Navigation

Understand Your Credit


Get Out Of Debt


Mortgages and Real Estate


Build Your Wealth


Additional Reading




Specials

Website Resources

Please contact us for more information or questions about this website.

Learn more about us and what this website can do for you.

If you find this site to be of interest, please link to us.

Browse our site map for all articles and resources on credit repair and debt management.

Please read our privacy policy and terms of use.

Your Financial Bucket List

In the page, “How To Build An Investment Portfolio”, we talked about creating a “Bucket List” for your financial goals. Specifically, you should group your financial goals into 3 Buckets, and then you’ll go about using these 3 Buckets to allocate your savings and investments. To review what these 3 Buckets are, here they are again: Divide your list of goals onto 3 lists – or Buckets. You should have a: Short-Term Bucket (things ...

The Cost of Whistles – Living Successfully

I love reading old books and stories about early pioneers in business. I came across the following article in a little pocket-sized publication series from the 1940’s, titled “The Art of Living Successfully”. I believe that “There is nothing new under the sun but there are lots of old things we don’t know”, as Ambrose Bierce once said (click the link for some great quotes ...

Getting A Raise, Part III

The previous article talked about a powerful and sure-fire technique for getting a raise. We talked about committing to spending time studying your industry and learning how to do your job better. But maybe you think the idea of studying your industry and coming up with ideas to improve your value won’t work because your job isn’t important enough. You sweep the floors, stock the shelves, answer the phones, etc., and those jobs ...

Getting a Raise, Part II

If you are serious about making more money at work, I can tell you exactly how to do it – without fail. This method is so fool-proof, it’s almost unfair how well it works. And not only will it earn you a raise or promotion in no time at all, it will set you on a course toward something called “success”. What is this powerful technique? It is actually a two part technique, ...

Getting a Raise, Part I

Hopefully, you took some time to answer those 3 questions in the article “Maybe You Just Need To Make More Money”. And I mean, REALLY answered them. Were you able to identify some strengths and weaknesses in your work habits from your boss’s (or customer’s) perspective? So now you’ve got some things you can work on to help you create more value. (And remember, you provide VALUE first and the reward ...

“SAFETY NET” Credit Scoring Factor

Lenders and credit card companies use your credit score to help determine how likely it is that you will pay back the money they lend you. Fair Isaac Corporation, the creator of FICO credit scores (the most commonly used credit scoring system) has a breakdown of the relationship between your credit score and your chances of being a “Good Player” vs. a “Bad Player” (see chart here). So, your credit score reflects an estimate ...

Need Cash? Try an “Income Blitz”

If you HAD to earn a bunch of money in a short amount of time, could you? Let’s say a friend, a family member, or maybe your pet had a life-threatening medical emergency and could only be saved if you were able to raise $2,000 in the next 30 days. Could you do it? Most people, if faced with that kind of emergency, would find a way to do this. You’d go to ...

Is This Necessary? Evaluating Your Everyday “Latte” Purchases to Save Money

During World War II, when there was a nationwide program of gasoline rationing, there were signs posted along highways saying, “Is This Trip Necessary?” reminding people to not waste fuel. As we begin to get control over our finances, maybe a good sign to carry with us is one that says in bold letters, “Is This Purchase Necessary?” In his book, The Automatic Millionaire...

The Half-n-Half Way to Improve Your Finances

With each new article, I hope I’m bringing you some new ideas and new ways of thinking. And hopefully you’ve begun to use some of the strategies that I’ve been sharing with you to improve your credit situation and get control of your finances. In future articles, we’ll be talking about earning more income, spending more wisely, building an investment portfolio, and buying a home, and how to best settle debts. That ...

Why Standard US Savings Rate Calculations are Completely Wrong

During the current doom-n-gloom economic situation, where the entire economy is going to fall and everyone in America will soon be thrown out of their homes because of the collapse of our banking system, one statistic used to support this gloomy outlook is the abysmal state of the US Savings Rate. “Americans don’t save.” “Americans outspend their incomes.” “Americans have no self discipline.” And on and on the American-bashing goes. One ...


Latest Articles

Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage Early?
I often find myself in long conversations with my borrowers over the best way to pay off mortgages early.  Do I recommend the “Bi-Weekly Payment” ...

Making Sense of the new Tax Credit Extension
Homebuyer Tax Credit Extension Okay, I think I get it now and I’m ready to give you the scoop on the new tax credit extension.  ...

Variable Rate vs. Fixed Rate
Choosing a Variable Rate is like Ordering a Pizza “Should I pick an adjustable rate mortgage, like a 3/1 or 5/1 ARM, or go with ...

Washington Women Veterans Summit 2009
"Top 10 Ways to Get Out of Debt and Build Wealth" is the title of my workshop at the Women Veterans Summit this year.  I’m ...

Know your Statutes of Limitations
“Can you just make a small payment as a show of good faith?”  Have you been called by a collection agency trying to collect on ...

Read More...