In this podcast, I want to share the following stories that may surprise you. We will start with a loan advertisement that might appear in your mailbox and why you need to watch out. Then we will chat about what will happen with home prices in this uncertain economy. Will they crash? Let’s take a … Read more
A fantastic cousin sent me this mailer he received recently. The outside of the envelope is very generic and says it comes from the Distribution Processing Center at PO Box 689, Marietta, GA 30061-0689. However, the business reply envelope inside goes to a different address at PO Box 1748, Kennesaw, GA 30156-9855. Using the return … Read more
June 2022 marks the 250th anniversary of the outbreak of the 1772-3 credit crisis. Although not widely known today, this was arguably the first “modern” global financial crisis in terms of the role that private-sector credit and financial products played in it, in the paths of financial contagion that propagated the initial shock, and in … Read more
Consumer Statement: I paid this company over $11,000 for services that were never rendered. Once the balance was paid I can not even get a call back after leaving multiple messages and emailing everyone I had access to at the company. It appears to be a fraudulent service. I would like money back as well … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, I graduated college in 2014 and made payments (got my co-signer off after 24 consecutive payments) until the winter of 2018. I stopped working because I had to stay home with my baby. Then I was in deferment. Covid 19 happened, and I’ve been in deferment since this month when my private … Read more
A glimmer of hope for all the good people trapped in those old horrid federal government Spousal Consolidation Loans for student loan debt. These loans have been a shame for many years. The Department of Education allowed spouses to put their individual loans together into one new loan but never provided people a way out. … Read more
Since most people don’t grow up with a complete understanding of how to manage their money, concepts like budgeting and personal finance can seem restrictive because they are. Listen to the Podcast You can subscribe to my podcast on any of these sites below. A concept that’s not commonly addressed is irregular income. … Read more
National Public Radio (NPR) recently ran a poll to determine what Americans think about student-loan forgiveness. More than half the respondents favor President Biden’s plan to forgive $10,000 in student debt per borrower. Among people with outstanding student loans, 84 percent support Biden’s debt relief plan, and 68 percent want the Biden administration to forgive … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, Due to the lockdowns starting in 2020, I fell behind on payments to credit cards with American Express and one other. I also traveled out of the country for what I thought would be a brief visit, but the world has been so unstable to travel, that the idea of traveling is … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, I contacted ClearOne Advantage yesterday; they connected me with Pacific Debt. They supposedly have a good rating with BBB. The reviews are good also, but I am hesitant to do this. (with so many scam companies today) Should I go with this company? I could not pay my credit cards as I … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, I was supposed to be having my bill go down, not up. But instead, my credit kept getting worse. What am I missing here? They were taking $352&change from my account for damn near an entire year. So do you want to explain why my bills kept going up when they were … Read more
President Biden signed the Bankruptcy Threshold Adjustment and Technical Corrections Act yesterday, and congressional leaders pat themselves on the back. According to Senator Chuck Grassley, one of the Senate bill’s sponsors, the new law will remove some hurdles to the bankruptcy process and “assist small businesses and working families to weather financial hardship and emerge … Read more
The Federal Trade Commission is taking action against motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group, LLC and Westinghouse outdoor generator maker MWE Investments, LLC for illegally restricting customers’ right to repair their purchased products. The FTC’s complaints charge that the companies’ warranties included terms that conveyed that the warranty is void if customers use independent dealers … Read more
The Department of Education has agreed to settle a case that began under the Trump Department of Education on June 25, 2019. The settlement is just awaiting Court approval. In that case, the Department of Education was accused of unreasonably delaying and withholding decisions on Borrower Defense to Repayment claims submitted by federal student loan … Read more
Over the decades I’ve watched so many good people wind up being victims of being budget mugged. It doesn’t have to be this way. It’s time to let go of budget stress and look at doing better financially in a new way. In this podcast, I give you a new way to eliminate the budget … Read more