If you’re in the market to buy a house, there are two resources I came across recently that I recommend. First, the book Mind Your Own Mortgage has a lot of helpful advice, especially author Robert Bernabé’s recommended process for finding the lowest-cost mortgage. By that, he isn’t talking about interest rates or monthly payments. […]
Author Archive | Matt Bell
High School Grads Not Ready for the Real Financial World
Nearly half of recent high school grads say they are unsure how to manage their own banking or personal finances, according to a survey by Capital One. Now for the good news: the survey also found that money is one topic where parental advice can actually get through to teens. Among the students who said […]
The Best Corporate Job Sites
In a still-tough job market, here’s some good news. Job openings are at a 16-month high. And, numerous forward-thinking companies are investing in their job sites, making it easier for job seekers to search for opportunities and even providing job-hunting advice. As highlighted in The Wall Street Journal, here are the ten best company career […]
Still Stressed About Debt
Americans are paying down their debt, but that hasn’t eased their stress. Some 46 percent of American adults say they are stressed about their debts, according to a new Associated Press-GfK survey. That’s about the same as last year. Those feeling the most stress are women, married couples, people age 30-44, and the poor. Key […]
The Complaint Department is Open
Got a complaint about something you bought? Or are you thinking about buying something but wondering how well the product worked for previous buyers? There are numerous complaint Web sites. However, as with the items criticized on the sites, some of the sites are better than others. According to a report by the Consumer Federation […]
Do You Need Credit Monitoring?
Everywhere you look, it seems, some company is offering to monitor your credit report – for a fee. Do you need the protection? A recent CNNMoney.com story said most people do not. The article noted that using a credit-monitoring service won’t prevent anyone from opening credit in your name. The only way to do that […]
Is Bankruptcy Ever Okay for a Christian?
With many people still struggling to find work, bankruptcy filings continue to grow. More than 500,000 people have filed so far this year, according to the National Bankruptcy Research Center. That’s up 17 percent from last year at this time. While bankruptcy’s stigma has weakened in recent years, it is still an especially troubling topic […]
Saying, “I Do,” Without The Debt
Call it a benefit of the Great Recession: the average cost of a wedding has dropped 30 percent from a high of $29,000 in 2007 to today’s mere $20,000, according to The Wedding Report. If you or someone you know is headed down the aisle sometime soon, here’s how to save even more. According to […]
Trying to Catch Up in the Retirement Race
Over half of all employed American adults feel “a little” or “far” behind in their financial preparations for retirement, according to a new survey from TD Ameritrade. The most common explanation? Respondents said they simply have no money left to save after meeting their regular expenses or they started saving too late. Many parents also […]
Building Your Networking Skills
One of the recession’s harshest lessons is just how fragile a job can be. A related lesson is the importance of continuous networking. Forbes.com recently presented a handful of networking essentials, including: Be more interested in others than you are in yourself. Learning to ask good questions and take a genuine interest in others will […]