secured loan

If you are a first-time homebuyer and missed out on the $8,000 Homebuyer Tax Credit because you didn’t make the April 30th deadline, you still have tax incentives to look forward to in the future. One of the benefits of buying a home is that you can deduct the mortgage interest you are paying on [...]

Starting a business on a budget is no easy task. There’s always a product, gadget, gimmick, or location that someone’s willing to convince you that you need — the worst part is when you’re convincing yourself. After signing papers on my own space last Tuesday, I’m right in the thick of it, but got some [...]

There are a lot of strong feelings out there against credit cards. Plenty of folks insist that if you use credit cards, EVER, you are on the road to financial ruin. No matter how disciplined you are. It is true that credit cards have long been connected to the idea of “easy money” and instant [...]

There are many reasons that people end up with poor credit. You know, though, that in order to get access to loans for major purchases (especially a home), you need to have a good credit score. Even if you are approved for a loan, your bad credit can lead to higher interest charges, costing you [...]

If you want to build your credit, a common dilemma is you need a good credit to get a credit card. If you’re a student, you’re in luck because you can typically get a student credit card. However, if you are not a student, getting a credit card to build your credit could be a [...]

Debt consolidation loan is simply a type of loan obtained to pay off multiple loans. The good thing about this debt management tool is, it helps lower interest rates and allows you the freedom to pay a monthly lump sum instead of multiple payments. Put differently, a debt consolidation loan lets you rearrange your numerous [...]

One of the debates that goes on in the personal finance world revolves around the concept of whether or not some debt can be good. It is true that some debt (like a home mortgage) is viewed more favorably on your credit report than other debt (like a car loan). But, in practice, you are [...]

The global economy runs on a binge and purge cycle, which makes it especially difficult to stay steady and mindful on a personal level. It can be hard to resist living beyond your means during boom times, and even harder to keep your head up during the busts. But no matter how stormy it gets [...]

I came across “Chase Hiked My Minimum Payment To 5 Percent!” on The Consumerist today. This is bad news for Greg and his wife, because this hike increase their minimum payment $558 to $930 — which causes them significant financial stress. Although I sympathized with the dilemma that Greg and his wife are facing, I [...]

In this Ask the M-Network article, David admitted that he’s in a lot of debt and asked if he should take up his dad’s offer to get him out of debt. Should he count on dad to bail him out, or should he get out of this financial mess on his own? Here’s the question [...]