Kevin Watts Graduating from Debt

Should Students Get a Credit Card for University?

credit cards
Today I have a guest post from Kevin Watts who writes at Graduating from Debt. Kevin graduated from college with $12,000 in student loans and has a strong desire to get rid of his debt.  Let's see what he to say about students getting a credit card for college. So, you are starting a new chapter in your life, one with more independence, and more financial independence. Having a credit card is a positive step towards financial independence; it is… Read the rest
Pile of Credit Cards

Your Credit Score Can Affect More Than Just Your Credit

credit cards
If you’ve ever tried to get a credit card, a car loan, or a mortgage, you know the importance of having a healthy FICO score. The score is determined by assessing your bill-paying history, the types of accounts you already hold, if you have any accounts in collections, the age of any current accounts, your outstanding debt, and the number of credit accounts you currently have. This score impacts the amount of credit a lender is willing to extend to… Read the rest

Arizona Charitable Tax Credits – No Itemization Required in 2013

income taxes
If you're in Arizona, you may be able to divert some of your tax dollars to charitable organizations, rather than to pay them to the state.  In 2010, I wrote about tax credits which were available to folks living in Arizona.  I was unable to take advantage of those tax credits because itemization was required, and we cannot itemize (not enough deductions). However, I recently learned that the tax laws were changed in Arizona, and beginning in 2013, you can… Read the rest

Examine Your Utility Bills Every So Often

frugal
Do you get your bills and pay them without taking a second glance?  What if your bill is higher than normal?   Do you just assume it's your fault and pay it? My mother came to live with me recently. She's very ill and can't live at her home but she is still paying the utility bills.  She's also still paying for her rental washing machine. I wrote about that in 2008, and now the machine is sitting there unused. Well,… Read the rest