I used to belong to the “what’s wrong with you people??” school of personal finance advice.* I found it hard to sympathize with people who carried credit card debt or failed to save for retirement. Surely they knew better. So why didn’t they do better? Turns out there are a lot of reasons, including the […]
Recent Blog Posts
Thursday’s need-to-know money news
Today’s top story: Could your bad credit score leave you homeless? Also in the news: How your wedding could boost your credit score, the pros and cons of debt consolidation, and how living small could save you big money. Could a Bad Credit Score Make You Homeless? Landlords are taking a closer look at potential […]
Wednesday’s need-to-know money news
Today’s top story: How to deal with calls from bill collectors. Also in the news: A low-tech method of tracking your spending, how to strategically pay down credit card debt, and protecting your information at post office kiosks. How to Deal With Harassing Calls From a Bill Collector Know your rights. A Slow-Tech Approach to […]
Tuesday’s need-to-know money news
Today’s top story: How to get the most from your credit card rewards program. Also in the news: What to consider before moving, when to work with a financial adviser, and why low interest rates on student loans are becoming a thing of past. Maximizing Credit Card Rewards: 5 Ways to Earn Big Making your […]
Money rules of thumb: College savings edition
A college degree today is what a high school diploma was 60 years ago, a college consultant told me. Meaning: the bare minimum for staying in the middle class. There will be exceptions, of course, but your kid is unlikely to be one of them. So here, in my ongoing “rules of thumb” series (previous […]
Q&A: An Update
Dear Liz: I think you were way too hard on the young man who said his 30-year-old girlfriend’s lack of retirement savings was a potential deal breaker. You told him to get off his high horse. He was just being prudent. Answer: It would be prudent to regard massive debt, alcoholism or drug use as […]