Get smart with your money
American shoppers seem to fall into two groups: those who are planning their early-morning raids on major retailers (starting as early as Thanksgiving morning!) and those who sneer at people who head out into the cold in search of bargains. I used to belong to the latter group, until a friend pointed out I was […]
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Today’s top story: The three things you should do before tackling your student loan debt. Also in the news: Three tax changes for 2015, how to protect your finances during a late-in-life divorce, and how changing the order in which you deduct from your paycheck could save you more money. 3 Things to Do Before […]
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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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