Loans

World Champions. Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? It was World Series Championship #11 in 2011 for the St. Louis Cardinals back in October when the home team capped off an improbable two months of baseball with a seven-game title-taking Series win over the favored Texas Rangers. Will it be #12 in 2012?

You could be front and center for the home opener Friday, April 13, when the Cardinals take on the rival Chicago Cubs. Can you say hot ticket?

Everyone’s looking to save money. That’s what you were doing when you looked to refinance your home. There were literally hundreds of dollars in savings per month with a new, lower mortgage rate. Trouble was, you weren’t sure your present financial status would look good to the lender, so you fudged a few items on your application. You stated your income was higher than it really was, and you didn’t disclose some of your debts. No biggie, right? Wrong. What you did was illegal.

It may surprise you to know that some seemingly innocent practices involving money can be illegal. Let’s take a look at a few so you don’t find yourself on the wrong side of the law.

Ah yes, there’s no place like home for the holidays, especially when you’re a college student. The food is free, the bed linens are fresh, and alarm clocks are simply clocks with no alarms. But after all the gift exchanges and jello-mold binges, school will call again. After all, there are classes to take and social functions to attend! So when you’re back in the Ramen noodles groove, taking notes on Steinbeck and creating imaginary business plans, here are some tips on saving money. Because as well all know, money seems to be in short supply in college after all the bills are paid.

Your brain is full of spiders, you’ve got garlic in your soul, Mr. Grinch!
I wouldn’t touch you with a 39-and-a-half-foot pole!

If only that 39-and-a-half-foot-pole attitude applied to holiday debt!

The holidays are usually a happy time with festive gatherings and joyful giving, but there lurks just under all that holiday cheer a Grinchy beginning to the new year…holiday debt. Many times credit cards are involved; we use them for all those gift purchases, which can cause us to stretch our budgets to dangerous levels. Money is spent that we don’t really have all in the name of an intoxicating spirit of holiday giving.

Now don’t get us wrong, there is absolutely nothing wrong with using credit cards for holiday purchases. There are advantages to using plastic. The problem comes when we use funds we don’t have and spend too much of the following year paying off all our holiday generosity. Not good. Like many things in life, using credit cards presents both advantages and disadvantages.

So your checking account is at a bank—like the U.S. MegaBank of Wealthy Stockholders… That’s okay, we won’t hold it against you. But your bank keeps adding more drama (and cost) to your relationship with more fees. Again? Well, keeping their stockholders happy is job one. Unfortunately, keeping YOU happy is job two … maybe even three or four. Don’t keep playing second fiddle to those huge entities out there in financial space. Break up with your bank! That’s right, cut the ties. Ditch the deviance. Move on to someone who will appreciate you and treat you with respect. And hey, we know just the credit union!

So maybe we’re a little impartial when it comes to places that offer financial services. O.K., we’re intensely impartial. We’re down with credit unions, all credit unions. We’re a pretty unique bunch of financial institutions, we are. But when people talk about credit unions as alternatives to banks, many times there are questions, which is good; you want to be as informed as possible when it comes to something as important as your money. So to put minds at ease, let’s take a look at some of the concerns involving credit unions.

Transition time! Baseball to football. T-shirt to sweatshirt. Dew on the lawn to frost on the roof. Are you ready for the big transition? How about your house? There are a number of things you can do to prepare your home for the unforgiving nature of a bold winter, both inside and outside. Here are some things to consider from our friends at genxfinance.com. Let’s start with outside your home:

Are you a Picker? It’s not really the latest thing, but it does seem to be one of the hottest things going. Picking is basically the old art of antiquing brought to the forefront by television shows like American Pickers and Antiques Roadshow. Do you frequent garage sales? Chances are you’re a Picker!

Some people drive by a yard sale and think, “Junk.” Others slow down and think, “Treasure hunt!” On more than one occasion a smart shopper with a keen eye has turned a $5 figurine purchase into a $500 sale to a collector. There are treasures to be found out there in the yards and garages of America, but what’s the best plan of attack to maximize your chances of success? Here are a few hints:

So the love affair with your present vehicle is over, the new car smell is long gone. Besides, your life has changed, you have different needs now. You require more (or less) room and better gas mileage. It’s time for a new car, or at least new to you. Have you considered a used vehicle? Many times it’s the smartest choice available. Why? Glad you asked …