It’s unfortunate that some of the most under-reported financial crimes have nothing to do with banking, instead they have to do with romantic partners who cheat and steal from their partners. The embarrassment of having been taken by someone you loved or trusted is so over-powering that victims rarely report or prosecute people who steal from them. You may think you’re building a dream life together only to wake up and find out someone else has gotten a no credit check payday loan in your name, and you’re responsible for repayment. How can you protect yourself from this increasingly growing crime? Take note to maintain your privacy, and your wallet, as you engage others in intimate areas of your life. (more…)

Some areas of the country have been in a deep recession, like nationally known Elkhardt. There jobs dried up in the RV industry and few other industries remained to offer a job opportunity. Many workers were faced with either poor job prospects or the decision to move to a more booming area, which were also few and far between. As the recovery picks up steam, some areas will begin to boom more heartily and it’s here that many people waiting to make the decision to move can finally start looking at the pros and cons of moving to find employment elsewhere. There are so many factors, not the least of which is the cost of moving, and financing moving costs on your own which you will have to fund someway, either through conventional or payday advance loans. (more…)

With the current state of the economy, banks have become more and more stringent on who they loan money to. Only a few years ago you would have been able to qualify for a mortgage for an amount that was beyond what you could possibly afford. These mortgages usually required little to no money as a down payment, and borrowers could also qualify for no asset, no income mortgages that allowed them to purchase homes that they could realistically not afford. (more…)

Working mothers struggle with the pull of being there for their children and the need to contribute to the household income. Child care costs can be so high that many will justify that it pays more to stay at home than work. In an economy where more women are becoming the sole breadwinner’s for their families, it’s becoming clear that taking time off to raise children comes with inherently high risks for the financial future of themselves and their households. It reduces your ability to get different forms of credit in your own name, whether payday advance loans or credit cards. It substantially impacts your earnings over time. It’s time to take a look at generating child care options that don’t cost as much as traditional day cares and can provide a way for women and the unemployed to continue gaining income and laying a sound financial future. (more…)

While home ownership is a dream for many Americans, the bank failures and bailouts that the economy has experienced in recent months have caused lenders to change their lending habits. Banks that once would have approved a no asset no income mortgage, or even a jumbo mortgage, are now requiring their borrowers to prove their credit worthiness in the form of proof of employment and a high credit score. Gone are also the teaser mortgages that drew the borrower in with the promise of a low interest rate that would drastically increase in a matter of three to five years. Combine this with an unstable economy and banks are now more concerned than ever about lending money to the wrong person. If you find yourself longing for home ownership, here are some simple tips that can help you improve your credit rating so you look like a better risk to potential lenders. (more…)

If you’ve felt like you’ve been taken sometime during this recession, join the crowd. Bernie Madoff may have been a prominent scam artist that got caught, but there are bound to be hundreds more that are still out there trying to swindle money. The fact is that as times get tough, many people do try to scam other people as a way to generate income, and sometimes it can be hard to tell who the good guys or the bad guys are as greed takes a hold. For your protection, always deal with others in a business-like and professional manner to help you avoid being scammed, especially in your financial dealings where money is involved. (more…)

Maybe you’ve missed the first round of cuts, but business still hasn’t picked up. If you think that you may end up getting laid off, the time to prepare is not after the event, but before. Financially, your house should be in good order to withstand the long hunt for a job that is now facing millions of unemployed workers. Starting early to get your house in order is the best strategy to survive a potential loss of a job. (more…)

We all know that we need to have at least six months to a year’s worth of salary saved up in the savings kitty, should the unexpected like a job loss or illness happen. No matter how important we know a healthy savings balance is for the welfare of our family, many tend to avoid this requirement simply because they either think they will never need it, or just because they think they cannot possibly afford to save. In a time when unemployment is at an all time high, building the balance in your savings should be as important to you as breathing. Here are some simple yet effective tips to building your emergency fund no matter what situation you are in. (more…)

Regardless of whether you dream of being a millionaire, or you would just like to be able to go out to dinner at a nice restaurant, your finances can make or break your chances of achieving financial success. While most may make all the right choices when it comes to dealing with their finances, others hit the occasional speed bump which when not addressed can cause serious damage to your financial health. A large number of improper choices can result in loads of debt which can lead to foreclosure and even bankruptcy, which can turn anyone’s life upside down. If you have hit a rough patch, and are not sure where to turn, here are some simple tips that can help you improve the health of your finances so you can get back on the road to financial wealth. (more…)

Whether you have accumulated a large sum of credit card debt due to a job loss or a spending spree that got out of control, it can be quite difficult to break a habit that you have been accustomed to for so long. While most of us are raised to never carry a balance, and that we should pay them off in full every month, the lure of a new high priced electronics device or even the latest fashions have even the most budget savvy users using credit in times when they know that they should not. Just one purchase has a way of multiplying, and before you know it you have racked up so many charges that your monthly salary is not enough to cover them all. Combine this with an average credit card interest rate of 15% or more and even the smallest of balances can take you years to pay off if utilizing the minimum payment. While you may be feeling like you will be stuck in a credit card dungeon for the rest of your life, here are some simple tips that can help you keep your debt in check so you can finally dig yourself out of the hole that you have created. (more…)