One of the leading causes of the great recession was the burst of the housing bubble. From around 2001 until 2006 housing prices climbed rapidly. Banks were not as tightly regulated and they were handing out loans to many people who really could not afford the payments. These people were buying houses that had inflated…
Since 2008 there has been a 650% increase in tax related identity theft cases. Imagine going through the painstaking process of making sure you are counting up all your income, maximizing your deductions, double checking for errors only to get a response from the IRS stating that your claim has been denied because your taxes…
Quite often there is a story on the news about a car wreck where one of the drivers was intoxicated. Sometimes the wrecks just do physical damage; too often an innocent motorist is hurt or killed. We all know that driving under the influence is bad, but even having a couple drinks and driving can…
There comes a time in most people’s lives where they need some money. For many, they turn to the bank and apply for a loan. There are times, however, when the banks are not the most desirable source of a loan. Whether it is because of poor credit, undesirable interest rates, or a whole host…
As we begin our working careers, retirement seems like a distant concept; and rightly so, for many it is 30 to 40 years away. Because it is so far away, many people starting out do not even bother to enroll in the 401k available through work. Those who do enroll will fall into two basic…
As many things go in life, it is far better to save money than to take out a loan. For instance, if you want a new TV, new furniture, or other items that are not necessities, do not finance them, and certainly do not use a credit card. This is especially true if you do…
There are a great number of people that like to save money on DIY projects. Rather than hire someone to do auto repair, home repair, or their taxes, they enjoy the challenge and like to save money by doing it themselves at home. Usually you can save money, and if you enjoy the activity, you might as…