As the NBC show The Office illustrated humorously, declaring bankruptcy involves more than just verbally declaring “bankruptcy.” In fact, it’s a complex process that involves substantial legal paperwork. Here’s a look at how various bits and pieces—including your expected tax return—fit into the bankruptcy process.
Bankruptcy Documents You’ll Need
While the specific documentation required to file for [...]

Hopefully, when you receive your credit card bill each month, you scan the itemized charges to make sure nothing looks amiss. And, if you do, at some point you may notice a charge for something you didn’t buy – or a charge that rang up incorrectly, or a charge with the decimal in the wrong [...]

New legislation that went into effect this week outlaws a number of practices by credit card issuers, which is good news for consumers. However, there will still be loopholes for these companies to take advantage of in The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009.
Michelle Singletary of the Washington Post broke down [...]

There’s nothing like a mid-winter electric bill to get me motivated to start saving money. So, assuming others feel the same way, here are some money-saving tips that might help you trim your costs today.
Insulate Your Pipes
Consumer Reports offers this tutorial on how to take a couple hours to save yourself serious money on heating [...]

A recent post from WalletPop.com discusses a troubling (and preventable) identity crime that has harmed the finances of more than a couple Americans.
Here’s what you need to know to make sure you don’t become a victim of identity theft when you’re just trying to pay your bills.
How the Scam Works
If you make payments by dropping [...]

If you’ve ever watched television, you’ve probably seen at least one commercial for a furniture store that advertises zero percent financing for a given amount of time. This post explores what that means for you financially and how no interest can compare to paying cash.
What Zero Percent Means
While the specifics may differ depending on the [...]

Record Levels of Home Affordability
Almost 75 percent of American homes are affordable to those making the median U.S. income, according to a new report from the National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo.
This return to affordability marks a dramatic change in the housing market. As recently as 2008, the rate of houses sold that [...]