Who Controls the Cash?

Once upon a time in American marriages, the husband “brought home the bacon” and made all the big financial decisions, and the wife received a “household allowance” to buy groceries and other everyday necessities. Today you might need to watch a 1950s sitcom to find that dynamic.

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Credit Repair: How to Help Yourself

You see the ads in newspapers, on TV, and online. You hear them on the radio. You get fliers in the mail, email messages, and maybe even calls offering credit repair services. They all make the same claims: “Credit problems? No problem!”

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Don’t Get Taken by Wire Transfer Scams

Using a bank or a money transfer company to “wire” funds electronically is an easy and convenient way to send cash to someone. And when consumers wire money to people they know, the transaction typically takes place without a problem. But wiring money to strangers – in the U.S. but especially in another country – is risky because often they could be scam artists.

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Beware of Student Loan Debt Relief Offers

If you’re among the millions of current or former students with debt, you’ve probably been tempted to click on an ad that says, “Obama Wants to Forgive Your Student Loans!” or “Erase Default Statuses in 4 – 6 Weeks!” or some equally enticing student loan debt relief offer … available only if you click or call NOW!

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What is the Real APR on PayDay Loans?

Recently, several members of an online network were having a discussion about a payday loan. The payday loan company would loan someone $100, and they would have to pay $115.00 back two weeks later. What is the interest rate? (No, this isn’t a word problem on a math test!)

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