Author Archives: Jay Butchko
3 Financial Mistakes That Make Employed People’s Debts Worse
When you start thinking about addressing your debt problems, it is worth reiterating that at least some of the factors that caused you to be in debt are beyond your control. For example, stagnant wages, high prices of groceries, and unaffordable healthcare are probably eating up a big portion of your paycheck. It is… Read More »
Your Credit Score Might Not Be a Deal Breaker When I Comes to Qualifying for a Home Mortgage
Qualifying for a home mortgage loan is only the first step toward being able to afford to buy a house. Likewise, the amount you borrow is only one of many factors that affect how much you will pay for your mortgage in total. Lenders will not agree to lend unless they are sure that… Read More »
Beware of These Bank Account Rip Offs
Getting out of debt begins with making an honest assessment of your financial situation. This involves facing hard truths but also finding reasons for gratitude. For example, if you have a bank account, you have more financial stability than people who do not. It is much easier to open a new bank account if… Read More »
Getting Out of Debt When You Can’t Give Up Your Daily Wawa Habit
That old piece of personal finance advice about how you can get out of debt if you just give up your daily Starbucks run on your way to work has been going around since your parents went on their first date at the Starbucks in Barnes and Noble. With each passing year, it increasingly… Read More »
Dealing With Debt After Divorce
If your negative emotions toward your spouse peaked before you filed for divorce, consider yourself among the lucky few. Many divorced people find that their resentment toward their ex-spouse continues to grow even after the court declares them legally single. A major reason for this is co-parenting conflict. Your ex drops off the children… Read More »
Fraudulent Online Sale of Used Cars
Nothing is what it seems on the Internet, but the Internet is often the fastest and least expensive way to buy things. The Internet is also responsible for a sharp decline in fraudulent business practices by car dealers, because customers could now research the cars they were interested in buying before they went to… Read More »
Is It a Good Idea to File for Bankruptcy If You Are Unemployed?
They say that you have to have a job to get a job. What do you do, then, if you have been searching for employment for months, but none of your applications or interviews has resulted in a job offer? How do you avoid defaulting on the debts that keep piling up? Will the… Read More »
Documents You Need for a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Filing
Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection is the closest thing you can get to a “get out of debt free” card. The court discharges your eligible debts within weeks of your initial filing, and most applicants can get through chapter 7 bankruptcy without having to liquidate any of their assets. The rationale behind chapter 7 bankruptcy… Read More »
Should Aspiring Entrepreneurs Take Out a Loan or Borrow From Family?
Many families include at least one member who is full of ideas for business projects but never has two pennies to run together and another who is boring but financially secure. All of those YouTube channels designed to get you psyched about entrepreneurship would never tell you this, but sticking with your boring salaried… Read More »
Consumer Protections for Automobile Buyers Could Become Stronger This Summer
For the past year and a half, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been working to impose a new set of regulations that protect consumers from fraudulent and abusive tactics when buying cars. The FTC first proposed the rules in the summer of 2022, and if all goes well, they will go into effect… Read More »
