As the weather starts getting warmer it’s a reminder that spring is right around the corner.  It’s time to start focusing on spring cleaning around your house and tossing out the old and unused, keeping what’s important and cleaning items you’ve avoided all winter.  It’s also a great time to start thinking about your financial spring cleaning and dusting off your financial documents too. 

You may have seen something called APR listed on your loan documents when you borrow money.  This could be a credit card statement, a mortgage statement, or even a personal loan statement.  You may have often asked yourself, “What does ‘APR’ really mean?”.  You should understand the math behind calculating an APR to help make informed decisions on which type of loan is best for you.

FRAUD WARNING – BE AWARE OF COPYCAT FRAUDSTER WEBSITES POSING AS A LEGITIMATE INSTALLMENT LOAN PROVIDER.

Counterfeit online lending websites claiming to be legitimate installment loan providers will collect your personal information via what seems like a valid application process.

There are many different types of credit available to consumers today. Making sure you are informed about what is available and how different account types can impact your credit rating is crucial to making right decisions.

Winter is here and with it comes colder temperatures.  Depending on where you live, you may need to heat your home or apartment.  Heating a house or apartment can be expensive because energy bills may go up significantly during the colder months. But, there is good news, there are several simple steps that can be taken to keep your winter energy bill from skyrocketing.

Tax Season is upon us again and millions of Americans may put off filing until just before the April 15 deadline. Government cutbacks over the past few years have resulted in a number of layoffs of IRS agents, and subsequently, the number of tax audits has been falling, but don’t be fooled into thinking “I’ll never get audited.” Roughly one million Americans will be audited this coming year[¹].  These audits do not include filers whose returns were sent back for mistakes. 

Plan for Your Taxes Ahead of Time

The IRS does not accept tax returns until mid to late January, but there is no time like the present to start planning for your taxes and be that much closer to a possible tax refund.

When you need money quickly for emergency auto repairs, medical expenses, home repairs, or any other unexpected costs, you may have a few options. If you happen to have poor credit those options may be a bit more limited.  A few options to get the fast money you need is to take out a payday loan or to take out an online installment loan.

How can you determine which option is right for you and your financial situation?

The holiday season can be a stressful time for many people.  For others it can be a time of excess.  Either way, don’t let that stress and excess give you a financial hangover.  Plus, the holiday shopping season seems to start earlier every year, making that stress longer as well.  According to a 2017 survey by RetailMeNot, 54 percent of consumers plan to begin holiday shopping before Black Friday.

Christmas will be here before you know it. Have you given thought about the gifts you will purchase for friends and family?  While it’s important to realize Christmas is not always about gifts and money, it is an opportunity to be generous.  Even if you’re normally frugal, Christmas may be a time to spend a little more than you ordinarily would on those you love. Splurging a little during this time of year doesn’t have to wreck your finances. Here are a few key suggestions to help establish budget for gift spending.