Budget Blog

If you are like most Americans you probably have a car, or even two, sitting in your garage at home. And, not surprisingly, the cost of maintenance on your car(s) is likely not cheap either.

There has been plenty written about the rapidly rising costs of cars and the maintenance associated with them. Not to mention the rapidly rising (and lengthening!) loans buyers are taking on to purchase their vehicles. Both with a negative impact to consumers.

[Read more…] about The Cost of Car Maintenance: 9 Ways to Lower Your Expenses

One of the few personal finance tips that garners near-universal praise is the idea of having some cash reserves.

For many topics in personal finance, there are seemingly as many critics as there are advocates. You commonly hear phrases such as:

[Read more…] about Cash Reserves 101: Why You Need an Emergency Fund

If you have many different debts with different interest rates, payoff schedules, and balances, it may sound like a good idea to sign up for debt consolidation. Debt consolidation can seem appealing with the promise of a significantly lower monthly payment and a reduced interest rate.

For some people, debt consolidation may be a reasonable solution. For others, they will be making the debt consolidation company rich.

[Read more…] about Debt Consolidation 101: Everything You Need to Know