If you have loans or credit cards, you’re already familiar with interest - it’s the price you pay for borrowing money. While interest is a normal part of almost every loan, it’s only natural to want to minimize how much you pay. Fortunately, you have more control over how much interest you pay than you might think.
Life has a way of throwing financial curveballs when you least expect them. A car repair or medical bill can strain your budget, but when the challenge comes from something beyond your control - like the government shutdown - it can feel even more unsettling. Fortunately, there are steps you can take right now to protect your finances during this uncertain time.
You’ve probably heard the term Adjustable-Rate Mortgage before, but wondered what exactly is an ARM, and who benefits most from it? These loans are often misunderstood, yet they can be a practical and flexible solution for many modern buyers. Let’s take a closer look at how ARMs work, when they can make financial sense, and who might find them most beneficial.
It’s hard to resist a big banner that says 0% APR. The idea of paying no interest on a new car sounds like a dream come true. After all, anything that saves money must be a good deal, right? Not always. While 0% financing offers can look great on the surface, they often include conditions that make them less of a bargain than they appear.
The holidays are the happiest time of the year. Between the gifts, food, travel, and time spent with family and friends, it’s hard not to love the holiday season. But alongside the cheer, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and spend more than you planned – leading to a post-holiday debt hangover that lingers well into the new year.
For many young adults and first-time buyers, the idea of owning a home often feels out of reach. Between headlines about rising prices, the fear of costly down payments, and confusion about loan options, it’s easy to see why people hesitate. But the truth is that a lot of what you’ve heard about mortgages simply isn’t true. Let’s take a closer look at seven of the most common mortgage myths and uncover the facts.
The arrival of fall brings some much-needed relief from the scorching hot days of summer. The weather is cooler, the days are shorter, and winter is right around the corner. As you plan for the season ahead, it’s also a good time to give your home a little extra attention. While cleaning gutters or sealing windows might not sound like fun weekend plans, a little effort now can prevent big expenses later.
Student loan payments are now back in full swing, and while most eyes are focused on young college students, it’s Millennials and Gen Xers who are truly struggling. Finding ways to balance student loans with the rest of life’s obligations can be challenging - especially when raising a family, managing rising prices, and trying to save for retirement.
When most people think about applying for a loan, the first thing that comes to mind is their credit score. While that three-digit number certainly plays a significant role in the approval process, it’s only part of the story. Lenders dig deeper - using several ratios to measure how you manage money and how likely you are to repay the loan.
Carrying a balance on credit cards can feel like running in place. Each month, you make a payment, but because of high interest rates, most of it goes toward interest instead of the principal balance. One of the most popular solutions for getting ahead of credit card debt is through a balance transfer.
