2025-26 FAFSA will open on Dec. 1 — Here’s how to prepare
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid for 2025-26 will be available for all students and contributors on or before Dec. 1, the Education Department says. Typically, students have access to the coming academic year’s form in October, but this year’s delayed release follows a “phased rollout” meant to address reported issues from the 2024-25 […]
Personal Loan: What is a debt trap and how to avoid getting into one?
Financial constraints are a reality for many at some point in their lives. In challenging times, taking out a loan can provide temporary relief. However, this can sometimes lead to a more significant problem known as a debt trap. What is a debt trap? A debt trap occurs when you take on new debt to […]
What ‘No Spend September’ is and how to know if you should participate
Solstock | E+ | Getty Images Victoria Szafarski currently has $10,000 in credit card debt. The New Yorker’s outstanding balance peaked at $25,000 last year, before she took on a second job as a waitress for a few months. The extra cash Szafarski brought in helped her make headway paying down the debt and increase […]
How to cut down your wedding guest list to save money
Victor Dyomin | Moment | Getty Images Many wedding costs, such as meals, invitations and favors, are based on your headcount. The average cost of a wedding ceremony and reception in 2023 was $35,000, according to The Knot 2023 Real Weddings Study. The total cost is a $5,000 increase from 2022. “The No. 1 way to save money on […]
Credit card consolidation: How to effectively pay off debt? Here are 6 key ways
As reported by TransUnion CIBIL, the average credit card debt per borrower in India was approximately ₹36,000 in 2021. While this figure may not seem alarming at first glance, the reality is that many individuals struggle with substantially higher credit card debt, often exacerbated by the temptation to swipe that plastic card for every purchase. […]
Here’s how to get lower interest rates without a Fed rate cut
The Federal Reserve left rates unchanged last week and signaled that only one cut is expected before the end of the year. That means anyone who carries a balance on their credit card won’t be getting much of a break from sky-high interest charges. “Consumers need to understand that the cavalry isn’t coming anytime soon, […]
Here’s how to avoid surprises with home maintenance costs
Senior couple repairing kitchen cabinet at home Momo Productions | Digitalvision | Getty Images Alex Marrero and his wife bought their first home this spring in Coral Springs, Florida — and the couple has already spent nearly $17,000 on home maintenance, repairs and installations. While they knew they needed to do improvements from “the minute […]
How to personally audit your financial life to ensure you are on track
In this article, while we will try to establish a structure to personal financial audits, we should also acknowledge that since we are emotionally attached to our finances (and we also have our own biases), it would be necessary at times and for some people to have some external intervention, like getting professional investment advisers […]
How to manage your personal loan efficiently? Here are 5 best ways
Personal loans play an important part in the financial landscape, providing individuals and businesses with the financing they need to fulfill their objectives. Effective loan management, on the other hand, necessitates a complete grasp of the loan lifecycle as well as the use of best practices at each stage. Personal loans are a useful instrument […]
Personal loan: How to get your application approved? 6 important factors to keep in mind
Lenders examine myriad factors when reviewing your application for a personal loan to assess your eligibility and determine the interest rate you can receive. They want to lend money responsibly and make sure borrowers can afford to repay it, so they are cautious in their evaluations. The following are some important factors that affect the […]