our out-of-pocket costs would be […]
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American Express’ “Small Business Saturday” credits are back, and they’re more lucrative this year: a $10 statement credit for purchases of $10 or more at qualifying small businesses on Nov. 29. You can get up to $30 in credits on each registered card. I signed up three of our Amex cards yesterday when registration opened, […]
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Today’stop story: For a low-cost college education, consider moving to these places. Also in the news: Celebrating your small financial victories, the hype surrounding Black Friday, and why more Americans are having a tough time making ends meet. The Best and Worst Places to Live for a Low-Cost College Education Planning ahead. Celebrate Your Small […]
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Dear Liz: My nephew was persuaded by a recruiter to attend a for-profit technical college. Then, once he entered, his “advisors” persuaded him to take many, many classes — at full price — always handing him student loan paperwork to get more loans. Then they persuaded him to change his major, necessitating a whole new […]
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