Category Archives: Personal Finances

The Costs & Benefits of Different Kinds Of Credit

Posted on by

2016_0420-Credit-FrankAll right all you spenders, there’s a subject near and dear to me and that’s on the subject of credit. Now you may be thinking to yourself that poor old Frank Money has no life. That may be true but I’m not poor and I’m not in debt, but thinking about the different kinds of debt can really knock me off my feet.

There are costs and benefits for carrying different types of debt. Some credit accounts are viewed more favorably by lenders than others but all require the ability to repay your debts in a timely manner. For example, there’s non-revolving credit like taking out a mortgage that’s paid in installments. Revolving credit deals with credit cards and fluctuate how much you pay each month.

Believe it or not carrying debt and paying it off monthly can raise your credit scores because it clearly shows how you manage your finances. Just remember the higher your credit score the better you can negotiate lower credit rates.

Attention Millennials!
You Need A Personal Financial Plan!

Posted on by

2016_0404-PersFinancPlanAttention millennials, now, listen up! It’s important to have a personal financial plan. Here is the top ten list for college-aged folks, that will help you with smart money practices and habits:

1 – Create a Budget – Simply stated, it’s figuring out how much money is coming in and how much money is going out. In fact, click here to download our Budget PDF. https://talkinmoney.org/files/Budget-Mania.pdf

2 – Track how much you spend – For the next seven days, track all your spending – you’ll be surprised on where the money goes!

3 – Live Within Your Means – Every first time college student will tell you how fast they blew through all their money. Don;t spend what you don;t have.

4 – Set Goals for Yourself – Take time to establish goals. Make them realistic and attainable. For example, saving towards a big purchase, or paying down your credit cards.

5 – Credit Card 101 – Speaking of paying down your credit cards, if you have the habit of paying your credit card balance fully, every month, this will go a long way in helping your credit scores!

6 – Student Loan 101 – Don’t take out college loans for anything but educational and living expenses!

7 – Never Be Late On A Payment – Always pay on time. Avoid late fees. This will tremendously help your credit score. If you are going to be late, call and talk to the company, they will always make arrangements.

8 – Create an Emergency Fund – Try to build your savings to three months living expenses.

9 – Be Smart and Save –  Pinch your pennies and be smart about your spending and it will save you $$$. Here’s a resource of money-saving tips http://www.collegescholarships.org/student-living/save-money.htm

10 – Find Scholarships, Avoid Loans – There is free money for the taking in the form of scholarships. Seek those out first, before you go after that easy-to-get college loan.

OohRah! April is National Financial Literacy Month, Talkin’ Money’s favorite month! To celebrate the importance of being financially literate, we’re going to post financial literacy tips every day.

5 Numbers That Spell Fresh Financial Trouble For Millennials

Posted on by

From Forbes – Ask 5,500 Millennials about the state of their finances and you’ll get 5,500 reasons to feel a little depressed about the financial security of the largest generation in the U.S.

This is what global tax and consulting outfit PricewaterhouseCooper recently discovered when it surveyed 5,500 people between the ages of 23 and 35 about their personal finance knowledge, the state of their savings, the status of their debt, and their overall satisfaction with their financial lives. The results were not pretty.

Given the relatively derelict state of America’s personal finances, this isn’t altogether surprising. But the study makes the argument that Millennials’ small savings and high debt is compounded by their low personal finance IQ — and that this, in turn, could have a domino effect on other generations.

“Millennials owe a lot. They know too little,” says Annamaria Lusardi, the academic director at George Washington University’s Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center, which partnered with PwC to put out the research. What’s more, she says, Gen Y’s ”struggle with debt may eventually become our problem, too.”

Click here to continue

01