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8 Ways to Manage Money Stress
By: Geoff Williams
If you feel like it’s professional financial help you need for your money stress rather than a therapist, there are free places to go for that, says Howard Dvorkin, a CPA and chairman of Debt.com. “Your bank or credit union probably offer free online budgeting tools that can help you squeeze every last dime from your income. And nonprofit credit counseling agencies often offer free, in-depth debt analysis over the phone,” he adds. “Do-it-yourself solutions are mostly played out,” he says. “There are only so many coupon and gasoline apps you can download.”
4 low-cost ways to consolidate debt while rates are high
By: Aly Yale | Source: Money Watch – CBS News
“The best way to pay as little as possible is to work with a debt professional who can get you on a debt management or debt settlement program,” says Howard Dvorkin, chairman of Debt.com. “A debt management plan can cut your total debt payment by up to half by reducing or eliminating the interest rates.”
How the lifestyle and expectation for Gen Z in the workplace don’t line up and is causing grief.
By: John Morales and Glen Lewerenz | Source: Relevant Radio
It’s tough to start out as a young person. The American Dream is going to be very difficult for Gen Z to obtain. Moving out of mom and dad’s house is going to be a struggle.
3 ways to settle your debt without hurting your credit score
By: Aly Yale | Source: CBS News MoneyWatch
“Yes, in the very short term your credit score may drop, but if you make payments on time and in full, your score will soon rise,”
How does ‘buy now, pay later’ affect your credit score?
By: Beth Deyo | Source: Bankrate
“If they report and you go out and get five of these loans, it looks like you’re desperate for credit,” says Howard Dvorkin, CPA and chairman of Debt.com. “You have to be very careful.”
The $76,000 reason you should shop around for a mortgage right now
By: Alisa Wolfson | Source: MarketWatch
“I’ve had clients who drive for miles to find the cheapest gas, but they don’t put in the same effort to find an affordable mortgage. The reason is simple, homebuying is complicated and it’s easy to get overwhelmed to the point that you simply rely on your bank for a mortgage,” s
How to establish credit for adults with disabilities
By: Katie Kelton | Source: Yahoo Finance
“Your biggest challenge has nothing to do with your body or your mind,” says Howard Dvorkin, chairman of Debt.com, who advises people with disabilities about applying for credit. “It has everything to do with your income and your debts. Lenders only care if you can pay back what they give you.”
Debt.com Survey: Americans Are Maxing Out Credit Cards to Cope With Inflation and Make Ends Meet
By: Mike Senecal | Source: BadCredit.org
“We get a good sample, dig through it, and ask questions,” Dvorkin said. “It’s clear that America’s ongoing love affair with debt has evolved.”
Financial experts say debt consolidation can help you get ahead of credit card debt, but it won’t fix everything
By: Holly Johnson | Source: Business Insider
The thing is, debt consolidation doesn’t always work, and for more reasons than one. According to Howard Dvorkin of Debt.com, “all it takes is human nature” for the best-laid debt payoff plan to fall apart.
Debt consolidation vs. debt settlement: Which option is right for you?
By: Tim Maxwell | Source: Money Watch – CBS News
“You consolidate your debts through a nonprofit credit counseling agency,” says Dvorkin. “You get a free in-depth debt analysis from a trained credit counselor, and you make one monthly payment that covers the principle and drastically reduces interest rates on all your cards. It costs money to have those counselors working with you, but the fee dwarfs the savings.”
How to Start Building Credit at 18
By: Casey Bond and Dawn Papandrea
“One big advantage is that secured cards are relatively easy to get. Another is that parents can be assured their children aren’t overspending,” says Dvorkin. “Otherwise, it’s like learning how to be a trapeze artist without a net.”
Seven Steps Couples Should Take Before Blending Their Finances
By: KIPLINGER ADVISOR COLLECTIVE | Source: Kiplinger
“Don’t blend everything. To keep a healthy marriage, keep some money for yourself. If your partner craves the latest iPhone and you collect rare comic books, you don’t need to fight. Instead, budget for both. Agree on how much ‘fun money’ you two will set aside, whether it’s a percentage of salary or a dollar figure. That won’t stop each of you from being judgy, but it will stop you from arguing.”
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Does Debt Lead to an Early Death?
By: Howard Dvorkin
Stress can take years off of your life. Many relate stress to work, but what about debt? Debt-related stress isn’t any different.
You’ll Never Guess How Many Americans Know Budgeting Is Important
By: Howard Dvorkin
Results from one of our recent polls shows most Americans think a budget is important, and even better, most use a budget.
Recession 2018: What We Can Learn from Natural and Man-Made Financial Disasters
By: Howard Dvorkin
What do financial disasters and a man-made recession have in common? Not much, other than they’re both catastrophic to our finances.
What This High Schooler Learned While Applying For 96 Scholarships
By: Howard Dvorkin
“I have put in 250-300 hours to scholarship applications,” he says proudly, almost defiantly. “I have applied for approximately 96 scholarships now, and I plan to keep adding on to that number so that I can increase my chances of winning more money to reduce my college expenses.” Read more.
Here’s Why I Appreciate Debt Collectors
By: Howard Dvorkin
Are debt collectors evil people or a necessary evil? I’ll choose the latter. Debt collectors are just doing their jobs. Of course, some do it too enthusiastically — and even illegally.
You Won’t Believe How Much “Impulse Buying” Really Costs You
By: Howard Dvorkin
Americans love to impulsively buy frivolous items. But the amount we spend in impulse buying could end up tanking the economy – if we don’t slow down.
A Secret Look Into How The Credit Card Companies Try To Separate You From Your Money
By: Howard Dvorkin
When applying for a credit card, more Americans are interested in identity theft protection and keeping more money in their wallet.
How America Can Get Out Of Debt: Pay Everything Monthly
By: Howard Dvorkin
This payment schedule appears to cause several problems for homeowners and local governments; it can create financial challenges for households, increase tax delinquency, foster political opposition to the property tax, and requires governments to deal with irregular revenue inflows.
Buying A New Car? Avoid These Evil And Awful Fees
By: Howard Dvorkin
Buying a new car? Beware of car dealership fees. They’re a sneaky trick most car dealerships try to pull, but you can learn to avoid them.
3 Weird Financial Facts: Too True To Be Good?
By: Howard Dvorkin
A company called First Insight polled 1,000 Americans earning more than $100,000 a year and learned: “42 percent of affluent shoppers now frequently shop at discount retailers versus only 27 percent at full price retailers, with 36 percent saying their discount shopping has increased.”
Why You Should Avoid Bitcoin At All Costs (Hint: Because It Will Cost You)
By: Howard Dvorkin
First, borrowing against your home is risky — and frankly stupid. You’re betting your family’s future on a risky investment you can’t control. As Debt.com has reported before, a home equity line of credit can result in foreclosure if you don’t do it responsibly. Read more.
Debt.com Scholarship Winner Defeated Personal And Financial Demons
By: Howard Dvorkin
Learn how this scholarship winner got rid of her financial problems. Isabella McQueen is the latest winner of the Debt.com Scholarship for Aggressive Scholarship Applicants. McQueen grew up in New York. Her parents were teachers, but they had a lot to learn themselves about finances.