If you have a PC, there are many financial software programs available for both personal budgets and Statements of Financial Condition, commonly known as balance sheets. My favorite software program is Microsoft Money. For under $75, you can plug in the information and let the software do its work. Quicken is another leading personal finance […]

Get in the habit of paying as you go. Paying cash for an item not only gives a person that sense of confidence and well-being, it keeps debt at a lower balance than the previous month. If you do charge for an item with the intention of paying it off when the bill comes due, […]

Many people look to credit cards as a way of extending their paycheck. But in fact, you end up with less money, not more. Never get a cash advance with a credit card. Many checking accounts have overdraft features that can be very dangerous to the person who has difficulty in the spending control area. […]

One way to break free from the spending habit is to look at the credit in terms of total outstanding balances instead of minimum monthly payments. Each month, pay off all new charges on your cards, plus interest and a portion of the previous balance. You’ll reduce each month’s debt balance below the previous month’s. […]

Mark Twain had a couple of significant things to say about credit.    “Beautiful credit! The foundation of modern society.  Who shall say that this is not the golden age of mutual trust, of unlimited reliance upon human promises?  That is a peculiar condition of society which enables a whole nation to instantly recognize point […]