We Have to Let Students Go Bankrupt Again

 

http://www.mainstreet.com/article/moneyinvesting/credit/debt/we-have-let-students-go-bankrupt-again

 

 as appearing in The Street

 

 

 

BOSTON (MainStreet) — We've all heard the figures: Student loan debt in the United States now exceeds $1 trillion dollars, surpassing our nation's collective credit card debt.

Yet, unlike our credit card debt — or any other debt, for that matter — student loans for the most part cannot be discharged in bankruptcy. A report released in August by the Center for American Progress, though, calls for that to change.
 

Will the Government Now Monitor Your Credit Card Data?

 as appearing on TheStreet

http://www.mainstreet.com/article/moneyinvesting/credit/debt/will-government-now-monitor-your-credit-card-data

  

 

NEW YORK (LowCards.com) — The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is thinking of taking a new approach to "financial protection" by monitoring 80% of all credit card transactions in the United States. This would be done through a controversial data mining program that would evaluate up to 42 billion transactions in a single year.

Sneaky Late Fees: Avoiding the Discredit

http://www.mainstreet.com/article/moneyinvesting/credit/debt/sneaky-late-fees-avoiding-discredit

 

  NEW YORK (MainStreet) — How well do you know the fine print on your credit card's late fees? What do you think the impact on your credit score is? How can you avoid the late fees trap?
The average number of credit cards per U.S. household is six. In comparison, the figure for Canada is two. Speaking in purely mathematical terms, Americans are three times as likely to have a problem with late fees on their credit card as their neighbors up north! What can we do to even the odds?

Self-employment helping boomers stretch retirement savings

 

http://www.cnbc.com/id/100946094

 

There is one way to avoid outliving your money: Work longer, on your own terms.
You may not want to or be able to retire at 65 or 67, but so what.

Cutting the accelerating cost of car insurance

 

http://money.cnn.com/2013/08/01/autos/car-insurance.moneymag/index.html?iid=SF_PF_River

 

 The five-year increase in the price of motor vehicle insurance -- 23.2% -- is more than double the 10.7% rise in consumer prices, according to the Labor Department.

Claims, however, are at best just keeping up with inflation, says the Consumer Federation of America's Mark Romano: "You're certainly not getting any more for your money."

Should you have an accident, make sure your coverage pays off.
Road to recovery

Man Writes Own Credit Card Contract, Sues Bank for Breaking Terms

 

 

http://www.dailyfinance.com/on/man-writes-own-credit-card-contract-sues-bank-for-breaking-term/

  

When you get a credit card application, you have two choices: You can sign it and send it in, or you can decide you don't like the terms, and throw it in the trash.
 

Shopping for a Business Bank Account With Fewer Fees

 

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-08-12/shopping-for-a-business-bank-account-with-fewer-fees#r=nav-r-column

 

 

Question: Is it better to keep more money in my business bank account, or less? I don’t want to pay the stupid minimum monthly balance fee to the bank. The minimum is $15,000, which I can barely do. Is it worth the $17 fee per month, or do I have any alternatives?

The Cost of Chronic Disease

 

Chronic disease is a difficult challenge for afflicted individuals, and because of its pervasiveness it has also become a significant problem for the nation, causing 70% of U.S. deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Chronic health problems such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, cancer and kidney disease account for more than 75% of the nation's $2.7 trillion in annual spending for medical care, says Ursula Bauer of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Read more: http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2013/08/09/cost-chronic-disease/#ixzz2bmG9emjk

Tips for Deducting the Home Office

 

The home office deduction seems pretty straight forward, but like most parts of the tax code, there are nuances and eligibility requirements that can make claiming the deductions difficult.
Last week, a client explained that he has a home office but he doesn’t have a specific place set up in his apartment for his business. He lives in a two-bedroom apartment with a roommate who inhabits the second bedroom. He works at the business sometimes on the dining room table, oftentimes on the couch in the living room and in bed late at night. He stores inventory in the laundry room. “So how do I determine the deduction?” he wondered.

Read more: http://smallbusiness.foxbusiness.com/finance-accounting/2013/08/09/tips-for-deducting-home-office/#ixzz2bmGXirOU

What's Keeping You Up at Night: Affording Medical Bills

 

Imagine that you are steadily climbing the ladder in your career, have a great family life with two well-adjusted teenagers, and a beautiful home. The future could not look brighter.
Then...bam! Out of the blue you suffer a stroke. Or are diagnosed with cancer. The doctors happily assure you that you will survive since they caught it early. You sign up for the best medical care possible, but the treatment means taking several months off from work.

Read more: http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2013/08/12/boomers-top-worry-affording-medical-bills/#ixzz2bmFhJQj6