A credit line can help with cash flow gaps

Dear Liz: My husband and I are self-employed. As we pay our bills, we are often a few thousand dollars short as we wait to be paid by our clients. Until now, we’ve been using a home equity line of credit to bridge the gap. We are ultra-responsible about paying it back. But our current […]

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Monday’s need-to-know money news

Living within your means with a smile on your face, getting the most from your credit score, and separating fact from fiction with life insurance. 5 Tips for Frugal Living That Won’t Leave You Feeling Miserable Living within your means doesn’t mean misery. What’s the Lowest Credit Score You Can Get? Don’t let your fear […]

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In case you missed it: car leases, celebrity estate disasters and how to choose your first credit card

Here’s a column I never thought I’d write: “Sometimes, leasing a car is the right option.” Most people are way better off financially if they buy cars slightly used and own them for at least 10 years. Even if you want to buy new, you’ll save a fortune (at least $250,000, by my calculations) by […]

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Friday’s need-to-know money news

Determining credit worthiness, how money problems distract workers, how to develop good financial habits, and what to do when you have student loans from multiple lenders. The Non-Credit Score Numbers Your Lender Wants to Know Looking beyond your credit score to determine your credit worthiness. Personal Finance Problems Distract Workers Stress over finances can cause […]

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Spousal vs. survivor benefits: a primer

Judging from emails and comments, plenty of people are confused about how Social Security benefits for spouses and ex-spouses are supposed to work. That’s unfortunate, since these benefits can help many people get larger checks than what their own earnings record will give them. If you are or ever have been married to someone whose […]

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Thursday’s need-to-know money news

Debt collectors are spying on creditors through social media, what consumers can learn from Detroit, and is it time to become the boss? Are Debt Collectors Stalking You Online? That friend request you just accepted might not be someone interested in playing Candy Crush with you. 3 Personal Finance Lessons Learned From Detroit’s Bankruptcy Control […]

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Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

Getting a mortgage with bad credit, busting financial myths, and how to survive back-to-school shopping with your teenager. How to Get a Mortgage With Bad Credit Buying a home is still possible even with bad credit. 7 Personal Finance Myths That May Have Fooled You Mythbusting, finance style. 5 Financial Decisions That Sound Smart But […]

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How to deal with your debt

Debt may be a four-letter word, but it’s not necessarily the enemy. Some debts are much, much worse than others, and knowing which to tackle first can leave you richer. That’s the central idea of my book “Deal with Your Debt,” and I go into more detail in this interview with Experian’s Mike Delgado. (Also, […]

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Zero waste: our progress so far

A few weeks ago I wrote about how the “zero waste” movement had inspired me to look for ways to cut back on the garbage our family generated. I’m not aiming to eliminate all the waste. I’m looking for ways to be a bit gentler on the planet while, hopefully, saving money and not adding […]

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Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

Saving on back-to-school shopping, tool to make managing your money easier, and what you need to do financially when your marriage comes to an end. Be Smart on Back-to-School Shopping How to fill their backpacks without emptying your wallet. 8 Money Tools You Should Try 8 tools to make managing your money much easier. How […]

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