The Color of Money
By Michelle Singletary
Seeking Protection on Payday Loans
Over the years, I've met too many people who were stuck in a hellish payday loan cycle, rolling one loan into another until the fees and outstanding balance crushed them.
Look For Signs of Fraud Against the Elderly
One out of every five Americans over the age of 65 -- that's 7.3 million seniors -- has been victimized by a financial swindle, according to a newly released survey by the Investor Protection Trust, a nonprofit education organization
Time for a Talk With Elderly Parents
To help with having the all-important conversation about my father-in-law's care and finances, I turned to a professional to get some tips on effectively having the talk
Earning a Clean Sweep On Life
Two parolees, as part of my annual Color of Money Challenge, have agreed to allow me to follow them through this year as they try to turn their lives around. I met them while volunteering to teach personal finance classes to soon-to-be released inmates, and they were among my best students.
Priceless Wisdom For Graduates
With thousands of college graduates moving this month into financial adulthood, I asked subscribers to my weekly e-letter to share the one piece of financial advice they received that made a difference.
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Shore Duty
By Sarah Smiley
Summer Plans Hit a Bump
Yes, our summer has hit a bump in the road. But Lindell's foot will heal. He will be running and playing by September. With this perspective in mind, I know we can manage the next 8 weeks.
The Modern Military Wife's Dilemma
The truth is that more times than not, being a military wife involves hard work and sacrifice, and very few rewards (the tangible, selfish kind). And yet most military wives will tell you that they love the military and its lifestyle.
Wanted: One Immortal Coffee Mug
Add a ceramic coffee mug with a poorly printed image of the Padres' stadium in San Diego, Ca. to the list of things that have almost destroyed our family.
Who's in Favor of Year-Round School?
Last Monday I went to the grocery store, as I always do, to stock up on food for the week. By noon on Tuesday, most of what I had bought was gone. It is officially summer. If you need me, I will either be restocking the pantry or drying pool towels.
Ford and Owen's "Divorce"
For reasons I don't fully understand myself yet, I decided that it is time for Ford to have his own room, and to move our youngest son, Lindell, 3, into the room with Owen. Ford, who will be 10 years old in November, is (outwardly) thrilled at the opportunity. Owen isn't taking it so well.
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Money Talk
By Liz Pulliam Weston
Walking Away from Upside-Down Rental Properties
My wife and I had two houses built for resale, then as you know, things went bad and the mortgages are costing more than we're getting in rent. I do make enough to keep this going but do not want to. Please advise.
Using Inheritance Windfall to Pay Off High-Rate Debt
In about three months, my wife and I will receive close to $20,000 thanks to an inheritance. We would like to pay off our credit card debt and close some of the accounts so as to improve our credit scores.
BP Stock Dive Caused Savings to Plummet. What Do I Do?
My mom has BP stock. Currently she is moving toward applying for Medicaid to pay for nursing home expenses, and I was advised to put the stock in my name. Now I am watching her stock (and savings) plummet. Do I take it out, or do you think it will come back and I should leave it alone?
High Student Loan Payments May Delay Home Ownership
I'm looking at payment options for when I graduate and am very scared for my family's future. I can't afford to pay $1,000 or more a month in student loans and I really want to buy a house so my family can have a home. What should I do?
Credit Report: Why "Too Many Inquiries" Note?
As part of our mortgage refinance, my wife and I were provided copies of our credit reports by the credit union. Our scores are great, but I was surprised to see in the negative remarks section a note that I had "too many inquiries". Some were unrelated to our loan application.
