Identity Theft: Repair Your Credit After Your Identity Has Been Stolen
If you've been the victim of identity theft, the Federal Trade Commission has made it easier for you to repair your credit. The FTC has one form for victims of identity theft to report the crime to your creditors and credit reporting bureaus. The FTC says all three credit reporting agencies and…
Use these online tools to raise money-savvy kids who make smart financial decisions.
Creating Financial Goals For Your Stage In Life
Defining your goals is an important tool for tweaking your personal finances. It gives you something to dream about at night, and something to work towards during the day. Saving money can be different at different stages of your life. Do you need to save for a mortgage? Student loans? Retirement…
Frequently Asked Credit Card Debt Questions
Frequently asked questions about credit cards, debt, credit history and credit score.
Using Inheritance Wisely To Pay Debts
Homeowners received a large inheritance and aren't sure how to use it to pay down their debts. Paying off credit card debt is the first step. After the debt is paid off, you can start thinking of investments that are right for you.
A CFP is a certified financial planner. A ChFC is a Chartered Financial Consultant. How do you know which will be best to help with your financial planning?
Nine Reasons To Pay Off Your Credit Card Debt
While paying the minimum amount owed each month, on time, shouldn't damage your credit score, there are good reasons to pay off your credit card debts, not to mention your other loans like auto loans and school loans, and wipe your credit slate clean. Stop paying interest. Keep credit open in case…
Money Management Week Brings Financial Education To The Masses
Chicagoans aren't as financially savvy as industry experts would like. Local banks, lenders, schools and credit unions are banding together to create a money management week to education people on their finances. Financial education programs are being offered in several languages.
Evaluate Your Personal Finances Before Renovation
Before you start on a home renovation project, take stock of your personal finances. Figure out how much you have to spend and then set the budget accordingly. Make sure you know what your renovation dollars will bring back to you in home value appreciation.
Personal Finance Advice: Save More Money
Each presidential administration launches new plans to help people save and invest money. The Bush administration introduced Lifetime and Retirement Savings Accounts, which were similar to Roth IRAs. Learn also about personal finance advice about saving money in 529 college savings plans.
Are Your Kids Spenders Or Savers?
What you teach your kids about personal finances while they're young can make all the difference. The first way kids can get personal finance-savvy is by looking to their parents as an example.
The One Minute Millionaire: The Enlightened Way to Wealth
The One Minute Millionaire is a revolutionary approach to building wealth and a powerful program for self-discovery as well, by Mark Victor Hansen and Robert G. Allen. Here are two books in one, fiction and nonfiction, designed to address two kinds of learning so that you can fully integrate these…
Recent economic news hasn't been too encouraging, with foreclosures at their highest level ever and businesses not making investments that keep the economy rolling. With all the bad news, cutting back on your own spending will help you protect yourself from any downfall. If you can spend less and…
Build Credit Using Credit Cards, Not Debit Cards
Have a good credit score and history is critical to buying a home. What can you do if you're trying to improve your credit history to buy a home? Use credit cards wisely. Debit cards do not count toward building a credit history and score. If you can't qualify to get a credit card, you should set up…
Summer Book Reviews To Help Your Finances
WGN'S Money Saving Expert Ilyce Glink has a few suggestions for when you're sick of those summer beach novels. It would be nice to while away a few hours on a mystery thriller this summer, but if you're looking for something that'll help you find a job or make you a millionaire, Ilyce Glink got a…
201 Great Ideas for Your Small Business
The first edition of 201 Great Ideas was hailed by the Merrill Lynch Business Center as "a book any small-business owner will want to have in easy reach." Now, answering the need presented by a much-changed commercial climate, entrepreneurial journalist Jane Applegate has thoroughly retooled the…
50 Simple Steps You Can Take To Disaster-Proof Your Finances
Disaster-proof your finances with advice from Ilyce R. Glink. The best time to plan for trouble—the death of a spouse, the collapse of a business, the loss of your home—is before you’re overwhelmed by it. This is especially important if you have a family or a small business or are beginning to save…
Saving Money On Home Improvement Projects
Planning ahead can save a lot of money when taking on a do-it-yourself home improvement project. Since May is home remodeling month, many homeowners are making plans for home improvement in their bathrooms, kitchens and the exteriors of their homes. Here's how to create a workable budget for your…
How To Save Money On Your Telephone Bills
The final installment in WGN's Money 101 segment shows how to save money on telephone bills. Telephone companies have a way of sneaking in new rate plans and fees when consumers aren't paying attention. Here are a few steps for avoiding those pitfalls and saving money on your bills.
Personal Finance Advice For Women
In this Money 101 segment on WGN, the topic is women and money. When it comes to personal finances, women need to understand personal finance basics and be proactive in managing their financial lives. Those women who delegate financial management to their partners often are in for a rude awakening…
Get Clark Smart: The Ultimate Guide to Getting Rich From America's Money-Saving Expert
With practical tips and on-line resources, Howard helps readers to get rich by saving money in unexpected places and investing those savings creatively. Howard has a passion for saving money and a zealot's enthusiasm for sharing everything he's learned. His strategies for getting rich by saving…
Personal Finances: Women Start To Take Charge Of Money
Women used to let their husbands and fathers manage their money. As time goes by more women are taking control of their personal finances. Learn what you can do to build wealth and have healthy personal finances.
Smart Couples Finish Rich: 9 Steps to Creating a Rich Future for You and Your Partner
Fighting about money is the #1 reason for divorce in America. From first-time newlyweds at the start of new careers to people marrying later in life or on their second or third marriage, couples face an overwhelming task when creating and managing a two-income household. Most couples find themselves…
Health Insurance: Rising Costs Affects Employees
As the cost of health care rises, so does the cost of health insurance. As health insurance costs rise, employers are putting more of that extra cost on employees. Employees are facing higher health insurance costs because doctor and hospital fees are going up, as are the prices for prescription…
Personal Finance Goals For The New Year
What are some actions you can take to improve your personal finances? To improve your personal finances you should save money for an emergency fund, not buy anything you don't need and put together an estate plan. Following these tips will put you on more firm financial footing.
