When it comes to money, expecting the unexpected is easier said than done. That’s why troubling headlines like these should come as no surprise: Bankrate’s 2024 annual survey reveals these statistics, and the findings are even more dire for younger generations. However we look at…
From Crisis to Strength: How to Build Financial Resilience Now
Recession, in simple terms, is a significant, widespread contraction in economic activity over a period of time. In my adulthood, I’ve experienced three recessions: the “dot-com bust”, the Great Recession, and the COVID-19 pandemic-induced recession. Of these, the Great Recession, which spanned from December 2007…
Inflation 101: What You Need to Know
Who’s the richest person in US history? The answer is John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937). By the time of his death, his net worth was $1.4 billion, representing 1.5% of the entire US economy’s output then. Adjusted for inflation, his fortune would be worth $410 billion…
The Truth about Debt Relief Company: Helpful or Harmful?
With nearly two decades managing collection strategy for a leading credit card company, I’ve witnessed many economic booms and busts. Riding along these economic waves emerged an industry targeting financially distressed customers with a utopian promise: becoming debt-free. Debt relief companies first put down their…
In Credit Card Debt… Now What?
Credit card debt is a big problem in the U.S. How big is it, exactly? According to the results released by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, our total credit card debt hit $1.129 trillion at the end of 2023. Yes, that’s right: in…
Inch by Inch, Life’s A Cinch
In the realm of personal finance, the word “budgeting” comes up all the time. How do you feel about it when you hear it being said over and over again? If you feel restrained, deprived, stressed, overwhelmed, or likely to fail, you aren’t alone. In…