Real Answers for Life’s Money Challengesby Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorWe have credit scores in the 500s, and we are being declined for loans to consolidate our debt to improve our credit.We understand the importance of improving our credit scores and are frustrated that the debt consolidation we have been advised to apply for is not working out — no approvals. Who can we turn to for a loan?-D.Dear D.,When you
by Nicole DowSenior WriterWho doesn’t love a relaxing dip in the swimming pool on a sweltering, hot day? And when that swimming pool is in your backyard, it’s even better.You could bring your friends together over the summer by hosting pool parties. You could teach your kids to swim right at home. If you rent out your place on Airbnb or Vrbo, you could fetch top dollar for the additional
by Rachel Christian, CEPF®Senior WriterCryptocurrency investors are reeling and wondering what comes next after a massive market shakeup sent the price of bitcoin plummeting to its lowest level in 17 months last week.The pullback was triggered by the collapse of two of the largest cryptocurrencies — the stablecoin terraUSD (UST) and its sister token luna.Terra’s value is meant to stay at $1. But it wasn’t backed by real-world assets. Instead, the
Real Answers for Life’s Money Challengesby Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorI just discovered two new debit cards in my husband’s name. One is an Ally debit card, which means he has a secret checking account going on. The other is a PayPal debit card for his small business he does on the side. He has never told me about the PayPal one, but I understand this one. The other card is
by Mike BrassfieldSenior WriterCredit card debt is like a money-grubbing evil spirit that never goes away and drains your bank account dry.It’s the most expensive kind of debt you can have. First you start falling behind on your monthly payments. Next thing you know, they’re gouging you something fierce by charging you more than 20% interest on your balance. You end up paying so much interest that you can never
by The Penny Hoarder Staff We’re living longer than ever before, and doing so in better health. So what can you do when you retire and want to keep your mind sharp or need to gain additional skills to stay competitive at work?For many, the answer is to go back to school. But tuition can be prohibitively expensive.At the same time, schools want their classrooms to be full of engaged
by Timothy MooreContributorWondering how to become a plumber? Our guide covers the education, apprenticeship and licensing requirements on your journey to getting certified as a licensed plumber — and offers a peek into the day-to-day, job outlook and typical salary.Skilled plumbers fulfill a crucial need in society, and demand for plumbers continues to grow. Though the manual labor is often grueling, a career in plumbing can be quite lucrative —
by Katherine Snow SmithContributor Ever consider what it’s like to be a 911 emergency operator? Well now’s the time to think about it. The job is in high demand these days and it doesn’t require a college degree, saves lives and is never boring. The average starting salary is $38,000 and the national average pay is about $48,000, which isn’t super high but the job usually has good medical benefits.
Real Answers for Life’s Money Challengesby Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorI am a single parent. I am 67 years old and ready to retire. However, I am anxious about decisions I need to make.My daughter is in her last year of college. I don’t have any more money to pay for it. So for her last year, should I take from retirement monies or get a loan? She is a good kid
by Nicole DowSenior Writer From the dress to the cake to the reception venue, wedding planning can pull you in dozens of different directions. It can also pull on your purse strings until they’re ready to snap. According to wedding publisher The Knot, American couples spent an average of $28.000 on their wedding ceremony and reception in 2021 — back up to pre-pandemic spending levels. And that figure doesn’t even
