Consumer Debt in The U.S.

Consumer Debt in The U.S.

Despite significant economic improvement in 2021, consumer debt in the U.S. has once again hit an all time high. By the first quarter of 2022 it climbed to $15.83 trillion – more than double what it was in 2003 and 20.9% higher than the total pre-pandemic. Data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shows big increases in mortgage and auto loan balances since the pandemic began, despite recent declines in credit card debt. As inflation increases the cost…

Pros and Cons of Co-signing a Mortgage

Pros and Cons of Co-signing a Mortgage

If you or someone you care about is concerned about qualifying for a home loan, co-signing a mortgage with help from a non-occupant co-signer may be an option to help with financing.  Prospective homeowners with small down payments, high debt-to-income ratios or credit score issues may have difficulties getting a mortgage on their own. However, the decision to use a co-signer has several pros and cons for both parties.

A Borrower’s Guide to Charge-Offs

A Borrower’s Guide to Charge-Offs

If you stop making payments on one of your debts altogether, what happens? In the beginning, the consequences are typically in the form of stern letters and late fees. However, when you fall severely behind, your creditors may eventually stop trying to collect and charge off your debt instead. What do charged-off debts mean for you and your creditors? Is the debt gone, or are you still on the hook? In this blog, we’ll explain what happens when debt is…

What Happens When You Make Minimum Payments

What Happens When You Make Minimum Payments

Did you know that there is a minimum payment warning on every credit card bill you receive? It usually includes a table that spells out how many years and how much money it will take to pay off your debt if you only make minimum payments. Creditors are required by law to include this information. However, most borrowers never look at this information closely, which means that what happens when you make minimum payments remains lost in the fine print.

6 Real-Life Money Horror Stories

6 Real-Life Money Horror Stories

Let’s face it, money problems are scary. The thought of my hard-earned dollars disappearing overnight, or finding out my identity has been stolen and used to rack up thousands in debt, is enough to keep me awake at night. Yet, despite their fear factor, reading about real-life money horror stories is a great way to learn important lessons that could prevent you from having financial nightmares of your own.