The Latest Debt & Finance Blog

Cheeseburger in hand

Introducing the Frugal Man: Why Are Hamburgers So Expensive?

By Bill Fay | July 25, 2013

I took my wife out for dinner at a local burger joint last night and was a little annoyed on the drive home as I contemplated the bill: $10.81. I…

Student rates on subsidized Stafford Loans doubles to 6.8 percent

Senate Proposes Plan to Lower Student Loan Rates Now, Raise Them Later

By Bill Fay | July 18, 2013

The U.S. Senate late Wednesday reached another deal to reset student loan interest rates, but it is unclear when that proposal will reach the floor for a vote. Interest rates…

Black hole of debt in the U.S.

Is Debt Affecting our Economic Freedom?

By Bill Fay | July 3, 2013

As we approach July 4, the 237th anniversary of our nation’s independence, it’s also worth noting that our country is in its fourth year of a sluggish recovery from the…

Adult children are returning to the nest and depending on their parents

Financial Dangers Parents Face When Adult Children Live at Home

By Bill Fay | June 21, 2013

The American Dream is the ideal where parents work hard so they can own a home, send their kids to college and watch them grow up into happy and fiscally…

Job seekers at unemployment lines

Working for Free Is a Valuable Option to Unemployment

By Cecillia Barr | June 13, 2013

Finding a job isn’t easy these days. We all know that. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the unemployment rate for May was 7.6 percent — a figure virtually unchanged…

CFPB director Richard Cordray cracks down on debt-relief companies

Feds Continue Cracking Down on Dishonest Debt-Relief Companies

By Bill Fay | June 13, 2013

One of the ways in which debt-relief companies serve their clients is by negotiating debt settlement agreements with creditors with the goal of reducing the amount of money owed. When done…

Tips to planning a wedding you can afford

Tips for the Wedding You Want at the Price You Need

By Kaitlyn Fusco | June 6, 2013

It is finally June, the most popular month to get married, and if you don’t already have wedding fever, get ready. There is no better time to plan a wedding…

Highest consumer confidence index rating since 2007

U.S. Consumer Confidence Highest Since July 2007

By Bill Fay | June 3, 2013

The bull run on Wall Street and a continued surge in home prices pushed consumer confidence to its highest level in almost six years. The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan consumer…

Women, mothers are becoming breadwinners

Women Rise as Primary Breadwinners, Some Still Face Challenges

By Alanna Ritchie | May 30, 2013

College-educated women are catching up with men in the workforce, but many other women, especially single mothers, are facing great financial challenges, a new report shows. The Pew Research Center…

Unpaid internships are sparking lawsuits

When Unpaid Internships Go Wrong

By Alanna Ritchie | May 23, 2013

As you begin building your career path, the unpaid internship is a traditional starting point — but beware of its hidden dangers. Yes, your internship can build experience and connections,…