Fit My Money: Only Right Money Moves

Emily Morgan, financial writer

Last Updated December 8, 2019

How to Find the Best Way to Pay Off Credit Card Debt

What can be added to the happiness of a man who is in health, out of debt, and has a clear conscience?

- Adam Smith

It’s hard to argue, life is not much fun when you’ve got lost in financial jungles and struggle to clear credit card debt. Whether it’s about buying things you enjoy or going out for dinner, financial obligations make life feel pretty miserable.

Are you fed up being dread receiving another bill? Good for you. It’s time for some motivation to kick your finances into shape ASAP. Paying off credit card debt is a tough gig, yet, who said you can’t win this battle?

Lindsay Bryan-Podvin, LMSW

Last Updated December 2, 2019

What to Do Instead of Buy Gifts This Holiday Season

What were your favorite three gifts you received last holiday season?

Can’t remember? What about just one gift?

If you had a hard time doing this, you aren’t alone. So many of us succumb to the pressure to give, give, give during the holidays that we forget the meaning behind them. Religion aside, most of us can agree that this time of year conjures up images of friends and family spending time together at long dinner tables or huddled around cozy fireplaces. It’s not about the gifts.

Michele Cagan, CPA and Financial Mentor

Last Updated November 27, 2019

HELP: Why Is My Student Loan Balance Going UP?!

It’s hard enough paying down student loan debt. But when you’re making all of your payments on time and your balance keeps going UP, it feels impossible.

Worse, when you see your debt growing while you’re making on-time payments, it can make you wonder if there’s any point in making those payments at all.

If that’s your situation, you can turn things around with a little information and a few action steps. And that starts with knowing everything about your student loans.

Vivek Shankar, Contributor

Last Updated November 26, 2019

7 Ways To Save Money on a Low Income

Saving money.

Everyone wants to do it but very few manage to execute it perfectly. You probably understand that in order to be successful in life you need to master the art of saving money. However, how are you supposed to save money on a low or zero income?

This sounds like an impossible task!

While it would be nice to be able to wave a magic wand and make your money problems disappear, the truth is that saving money is not as hard as you think it is. In fact, a lot of it has to do with the mindset with which you approach money. Combine this with a few simple practices and you’ll be on your way in no time.

With this in mind, let’s take a look at some of the best ways for you to save money starting today.

Emily Morgan, financial writer

Last Updated November 26, 2019

The Best Financial Podcasts to Boost Your Financial Confidence

With seemingly everyone talking about podcasting, why not take advantage of it. No matter the topic, listening to these on-demand audio shows can become addicting. They can be as entertaining as they are educational. And personal finance podcasts are no exception, in fact.

The best thing is that you almost always have the option to listen to them for free. Face it, what could be more useful than work toward a secure financial future for free. Time to tap into expert knowledge with the best finance podcasts listed below.

In times where you seek advice from an expert, the best financial podcasts can come to the rescue. Organized in a very ‘do-it-yourself’ format, financial podcasts vary much in quality.

Brian Haney, CLTC, CFS, CFBS, CIS, LACP

Last Updated November 8, 2019

The Picturesque Retirement: Make It a Reality with a Plan

Close your eyes for a moment and think about how you would like to retire? What do you see yourself doing? Who are you doing it with? Are there sandy beaches involved? How’s the sun feel on your face? Looking forward to tea times at noon? Trips across the world you’d always wished you could take? How does that carefree Paris wine taste?

Or maybe it’s the simple joy of a house devoid of kids, not needing to slug into work, and the chance to start dating your spouse once again. Coffee really does taste better when it’s not rushed after all.

Now open your eyes and ask yourself this simple question: how much does all that cost?

Emily Morgan, financial writer

Last Updated November 6, 2019

How to Build Business Credit

Having a lack of funding is one of the common hurdles for most small business owners. Building business credit could be a tough gig, yet, it is worth doing. It opens the door to more financial opportunities. Plus, a higher business credit score opens the door wider. It gives you a better chance of getting a loan, a line of credit, lower interest rates, and cheaper insurance.

“If you don’t build your dreams, somebody else would hire you to help them build theirs.”
– Tony Gaskin

So, think of your business credit report as an assessment, which means the creditworthiness of your company. At least banks, lenders and other suppliers will strongly rely on it before dealing with you.

Emily Morgan, financial writer

Last Updated October 29, 2019

Student Loan Debt – 2019 Stats & Alarming Tweets

Do you know that the District of Columbia’s student debt capital is one of the highest one? Georgia, Maryland and Minnesota follow next. In turn, Wyoming, Hawaii and West Virginia are among the leading states with the lowest student loan debt per capita.

So, what is the reason behind that? Well, according to the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, Washington D.C. is one of the most educated metropolitan areas in the District of Columbia. San Jose is a close second.

Emily Morgan, financial writer

Last Updated October 16, 2019

How to Freeze Your Credit Report to Prevent Identity Theft

It is quite easy to freeze your credit and it may be really helpful when it comes to protecting your data and accounts from frauds. This process can help to keep your private data safe and secure so that other people or criminals won’t be able to take a new loan or open credit lines in your name.

It’s free to make a freeze but it can significantly change your life and make you feel safe especially if you aren’t planning to take out a personal loan shortly. More than that, it won’t influence your credit score.

Here is what you need to know.

Emily Morgan, financial writer

Last Updated October 29, 2019

How to Become Financially Literate? (Expert Answers)

If all you know about money is how to spend them, then it’s high time for you to improve financial literacy. Getting smarter about your money means educating yourself, thus forming simple but smart money habits.

We’ve asked the financial experts to share their top tips on how to improve the personal financial literacy. And we’ve got their answers! You can find them below.