According to WalletHub, Americans added $92.2 billion in credit card debt in 2017, the most since 2007 - prior to the Great Recession. When you include all outstanding balances, the Federal Reserve estimates that Americans owe more than $1 trillion in credit card debt.
So what’s the deal? In the fourth quarter of 2017, Americans added $67.6 billion in credit card debt, which was the highest quarterly accumulation in 30 years. Looking back over the past couple of years, you can also see a speedy incline in debt, with debt climbing from $43 billion in 2015 to $87 billion 2016. This growing burden could be attributed to historically low ...
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Job Polarization Forcing More Baby Boomers Out of Job Market
Men in their prime working years have left the labor force at an astonishing rate and they may never return if the state of the U.S. job market holds, according to a new report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. This does not bode well for those approaching retirement and still carrying debt obligations. This may cause bankruptcy filings to spike in the 55-64 age group.
A decline in demand for middle-skilled work — a phenomenon dubbed “job polarization,” because more positions are concentrated at the higher and lower ends — has played a role in keeping prime-age men out of the job market an economist at the Kansas City Fed, ...
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Consumer’s Appetite For Debt On the Rise
Interest rates are on the rise, but that hasn’t curbed Americans’ appetite for consumer debt. If anything, consumers are borrowing more on credit cards or through auto loans than they have in years, and lenders seeking growth are happy to oblige them.
Recently, a male millennial said he signed up for more than five credit cards over the past year, from issuers including Capital One Financial Corp. and Discover Financial Services, after he received offers in the mail. He also took out a $36,000 loan to buy a new Jeep Grand Cherokee. This individual, who rents, said the offers have been arriving as his credit score has improved. He ...
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Have You Been Rejected for a Mortgage? Get a Grip and Fight Back
How many Americans are rejected for a mortgage loan on an annual basis?
Data are scarce on the topic, but a Federal Reserve study shows that one in eight Americans were turned down for a mortgage in 2015 -- and overextended credit was at the top of the list of reasons lenders used to reject mortgage applicants. The Federal Reserve study pointed out that a high debt-to-income ratio -- i.e., the amount of money you borrow against the amount of money you make -- was a top credit-based reason for mortgage rejections.
If you've been turned down on a mortgage loan due to bad credit, get a grip and fight back.
Sure, the bad news is that ...
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Two Personal Finance Issues That Are Not Going Away in 2018
It's a new year and, unfortunately, many of us continue to grapple with financial issues that do not want to go away. Here are two to think about:
Not savings enough for retirement.
I have encountered countless clients who, although having worked for years, have accumulated little or no retirement savings. They have allowed debt to control their lives and have sacrificed savings opportunities in the process. This perspective must change.
Bankruptcy can be a first step toward achieving financial security. Did you know that retirement savings are fully protected from your creditors - even in bankruptcy? Whether you have one ...
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Common Myths About Saving for Retirement
It goes without saying that one should plan early for their retirement nest egg and for those lucky enough to be working for a firm that provides an IRA or compatible retirement plan, you are off to a good start. For those that do not have a retirement plan with their employer or you are in business for yourself, there are many options available to you as well. According to a study by the Economic Policy Institute, the average family puts away only $5,000 for retirement and 43% of Americans don’t have any retirement savings at all. These statistics can be scary. What leads people to shy away from investing in their future are many. Here are a ...
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Here’s How You Can Permanently Bid Adieu to the Paycheck to Paycheck Lifestyle
You need to set some smart limits on your spending if you’re always stressed about your finances and are living a paycheck-to-paycheck life. Compared to simply earning more, understanding the ways of managing your money will get you further regardless of how much you earn.
You may not believe this but some million-dollar lottery winners became bankrupt in a matter of few years. Why? They didn’t manage their money well. Luckily, you don’t have to suffer the same fate. Beginning this month, start following these six things you can do to avoid financial stress and move away from a paycheck-to-paycheck lifestyle:
Appraise your ...
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Tips for Maintaining Good Credit
There are many ways you can maintain a good credit score. One of the key points is to always be aware of your credit usage, credit score and your financial spending. Following these guidelines will help you maintain good credit and allow you to continue living a financially helpful lifestyle.
Control Your Spending!
This does not apply just to credit cards, but for everything you do. The temptations are always there.to overspend on that new pearl neckless or a new car, because it has options your current car doesn’t have. Be smart and money-wise. You never know when an unexpected financial emergency might happen that could change your entire ...
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Has This Happened to You?
A typical Scenario of Financial Hardship
Todd is living a financially comfortable lifestyle, with a household gross income $85,000 per year. Todd is married and has two children. Both are attending middle school and they have made plans for a cruise vacation, which is coming next month. The travel agent has been fully paid in advance for the cruise.
In the interim, Todd's mother-in-law became ill and is hospitalized. The prognoses is that she will need to live in a nursing home, because she will need 24 hour care; however, they decide to bring her to home, as that would be the better option. After all, he has an extra bedroom.
Arrangements ...
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10 Horrible Habits That Will Make a Mess of Your Finances
Many people that find themselves in debt seem to make some common financial mistakes that contribute to their debt problems. According to an article on MSN.com, there are ten bad financial habits that can lead to financial disaster:
Misuse of balance transfers - If you aren’t going to stop charging on your cards, transferring balances to lower interest cards won’t get you out of debt in the long run.
Disregarding your credit report because you think you can’t change it anyway - It is essential that you frequently check your credit report. Small errors made by your creditors could raise your interest rates, lower your credit score and ...
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