This year, I am facing one of my biggest personal finance challenges: I need to pay back my parents loan on November 1st, 2010. The amount owing will be $31,000. We had borrowed this money as cash down for our first house and the deal was to reimburse in full (plus interest) after 5 years. [...]
Since the major cut in the interest rate back in 2008, we haven’t heard much about the FED cranking up the intraday rate so far. However, with recent GDP stats (5.7% annualised rate for the last quarter), we will surely hear some whispered rumors about the prime interest rate going up.
What is the intraday interest [...]
Our family finances get a lot of attention this time of year. I clean up the Christmas mess, every year we get better at handling Christmas expenses, but we are still not where we would like to be. I start to review my files to make sure I am ready to finish our taxes. Finally, [...]
Debt is perhaps one of the most pernicious things known to modern mankind. As nobody likes to own someone something (not even a kind remark), we soon become obsessed to pay back our due. Some do it by spending less, cutting back on their lifestyles through frugal habits, others will get a second job or [...]
How to be debt free is a question I get asked often via email. The process of getting of out debt is easy…but actually doing it is hard. See, getting into debt is easy. It only takes a few minutes to make a $5,000 purchase on a credit card. Paying it back though can take [...]
Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31
Several years ago, we made a dumb decision to take [...]
Last month I applied for another Discover More card. I had to end up getting two cards as the first one in my wife’s name wouldn’t cover the entire remaining balance on my 29.9% Bank of America credit card (crooks!).
Before any of you freak out about me getting additional credits cards, I’m transferring the balances [...]
“Nope, no credit cards for me. I don’t even carry one.” I cannot tell you how many times I have said this phrase or something very similar to friends and family over the past 3 years. Most recently it came up at the store while looking at a “great deal” on something in the electronics [...]
My disdain for credit card companies and their unethical practices isn’t a secret. I’ve written quite a few articles here on Gather Little by Little about how I dislike them. The unfortunate reality for many of us that previously lived in the land of stupid for too many years (or maybe even still do) is [...]
I’ve written before on how to get out of debt using debt snowflaking even before PaidTwice came up with the great name and started the snowflake revolution. Since then I’ve gained a number of readers and thought it might be useful to discuss the concept of debt snowflaking again, especially as it’s something I’m really [...]
Before you close your browser and stop reading, let me explain…
I have my credit card payments set-up for auto-bill pay. I make sure all of my payments go out on time and even provide a “buffer” just in case something goes wrong. About 6-months ago, I received my statement for my Bank of America credit [...]
Our debt snowball melted. I’m not exactly sure when it happened, but I do know why. I guess it started melting around the the time we began looking for a new home and placing ours on the market. Our finances are in a bit of chaos right. A controlled chaos mind you, but chaos none [...]
As with most industries – change is going to come. Not all change is welcome however, especially when it comes to your finances, your personal protection, and your financial well-being. So when the credit card industry rolled out the following doozies, it should make you take pause and understand them before [...]
If you’ve been following me here on Gather Little by Little over the past year or so, you’ll know about our quest for a new home. If your fairly new here or maybe even need a refresher let me summarize for you.
We decided a year or so ago that we wanted to move to larger [...]
I gave you a teaser on Friday that the M-Network had a big surprise coming today, well here it is: a new free e-book titled “Money Saving Tips For The Holidays“. No, you don’t have to link to us, subscribe to our blogs, comment or anything else in order to get it. This is our [...]
