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Debt Management vs. Debt Settlement

debt management vs. debt settlementby Casey Hynes in Lending Tree

Out-of-control debt has a way of taking over your life. High interest rates can cause your balances to climb higher each month, and the higher balances hurt your credit score, making it more difficult to obtain financing for important household expenses or personal needs. As the debt grows, so does your stress.

Fortunately, there are options for regaining control of your finances. Debt management and debt settlement programs can help you work with creditors to pay off your debts or pay a lump sum that is less than what you owe but still closes the account.

Continue reading this article in Lending Tree.

Low Cost Healthy Foods Are Easier Than You Think

By Tracy East, Consumer Education Services Inc.

Striving to eat the right foods and maintain a healthier lifestyle are goals that many people set for themselves. Low Cost Healthy Foods are in high demand for those who want to feel and look their best, but shopping for “the right” foods can seem daunting. With the heavily advertised “superfoods” and high-end health food stores that are everywhere today, retaining great nutrition may seem unattainable on a budget. Fortunately, the idea that you have to spend a lot of money to be healthy is a misconception. You can find an abundance of low cost healthy foods at any neighborhood grocery store. The foods listed below are not only simple to prepare, but also excellent for your body–and your bank account. [Read more…] about Low Cost Healthy Foods Are Easier Than You Think

How to Understand Your Credit Score

By Tracy East, Consumer Education Services Inc.

Does My Credit Score Really Matter?

Did you know you have not one credit score, but multiple credit scores? And here’s another surprise: Credit scores don’t just impact your financial world — they actually affect much more in your life. If you are looking to understand your credit score, we’ve got the scoop.

Your credit score is calculated based on the information contained in your credit report. You actually have 3 credit reports — one from each of the credit scoring bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. [Read more…] about How to Understand Your Credit Score

Is Eating Out Hindering Your Financial Success?

By Sarah Hall, Consumer Education Services Inc.

If you want to cut your expenses, one obvious place to start is evaluating whether you spend too much eating out.

Whether it’s ordering a pizza on a Friday night or picking up a burger for lunch on a Wednesday, the average American household spends more than 40 percent of their food budget on food away from home. And it’s far too easy to fall into bad habits that leave you reaching for a delivery menu at certain times of the week when you’re too tired to cook.

But, when you start relying on restaurant kitchens — and not your own — on a regular basis, those food costs start adding up quickly, using cash that might be better spent paying off debt, building your emergency fund or saving for retirement. [Read more…] about Is Eating Out Hindering Your Financial Success?

5 Tips to Help You Keep Track of Your Finances This Year

By Sarah Hall, Consumer Education Services Inc.

It can be pretty difficult to keep track of your finances when you don’t know the basics — how much you’re really earning and how much you’re really spending.

Sure, you may be aware of the number that should be on your paycheck, but is that the number that’s actually getting deposited into your bank account? Or, could your employer be deducting too much for health insurance or tax withholdings?

And, sure, you may know that you went out to eat a couple of times last week, but are you really being truthful with yourself about how much those dinners out cost you (and how often you grab a latte or burger on the run)? [Read more…] about 5 Tips to Help You Keep Track of Your Finances This Year