Credit & Loans

Microfinance as a means of poverty alleviation has been widely debated. This article sheds light on an evolved, organised and restructured version of the microfinance model which may become the new way forward.

I explain what a Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) score is. This article explains exactly how your credit score is determined and ways to improve your credit rating or get new credit.

You can take steps to keep your credit score high. Your credit score or credit rating is weighed when you want to borrow money to make a major purchase such as buying a car, taking a mortgage, or applying for a credit card. It is your financial responsibility to keep an eye on your credit score.

Predatory lending—unfair, deceptive or misleading practices in the origination of loans—can set traps for you when you buy a house or car, or need emergency cash.

In 2020, there are many credit card options to choose from. In this article, I review the benefits and options of the Chase Freedom Unlimited Card. Is this card a viable Cash Back Rewards card in early 2020?

In this article, I take a look at the Chase Freedom rewards credit card as a way of accumulating rewards. This is a beginner credit card that has been around for a few years.

A reverse mortgage may be more expensive and riskier than other alternatives.

What are balance transfers? How can they help you save money? All of your questions on balance transfer credit cards will be answered in this informative article.

Find out how consolidating your student loans can save you thousands of dollars. If you have just finished college and you have student loans, reading this article could be beneficial.

With all the new competition in the card market, I look at areas where consumers can benefit, whether these practices are sustainable, and what areas the local banks should be concerned about.

This article will help breakdown the process of changing loan servicers and offer ways to make sure you are making your payment to the right people protecting you as the borrower.

Earnin is an app that lets you take out up to $500 of your paycheck before payday. But it has some drawbacks. Read my review, and learn that it's totally legit and free, but not always the best financial choice.

This article will help you understand what refinancing is and when a good time to refinance may be.

Interested in getting the best cash back rewards? This article goes over some of the top credit card offers in 2019 to help you make the best choice.

Certain watches are not just wearable art but also stores of value. I would like to share how I went about buying my Patek Phillipe watch, which I consider a financial asset.

If you find yourself in need of cash between paycheques, whatever you do, do not get a payday loan. Payday loans (even in Canada) are a huge rip-off. Read on to find out why payday loans should be outlawed and what your other options are when you find yourself in a tight spot.

If you are struggling to come up with the down payment required to purchase a home, the down payment assistance program may be able to help pay some or all of your down payment or closing costs.

Many identity-theft-protection and credit-reporting companies offer services that claim to scan the dark web for the user's personal information. However, is it really possible for these companies to scan for this information, and if they can, is it a service worth paying for?

Before making a big purchase, such as a car or a house, it’s a good idea to check your credit score if you are planning to apply for a loan or mortgage. Some websites offer free credit reports, but beware of hidden charges.

How to cancel a credit card by calling or sending a secure message. Learn about how closing a card can hurt your credit score and how to decide when it's a good idea to close it.

401(k) loans are generally discouraged by "financial advisors." I have taken out 401(k) loans three times in my life and I have not regretted it yet. Here, I discuss the pros, the cons, and the gray area in between.

Do college students really need credit cards? Are credit card companies using unethical tactics to lure young adults into a lifestyle of debt?

You've been sued for a credit card debt! The purpose of this article is to help consumers determine if a lawsuit has been filed by an original creditor (the credit card bank with which you opened an account) or a debt buyer (a company who purchases defaulted accounts).

This article discusses 25 prepaid debit card fees and how much you can expect to pay in fees with certain prepaid cards.

Do you want to raise your credit score simply and quickly? Of course you do! Use these seven super simple ways to super-boost your credit score fast, and you will see exciting results in 60–90 days.

If you have an amortization problem to solve, it's possible to find all the data that you need with a financial calculator instead of creating a table. Find out how with a TI BAII+ calculator in a few steps.

If you have an amortization problem to solve, it's possible to find all the data that you need with a calculator instead of creating a table. Find out how with an HP 10bII+ calculator in a few steps.

Check out these three good cash back credit cards I use to get money back and bonuses.

Here I will chronicle our family's journey to becoming debt-free and living within our means.

Credit cards are promoted for their convenience. There are downsides to using them, however. Here is a list of reasons why credit cards can be a bad thing.

From a former mortgage loan officer, learn how to determine the costs and calculate the savings of a refinance of your home loan. The types of loans available is discussed, along with the pros and cons of each.

SoFi is a private financing company that offers student and personal loans to qualified applicants. Here's my experience getting a loan from them.

Here's how to improve and fix your credit rating quickly.

Is a credit card a convenient tool, or is it an expensive way to borrow that can saddle you with serious debt? This article looks at the pros and cons.

The private student loan system in the US is broken and Sallie Mae/Navient is the worst offender. I aim to educate student loan borrowers and campaign for change for those already in over their heads.

This article is all about APR. What APR is, why we use APR, some limitations of APR, and an example on how to calculate the APR.

Financial child abuse describes the abuse of a child’s identity, credit report, or financial resources. Find out what leads to financial child abuse and what are the signs to look for.

What is with all this hype regarding Prosper.com and other peer to peer lending networks? Can you really get a personal loan at a reasonable rate from a group of complete strangers? Well I will try and explain all you'll need to know and hopefully...

Building your credit score is difficult, especially when you have limited credit. Here are 5 steps to building your credit score quickly from 0 to 700 in 6 months.

Pawn shops and how they work--why you won't get top dollar for your items.

A look at what to do if you can't pay your Provident loan back. If you miss your payments, will you incur extra interest charges? What happens if you can't pay your Provident loan back?

Do credit cards lead to unnecessary buying? This author thinks they do, and explains why, and the pitfalls of the system.

There are many reasons why you should NOT get a private student loan. If I can warn you about one thing, avoid Sallie Mae's private student loans at all costs! And here's why...

Learn the types of mortgage home loans available, along with the pros and cons of each, how to save on interest payments, get local disinterested advice, and what to look out for at, and after, closing.

Information about what bankers or loan officers look at when you apply for a loan.

Tips and tricks to pay off student loan debt fast.

Need a student loan but can't get a cosigner? Learn the steps to getting student loans without cosigners.

This article will explain the different types of loans available for senior citizens.