Question: Dear Steve, I am a college graduate with both federal and private loan debt. On top of that, I have credit card debt which I am trying to pay off. However, poor decisions and lack of understanding of some terminology my credit score is very low. I am recently engaged and we are trying …
Not having money saved away in case of an emergency is a bonafide recipe for a financial disaster. A recent study by the good people at Bankrate found only about four out of ten people said they could cover a $1,000 unexpected expense with money in savings. That means that six out of ten people …
I received a very nice tip from Robert Custer on how to save money at the grocery store. Thanks for sending this in. It’s great information to refresh ourselves with. If you’ve got a good tip to share, send it in. Robert’s Tip Robert said, “When you buy groceries at the grocery store of your …
Just 38 percent of consumers are savvy savers and say they save every penny possible on expenses, according to a recent survey by American Consumer Credit Counseling. Thirty-seven percent of respondents save if the savings is significant, while almost 25 percent either feel saving isn’t worth the effort or they are not willing to live …
After years of frustration with the dismal state of the art in Personal Budgeting Software, Disney artist Tim Landry sighed, took a deep breath, and finally realized he was going to have to do it himself. “I had tried most all of the major software players,” notes Landry. “You know the ones. Every last one …
Question: Dear Steve, Can my wife and I meet with you to discuss our debt and establishing a budget? Dale Answer: Dear Dale, Sorry, no. My many years of meeting people and working with them individually are over for me. My life is so busy and hectic now that I rarely have time for doing …
With the school year done in our area and others, I’ve been able to spend more and more time with my mom on the phone catching up. While she sometimes goes on trips during her break, this year she wants to be flexible as she’s awaiting the arrival of our baby next month, her first …
Question: Dear Steve, I am very financially responsible and in my mid-30’s. I recently discovered that my girlfriend, also mid-30’s, is not so much. Neither of us has any kids. Now, I did know that she is a homeowner making a six-figure salary (barely) and living paycheck-to-paycheck saving no money. However, I did not know …
Americans buy – and keep – a lot of stuff. That’s made self-storage a $24 billion industry, according to its major trade group, the Self Storage Association. According to the SSA, 84 percent of all U.S. counties have at least one self-storage facility. It’s been one of the fastest-growing sectors of the commercial real-estate industry …
Question: Yo Steve, My wife and I fight, or shall I say disagree, all the time about spending and a budget. She has one opinion and I have another. She says we should not spend more than 25% of our income on housing but I say 33% is alright. Who is right? Jimmy Answer: Yo …