My Columns

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

By: Howard Dvorkin

When applying for a credit card, more Americans are interested in identity theft protection and keeping more money in their wallet.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

By: Howard Dvorkin

According to the population, recently polled 23,000 people in 17 countries and asked what factors make up “the good life.” The top five responses: good health, financial security, time, leisure, and more.

By: Howard Dvorkin

What’s your biggest financial regret from 2017? The answers were predictable, but not at the levels I was expecting. Respondents checked all that applied, which is why the total is more than 100 percent. Running up credit card balances, missing payments, letting debt go into collections, and more.