Love and debt in the same sentence can sound like a paradox to anyone who hears it. But, with the reality of most people’s finances lagging in this economy, debt is just a reality. This means that you are likely to have debt, and if you do, you might as well try to love it. First,… Read More

Some federal retirees had their personal information sent to the wrong people, raising concerns about potential identity theft, WJLA in Washington, D.C., reports. A reporter from the TV station sat down with Aleena Hampton, a Department of Defense retiree, and went over documents — including the Social Security number — of a completely different retiree…. Read More

So your employer has finally rewarded you for all that hard work. Now what? When you receive a raise at work, it can be tempting to set out for a shopping spree, but it’s wise to wait a few weeks before using any of this new cash. It’s important to see how much more your raise… Read More

Fake debt collection scams are on the rise, and now rank among the top complaints scammed consumers file around the country, the National Consumers League says. The consumer advocacy organization issued a special warning about the scams, which generally involve a cold call from a would-be criminal trying to intimidate the recipient into paying for… Read More

Most people don’t realize that debt collectors can’t cross a line set by federal law. For example, they can’t threaten you with physical injury; claim to be a lawyer if they are not; harass you or use foul language; nor claim to have arrest powers. The list is extensive. The Federal Trade Commission has published… Read More

New smartphones can cost several hundred dollars, and many people can’t afford to pay that upfront when phone shopping. While there are financing options available from electronics vendors and phone dealers, they sometimes require a credit check. That doesn’t leave you with many options if you have poor credit. T-Mobile is running a promotion to… Read More

The average U.S. credit score has gone up recently, but not by much. Of course, the way those figures change year over year depend on the model you’re looking at, considering there are so many different credit scores out there. Based on numbers FICO provided, the average hit a low of 686 in October 2009,… Read More

Perhaps its time that we just get it over with and declare Super Bowl Sunday to be a national holiday. From the pre-season games of midsummer to the big game itself during the depths of winter, our national love of football remains unchanged, even despite several scandals involving the league and its players. And while it might be… Read More

What if you went to your regular pharmacy expecting a co-pay of $10 for a 90-day supply of generic medication and you were told that this time it would be $100? It happened to one of Dr. David Belk’s patients. The drug in question was the generic for Prozac, and the patient decided to look… Read More

You may have already started receiving tax forms in the mail. You know what I’m talking about — the envelopes are marked in big block letters, “IMPORTANT TAX DOCUMENTS ENCLOSED.” If you haven’t received any yet, you should soon, and for some people, you’ll be getting many pieces of mail like that over the next… Read More