From the moment we’re born, we’re taught that borrowing money is normal and, dare I say it, expected. From mortgages to car loans to $700 smartphones we pay for over 24 months, we’re taught to spread the pain of our purchases over the course of many months or years. Obviously, this mindset isn’t always bad. With housing […]

What’s inside? Here are the questions answered in today’s reader mailbag, boiled down to summaries of five or fewer words. Click on the number to jump straight down to the question. 1. Upside-down on older vehicle 2. Buy house now or later? 3. REI annual dividend question 4. Common knowledge versus perspective 5. Parents without […]

What’s inside? Here are the questions answered in today’s reader mailbag, boiled down to summaries of five or fewer words. Click on the number to jump straight down to the question. 1. Time for bankruptcy protection? 2. Alternative options for cremation costs 3. Tough decisions in retirement 4. Technical writing options 5. What’s next after […]

The two most popular credit scoring brands, FICO and VantageScore, both feature a current credit score range of 300 to 850. It’s common knowledge that the higher your credit score, the better. Yet, if you are like most consumers, you probably wonder what score you need to qualify for the best interest rates and the […]