Personal finance apps like You Need A Budget (YNAB) make it easy to see how you’re spending your money while tracking your savings progress. Even though YNAB is a powerful budgeting tool, you may prefer a different platform to manage your money. If you’re looking for alternatives to YNAB, there … [Read more...] about 7 Best You Need A Budget Alternatives [Cheap & Free Budget Apps]
There are as many ways to pay off debt as there are to live, and everyone seems to have their favorite way to do it.
When you’re trying to become debt-free, knowing your options is as important as knowing which one will best fit your lifestyle and personal preferences. Instead of proclaiming one method as superior to the others, we share tips to pay off credit cards, eliminate student loans, and achieve financial freedom from multiple perspectives. Get started here.
33 Signs You’re Financially Stable
I remember the trip to Target like it was yesterday. My wife and I were trying to decide between dental floss and aluminum foil. As newlyweds who were still paying off my debt, we had no breathing room. We were not the picture of financial stability. Being financially stable means one thing – … [Read more...] about 33 Signs You’re Financially Stable
10 Proven Ways to Pay off Debt Faster This Year
According to CNBC, the average American has $24,000 in debt (not including their mortgage). Unfortunately, high interest credit card debt and pricey car loans can prevent you from reaching your financial goals. If you're underwater, financial freedom feels like it will take too long to achieve. … [Read more...] about 10 Proven Ways to Pay off Debt Faster This Year
7 Best Alternatives to Personal Capital
Budgeting and money management apps are excellent tools to help you stay on top of your finances. Many people like Personal Capital since it offers free personal finance tools to monitor your spending, net worth, and investments. However, there are several Personal Capital alternatives that can … [Read more...] about 7 Best Alternatives to Personal Capital
9 Best Alternatives to Bankruptcy: Kill Debt for Good!
Filing for bankruptcy is usually the last resort for someone to get relief from financial difficulties. If you are dealing with excessive debt, you might be considering this solution. Every situation is different. It may be best for you to file chapter 7 or chapter 13 to relieve your financial … [Read more...] about 9 Best Alternatives to Bankruptcy: Kill Debt for Good!
7 Best Side Hustles for Couples
Could you and your spouse use some breathing room in your budget? While cutting costs is an excellent solution, earning additional income can go even further. But, what if you don’t want to spend time away from your partner or you have complementary skills? You can work together and make money … [Read more...] about 7 Best Side Hustles for Couples
How Much Should Your Car Payment Be?
When you are buying a car, there are multiple factors to consider. From make and model to miles per gallon and more, the process of figuring out which vehicle to purchase can be stressful. However, throwing finances into the equation can make it even more overwhelming. Fortunately, … [Read more...] about How Much Should Your Car Payment Be?
What if I Can’t Pay My Bills This Month?
We all face challenging financial circumstances from time to time. Whether it's mountains of debt, or having no emergency fund to manage a crisis, difficult times cause stress. Many Americans can relate. In fact, LendingClub found that, as of the end of 2021, over 60 percent of Americans … [Read more...] about What if I Can’t Pay My Bills This Month?
Hidden Dangers of Buy Now, Pay Later Apps
If you’re like many people, you may not always have adequate funds to make a purchase. This could cause you to either use a credit card and risk ensuing debt or delay the purchase until you have the necessary cash. However, a financial tool with growing popularity eliminates that problem. … [Read more...] about Hidden Dangers of Buy Now, Pay Later Apps
7 Best Unsecured Loans to Consolidate Debt
Unsecured loans can be useful when it comes to eliminating your debt. While the best personal loans vary, they all help you pay off debt faster. This helps you achieve financial freedom and live the life you want sooner. There are numerous options to consider when looking for low-interest loans. … [Read more...] about 7 Best Unsecured Loans to Consolidate Debt
5 Best Credit Repair Companies to Fix Your Credit [2023 Update]
Bad credit makes life difficult since you might pay higher interest rates and insurance prices. You may even have a harder time getting a job. Luckily, credit repair companies can help fix your credit if you don't have time to do it yourself. These services can negotiate with debt collectors on … [Read more...] about 5 Best Credit Repair Companies to Fix Your Credit [2023 Update]
Credible Review: Easily Refinance Student Loans
Being in debt makes it hard to pay your other bills. Refinancing your loans for a lower interest rate is an easy way to get out of debt sooner. Credible is one of the quickest ways to find the lowest rate and monthly payment by comparing multiple lenders. Lower interest rates can also mean a … [Read more...] about Credible Review: Easily Refinance Student Loans
25 Ways to Get Your Finances Back on Track Right Now
Before I began paying off my debt, I was constantly reminded of one thing – I was stuck in a vicious cycle. No sooner did breathing room appear than it would vanish into thin air. Payday came and went, and all my money was gone. If you feel the same way, it is possible to get your finances back on … [Read more...] about 25 Ways to Get Your Finances Back on Track Right Now
Why Did My Credit Score Drop Suddenly?
