by Robert BruceSenior WriterMore than 46 million Americans share $1.75 trillion in U.S. student loan debt, according to the Federal Trade Commission.For many of us, the idea of cutting down our massive student loan debt at the snap of a finger can be an enticing idea.“Sign up now and save BIG on repayments! We’ll help you get your student loans forgiven in as little as FIVE years! Lower your monthly
by Nicole DowSenior WriterWhether you’re trying to tame your junk drawer or straighten out your bedroom closet, having good organizational tools is key.You want your belongings to look nice and orderly. You want to know where everything is so you stop buying extra packs of batteries or Band-aids when you already have them … somewhere. But a trip to the Container Store or Crate and Barrel for home organization supplies
Best Overall Boat LoanBank of the West Starting at 4.24% APRBest for Bad CreditSoutheast FinancialStarting at 4.09%APRBest for Same-Day FundingLightStreamStarting at 4.29% APRBest for Military CommunityUSAAStarting at 5.80%APRby Timothy MooreContributor Mortgages and car loans are debt that most borrowers will take on in their lives, as houses and vehicles are commonly owned in modern society. Because boats are a recreational purchase, boat loans often come with stricter credit requirements and
by Rachel Christian, CEPF®Senior WriterOpening a savings account is a great way to protect your money and build your financial foundation.You can use a savings account to achieve different financial goals, like creating an emergency fund or buying a home.The best savings accounts feature higher-than-average interest rates and no monthly service fees. They also offer low or no minimum balance requirements.According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), 7.1 million
by Katherine Snow SmithContributorMedicaid wants its elderly clients to be safe, but prefers they be safe in a financially efficient way. With that in mind, it benefits the government agency to keep aging clients living in their home instead of a long-term care facility.Genworth, a Virginia-based provider of long-term care insurance, conducts an annual survey on the cost of care for seniors. The median price for one month in a
by Timothy Moore, Dana Miranda, CEPF®The world of smartphones has made us all a little less likely to remember important strings of numbers.While convenient, our reliance on them for everything from a significant other’s cell number to our own email passwords has made it challenging to recall important banking numbers that we need to have on hand.This includes your checking account number and your bank’s routing number, both important for
Real Answers for Life’s Money Challengesby Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorWhen my daughter didn’t go to college even after taking a “gap year,” I used her college fund (still legally my money) to pay off a relative’s student loans. My daughter was furious, and this soon translated into a general anger toward “deadbeats” who don’t want to pay back their student loans. I pointed out that many people were coerced into student
by Molly Moorhead, CFP®Senior Editor Sometimes you’re a bit short on cash and your payday is a few too many days away. What financial tool could help you out in such a situation? The Earnin app might be the solution to help you stay on track with your finances. An alternative to payday loans, the Earnin app promises to give you “access to the pay that you’ve earned, when you
by Michael ArchambaultSenior Writer If this were the 20th century, we’d be shoving our physical documents into an iron safe and spinning the combination lock. But, as we’re in the 21st century — the information age, where are we supposed to store our most important documents when many of them are digital? Let’s take a deep dive into storing files, such as medical records and financial documents, on your computer
by Kent McDillContributorWhen you consider making a purchase via Amazon and scour the reviews that accompany the product, you expect to see an honest review from someone who has purchased the item.That is sometimes true. But in some cases, the reviewer has received free and discounted products for the purposes of writing a quality review that can be helpful to others. In this case, we still expect the product tester
