New Jersey bankruptcy Article By JENNIFER SARANOW SCHULTZ New York Times Article January 5, 2010, 5:41 pm Do borrowers taking part in the Obama administration’s mortgage modification program deserve a black mark on their credit records? Lenders use special codes to let credit bureaus know what customers are borrowing and whether they’re paying on time. […]
The Lure of Store Credit Cards, and the Hook
New Jersey Bankruptcy Article By TARA SIEGEL BERNARD Published: December 11, 2009 You may be tempted this season to give in to the plea from that persistent sales clerk at one of the big retailers — “Are you sure you don’t want to save 15 percent today?” — and open up a couple of store-brand […]
Why Many Home Loan Modifications Fail
New Jersey bankruptcy Article The New York Times FLOYD NORRIS Published: December 3, 2009 Why are so few temporary mortgage modifications turning permanent? One reason may be the same one that a lot of bad loans were made in the first place. Borrowers can declare their income, and the banks are willing to grant temporary […]
Financial Decisions to Make as You Divorce
New Jersey bankruptcy Article The New York Times By RON LIEBER Published: November 13, 2009 Divorce may be one of the most damaging financial events in the lives of those who go through it, but that isn’t always immediately clear to a couple about to split up. In fact, the first response is probably emotional […]
A Free Credit Score Followed by a Monthly Bill
New Jersey bankruptcy Article The New York Times By RON LIEBER Published: November 2, 2009 On television it’s hard to miss the wildly popular band of slackers singing ruefully from a shabby apartment or while waiting tables in pirate regalia. The ruined credit that led to their financial misfortune might have been sparkling if only […]
Money Talks To Have Before Marriage
Divorce tends to be emotionally gut-wrenching for the people who go through it (not to mention those around them). But most couples don’t realize that divorce can also be among the most ruinous financial moves anyone can make. Sure, you could bet big and lose on a single stock or money manager. Or your small […]
Hard Work, No Pay
ON Friday we learned that the unemployment rate rose to 9.8 percent last month and that the economy lost 263,000 jobs. I have been unemployed since February. I have also been incredibly busy. My last job lasted one afternoon. I showed up at a large parking lot in a semi-remote area with a group of […]
Hurry Up and Credit My Account
What is it with these banks that are so quick to hit you with a fee for spending more than you have in your checking account but take their own sweet time in crediting deposits? My colleague Andrew Martin and I heard that complaint repeatedly from readers after we wrote about overdraft fees earlier this month. The angry questions happened […]
Credit Scores: What You Need to Know Now
New Jersey bankruptcy Article Article printed in the Wall Street Journal, September 8, 2009 By KAREN BLUMENTHAL Are you keeping score? Credit scores have been getting a lot of attention lately, as lenders tighten credit standards and contend with new legislation that has, among other things, reined in how credit-card issuers can raise rates. Meanwhile, […]
The ABCs of Teaching Money Management to your Kids
Teaching people money management skills cannot begin too early. Learning to manage your money at a younger age can often help people avoid financial trouble as they get older. Today, children are exposed to money, whether its credit cards or checks, at a much earlier age. That’s why it’s so important to start teaching your […]
