A quick word about seeking credit. Too many inquiries for your credit report can harm your credit rating. It may look like you are applying for credit from too many sources and are over-extending yourself. One potential problem for you is that inquiries may be made without your knowledge, even when you haven’t applied for […]

If you find yourself in the financial position of owing more than your assets or having more monthly bills to pay than your income permits, then it is clear that borrowing has gotten out of hand. If you do not have money to pay when a debt is due, you should communicate with the creditor […]

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 […]

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. […]