Bills are a lot like bad weather. They’re going to come anyway, so you might as well not try to fix them, right? For some bills, that’s the case. For others, though, you can make a big difference in your monthly budget with a little legwork. One of the bills you can change is your car payment. Refinancing your auto loan can lead to a lower monthly payment, a shorter term, or both! It depends on a wide range of factors, including the value of your vehicle, how much you owe on your current loan, and your credit standing. If…

Q: Yikes! I’ve got a rent payment due in a couple of days. Payday will come too late and I’m a few bucks short! What can I do? A: Everyone can relate to this experience or one that’s similar. An unexpected bill or a short paycheck puts you behind, and you spend the rest of the month playing catch up. Finally, a big, important bill comes up and you’re out of backup plans. That grim feeling of panic creeps up your spine. Your heart races. This is a financial crisis! The first step is to silence that panic. Take two…

Debt may be a four-letter word, but it certainly has its place. A home mortgage, for example, is often necessary. Without the ability to borrow money to finance a home, most of us would be stuck renting, because who has hundreds of thousands of dollars for such a purchase? And a credit card with a reasonable rate and a manageable balance can help keep your credit score up and even provide rewards. However, debt does have a dark side. And it’s important to know when your use of credit is a good thing, as well as when it’s time to cut back…

If you feel like you’re drowning in debt, then debt settlement may seem like an appealing option. Debt settlement involves working with your creditors to settle your debt for less than you owe. Creditors are often willing to settle because debt collection agencies will purchase the debt for less than the balance anyway. And if you declare bankruptcy, they might not get anything. But what’s in it for you? And what are the drawbacks? How Debt Settlement Can Help Debt settlement relieves you of your debt without having to declare bankruptcy.  It’s a one-and-done deal and you have a clean…

Last month, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau took a handful of firms to court for collecting illegal fees from consumers looking to better manage their debt. The firms included Howard Law, P.C., the Williamson Law Firm, LLC, and Williamson & Howard, LLP. Attorneys Vincent Howard and Lawrence Williamson ran their debt relief operation alongside Morgan Drexen, Inc. Unfortunately, many people fall victim to debt relief scams or simply pay for services they don’t really need or benefit from. Here are red flags to look out for: Upfront Fees The Telemarketing Sales Rule clearly states that firms cannot charge fees upfront.…