At first glance, June 2012 appears to be shaping up as a fairly big month for auto sales. Industry experts estimate that 1.2 million new cars will be sold by the end of June, a rise of 18% compared to last June, and the most cars …
Borrowing
5 Smart Strategies for Managing Your Debt
Consumers have been good about paying down their debt. But they stink at managing what debt remains. Here are five ways to keep control.
4 Rules for Getting a Car Loan
Americans are buying cars again in a big way, with new car sales expected to be up 30% year-over-year in May, continuing the trajectory of rising demand that’s been going strong all year. Given that most of us aren’t going to …
Does Financial Education Work? Clinton Global Initiative and PwC Bet $160 Million That It Does
The financial literacy movement is getting a valuable boost. At the second gathering of the Clinton Global Initiative America, which runs today and Friday in Chicago, the accounting giant PwC will unveil a $160 million campaign …
Saving for College: Most Parents Flunk the 529 Test
With student debt at $1 trillion and counting, and tuition rising 8% a year, it seems impossible that anyone would not know about the smartest college savings tool out there: the 529 plan. Alas, stunning numbers of Americans are in the dark.
More Americans Rely on Credit Cards for Basics Like Food and Gas
Americans are increasingly dependent on credit cards just to put food on the table and keep the lights on, a new study shows. Although we’re doing a better job overall paying our bills on time these days, many people are relying …
Insult to Injury: Rise in People with Student Loan Debt—and No College Degree
It’s bad enough to graduate from college with a mountain of student loans in a world where the prospects of landing a good job are terrible. But at least grads have something that should help their careers in the short- and …
What President Obama Wants You To Tell Your Kids About Money — and When
A useful new government website has just gone live, offering easy teaching points for parents who want to help their kids grow up knowing a thing or two about compound interest and 19 other key financial concepts.
The Subprime Generation: Stop Using Dubious Financial Services!
More young Americans – even those earning between $50,000 and $75,000 – are using payday lenders, prepaid debit cards and other questionable financial services. But there are better alternatives to those “alternatives.”
U.S. Households Still Digging Out of Recession-Related Debt
After the recession, many Americans began cutting back and slowly chipping away at their household debt. Unfortunately, this noble effort seems to have tapered off, according to a new University of Michigan study. In fact, according to the study, one in every five households now owes more in credit cards, medical bills, student loans and …
Has Graduation Season Become the Most Depressing Time of Year?
College graduation used to be filled with hope and excitement. Lately, though, it seems as if the feeling most likely experienced while dressed in cap and gown is that of dread, with visions of a future burdened by unemployment, …
Alumni Credit Card? First, Lose the Greedy Pitch
Colleges are slamming graduating students with credit card offers that sound sincere but amount to a hard sell. Yes, the right card will help build a good credit score. But watch out for the accompanying advice on how to go about it.