With our newly planned venture into real estate investing, I had to make sure Scott’s credit reports and scores were ready for lenders to see. I remembered an old service I used about a year ago from American Express, called CreditSecure, where you can get your free credit reports and scores. Free Money Friday, here […]
Archive for March, 2009
Getting Started in Real Estate Investing
Posted byWe had a great meeting with our potential real estate investing business partner. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was pleased with the outcome. We had a very open and honest discussion about finances, and we have a lot of the same goals and expectations. And because we’re both finance people, we also […]
What Worries You Most About the Economy?
Posted byI had lunch with some old coworkers last week and it became apparent, that I live in a bubble. Of course, I still see the news, but I don’t have the day-to-day discussions with people about how the economy is impacting individuals. I’m aware of job cuts, the stock market hitting 12 year lows, and […]
Lending Club Step-By-Step Guide
Posted byMy Lending Club portfolio is finally starting to take shape. If you haven’t signed up for a Lending Club account yet, here’s a step-by-step guide to becoming a lender and a sneak peak into what you’ll see once you fund some loans. For all the details on minimum investments, interest rates, and requirements, see my […]
Personal Finance A to Z
Posted byPhotography Jukebox Working on your finances each day can get pretty boring if you don’t spice it up once in awhile. Challenge yourself to think in a different way, or try something new today! Looking for a place to start? The personal finance alphabet is a fun way to work through your finances from A […]
I’m always on the lookout for free credit scores! Since it’s Free Money Friday, I thought it was the perfect time to highlight another one. Lazy recently told me about Credit Karma, which offers you free access to your credit score daily. How to Get Your Free Credit Score Enroll at Credit Karma. Verify your […]
Making Home Affordable Program Launched
Posted byThe details for the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan were released yesterday. The new title of the program is “Making Home Affordable.” There are two components for home owners, refinancing and loan modifications. Participation is voluntary and the lender has to choose to participate. Details of both plans are below. Home Affordable Refinance Borrowers who […]
Adventures in Real Estate Investing
Posted byI got an email from an old business associate this week. It’s always nice to hear what people have been up to… and even more interesting when they have a personal finance idea to share. He’s a real estate investor, and it turns out he is looking to expand. I’ve been interested in real estate, […]
Should We Downsize? More Considerations
Posted byLast week I asked: Should We Downsize? Many of you shared things to think about, your own situations, and additional considerations. The thoughts were very helpful, so I wanted to share some of them with everyone. Market Conditions Nickel suggested that depending on the market, sometimes more expensive houses fell further in value than the […]
15 Budget Trimming Tips
Posted byCutting back isn’t always easy, even when you know you need to or you are in a situation where you are being forced to cut back. For some inspiration for all of you, I went through our budget recently to see where we’ve saved in the past. If you are looking for places to save […]