Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Is It Good News Or Bad News That Less Medical Debt Is Showing Up On Consumers’ Credit Reports?
Finally, a piece of good news about consumer finances after a yearslong onslaught of gloom and doom. More than half of American households have $400 or less in savings, which means that the only way they could afford an emergency expense in that amount is by borrowing money or charging it on a credit… Read More »
Does The Cash Diet Method Of Debt Repayment Really Work?
If you are no longer new to adulthood, it is hard not to smile when young people find out about the trends that were popular in their youth and think that they were the first to discover them. Most of the latest fads on social media aren’t new at all; they are just being… Read More »
Credit Counseling In Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Cases
If you have been struggling with debt for years, then filing for bankruptcy protection is a reasonable and admirable New Year’s resolution. Even though the court aims to make the process of filing for bankruptcy as accessible as possible, it is not as simple as submitting a form and instantly watching your debts disappear. … Read More »
Odometer Fraud Is On The Rise In Pennsylvania And Elsewhere
In certain parts of Miami, Los Angeles, and New York City, most of the people you see are considerably older than they look. Just as the phenomenon of people drinking from the artificial Fountain of Youth is concentrated in certain areas of the country, so is the phenomenon of vehicles lying about their age. … Read More »
What If That Freebie Is Really A Loan With A 1,000 Percent Interest Rate?
If you bought your house a decade or more ago and are still current or mortgage payments, this is a source of pride and security, even as all your other financial circumstances come crashing down. The past few years have shown us how financially vulnerable all except the wealthiest Americans are; even the upper… Read More »
Debt Consolidation Can Help You Break Free From Predatory Loans
If you have made a New Year’s resolution to reduce your debt this year, you have probably been researching strategies for accomplishing this. Most of what shows up at the top of the list of Google search results will tell you to increase your income and reduce your expenses. While this is sound advice,… Read More »
Does It Matter Which Day Of The Month You Make Credit Card Payments?
If you are wondering about the best way to pay down your credit card debt, you should be grateful, because it means that you either have enough income each month to pay down debts, or you have a specific plan for how to get enough income to do that. You might have been looking… Read More »
Is It Safe To Buy A Salvage Title Or Rebuilt Title Car?
Only the wealthiest people and those with the best credit can afford to buy new cars, so if you are in the market to buy a car, you will probably end up with a used one. “Used car” is a vague term, however, covering everything from a shiny, certified pre-owned vehicle to a jalopy… Read More »
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Instructs Credit Reporting Agencies To Remove Bald-Faced Lies From Consumers’ Credit Reports
Did you hear the one about the guy who continued paying his bills on time even after he was dead? Did you hear about the lady who applied for her first car loan before she was old enough to get a learner’s permit, or the one who opened a credit card account several years… Read More »
Even The IRS Forgives Debts Sometimes
Even with the tax credits available to people who have no sources of income other than the work of their own hands, the feeling of owing money to the IRS but not being able to pay it is all too familiar to many working Americans. How many times have you filed for an extension… Read More »