Have you ever paid off a credit card only to see your credit score go down? You’re not alone. Credit scores aren’t perfect but when we see our credit score go down for no reason, it causes stress for most people. After all, it's not usually good to see your credit score drop. Wanting to have a … [Read more...] about Why Did My Credit Score Drop Suddenly?
5 Ways to Lower Your Interest Rate and Kill Debt for Good
At the beginning of the year, many have the same goal – to pay off debt. One of the fastest ways to kill debt is to lower your interest rate on your credit card, or other consumer debt. Reducing your interest rate can slash years off your debt repayment journey, allowing you to reach freedom … [Read more...] about 5 Ways to Lower Your Interest Rate and Kill Debt for Good
How to Pay off Debt Fast on a Low Income: 6 Ways to Kill Debt for Good
It's not always easy to know how to pay off debt fast on a low income. At the beginning of my pay off debt journey, I was working a minimum wage job, and the $50,000+ number felt so staggering. I had no idea how to pay off debt quickly on a low income and felt like giving up before I even … [Read more...] about How to Pay off Debt Fast on a Low Income: 6 Ways to Kill Debt for Good
25 Simple Ways to Start Paying off Debt Now
Sometimes when you look for ways to start paying off debt, the journey seems too overwhelming to start. However, the journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step. By taking one simple step you begin to build confidence to continue, and before you know it you have serious momentum. It's easy … [Read more...] about 25 Simple Ways to Start Paying off Debt Now
How to Pay Off Your Mortgage Faster: 7 Ways to Pay it Off Early
Finding new ways to pay off your mortgage faster is a topic I can discuss endlessly. When I was aggressively paying down my mortgage, I endlessly researched how to do it by reading all of the things about it. Any article that discussed it hooked me. I was obsessed. As far as obsessions go, I'd … [Read more...] about How to Pay Off Your Mortgage Faster: 7 Ways to Pay it Off Early
Tally Review: Pay Off Your Credit Cards Faster
Paying off a high amount of credit card debt seems overwhelming. You have to deal with making payments on time, meeting minimum payments, and more. Becoming debt free is certainly possible, but can be difficult. Finding the right tools to manage debt repayment is essential to reaching that … [Read more...] about Tally Review: Pay Off Your Credit Cards Faster
How to Get Rid of Debt and Manage Your Credit Score
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of TransUnion. The opinions and text are all mine. Many people struggle with their finances. In the past, I was one of them. During college, I was baited by free merchandise and ensnared with promises of easy money from a quick application … [Read more...] about How to Get Rid of Debt and Manage Your Credit Score
Pay Off Student Loans Faster With These 5 Strategic Options
If you’re paying down student loans, you’re not alone. More than 40 million people are juggling an estimated $1.5 trillion in outstanding student loan debt. Among members of the class of 2017 who borrowed to attend college, student loan debt averages nearly $40,000. While it's certainly a … [Read more...] about Pay Off Student Loans Faster With These 5 Strategic Options
3 Key Reasons You Shouldn’t Focus on Monthly Payments
You can finance just about anything these days from a car to a wedding ring to a smartphone. Monthly payments are extremely common when you're buying an expensive item, but they are becoming more commonplace on lower priced items too. Although monthly payments seem easier than paying a lump sum … [Read more...] about 3 Key Reasons You Shouldn’t Focus on Monthly Payments
15 Best Ways to Legally Eliminate Credit Card Debt Quickly
I hate credit card debt. It enslaves you to someone else and keeps you from reaching your goals. Finding ways to legally eliminate credit card debt quickly may feel like a challenge, but it’s certainly possible with some work. Credit card debt is an unfortunate reality. The Federal Reserve … [Read more...] about 15 Best Ways to Legally Eliminate Credit Card Debt Quickly
The 5 Key Habits of Debt-Free People You Should Copy Today
If you're interested in debt-free living, it's important to study the lifestyle of those who currently are living debt-free. What are the characteristics of debt-free people? What does it take to become debt-free in America? Do debt-free families have to go without? Are they able to have any … [Read more...] about The 5 Key Habits of Debt-Free People You Should Copy Today
Why Your Car Payment is Destroying Your Financial Future
How much is your car payment each month? How much of your monthly income, on a percentage basis, goes towards your car payment? Experian reports that the average monthly car payment breached the $500 mark for the first time in 2016. Just let that sink in for a moment. In an age where we face … [Read more...] about Why Your Car Payment is Destroying Your Financial Future
What Could You Do With An Extra $470 Per Month?
Whether or not you live by a budget, you can probably think of at least one thing you could do with some extra money each month. I think it’s fun to sit back and dream about what you might do with that extra money – depending on your situation I guess. :-) Well, today we’re going to talk about … [Read more...] about What Could You Do With An Extra $470 Per Month?
Things I Would Never Do: The 97 Month Car Loan
Welcome to a new feature I plan on running from time to time here on Frugal Rules – Things I Would Never do. It’s meant to be part rant, part shedding light on unwise practices and part ways to avoid unnecessary debt. It’s not intended to be judgmental, but largely to help those that may be facing … [Read more...] about Things I Would Never Do: The 97 Month Car Loan