Consolidated Credit Finance Articles by Meghan Alard

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Teen contemplates credit card bill on a tablet

Half of Teens Don’t See Becoming Financially Independent as a Key Life Goal

Posted on May 25, 2018 by | Meghan Alard (5-minute read)

A new survey finds that only half of teens see achieving financial independence from parents as a key financial goal for the future.

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Students who are not holding onto savings can expert to pay more due to higher student loan interest rates

Student Loan Interest Rates Set to Rise Again for 2018-2019

Posted on May 21, 2018 by | Meghan Alard (3-minute read)

Federal student loan interest rates are set to increase for the second year in a row on July 1 of this year. Learn what parents and grads can do to keep education borrowing costs low to avoid problems down the road with student loan debt.

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Consolidated Credit debuts free financial literacy publications at NSU Thinking Money exhibit

Consolidated Credit Brings Free Financial Literacy Publications to NSU

Posted on April 30, 2018 by | Meghan Alard (2-minute read)

Consolidated Credit has partnered with Nova Southeastern University to provide a rack of free financial literacy publications at the Thinking Money exhibition at the Alvin Sherman Library.

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When is the Right Time to Retire Old Credit Cards?

Posted on April 24, 2018 by | Meghan Alard (3-minute read)

20 million people haven’t changed their primary credit card in 10 years, but are old credit cards effective or is it time for an update? Learn what to do with old accounts to avoid credit damage.

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Signing long term auto loans increases the total cost of financing

Are Long Term Auto Loans the Best Commitment?

Posted on April 20, 2018 by | Meghan Alard (3-minute read)

A new report finds long term auto loans are getting longer and longer, leading to more time in debt and higher costs due to added interest charges. Do borrowers really benefit from that commitment?

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What States Can Revoke Professional Licenses for Defaulted Student Loans?

Posted on April 16, 2018 by | Meghan Alard (4-minute read)

A Texas teacher lost his dream job as a teacher after he defaulted, and Texas isn’t the only state that does this. We detail what states can revoke professional licenses for defaulted student loans.

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WalletHub map showing the cost of debt repayment nationwide

Can You Afford the Cost of Debt?

Posted on April 6, 2018 by | Meghan Alard (4-minute read)

Another interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve means that the cost of debt for consumers just got higher again. WalletHub has revised their map of cities with the most and least sustainable credit card balances. Can you still afford to pay off your debt in a cost-effective way or do you need debt relief?

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Don’t Loan Credit Cards!

Posted on March 30, 2018 by | Meghan Alard (3-minute read)

If you thought lending money to family was a bad idea, consider that 36 million Americans admit they’ve run into trouble when they decided to loan credit cards to friends and family. Learn why it’s a bad idea and what you can do instead to help someone out.

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Dealing with Medical Debt Collections and Accident Liens

Posted on March 26, 2018 by | Meghan Alard (3-minute read)

If you took a trip to the emergency room after an accident, you might be surprised to learn you have a lien that gives the hospital a right to part of any claim you receive. It’s one way hospitals ensure they collect on your medical bills. We explain how to get out of medical debt collections.

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Will mobile banking ever catch up to online banking?

Is Mobile Banking Better?

Posted on March 23, 2018 by | Meghan Alard (3-minute read)

Millennials are the first to jump on new technology that makes their lives easier, but a new survey finds they also may be the first to dump tech that doesn’t perform like they expect. This survey shows the problems with our current mobile banking experience.

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Student loan debt problems lead to empty

Are Student Loan Debt Problems Holding You Back?

Posted on March 5, 2018 by | Meghan Alard (5-minute read)

The new Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell admits that student loan debt problems hold Americans back and could slow down economic growth. Learn how outstanding student loans can hurt your credit and what solutions you can use to fix your financial situation.

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Past due debt payment have hit an all-time high

Past Due Debt Payments at an All-Time High

Posted on March 2, 2018 by | Meghan Alard (3-minute read)

A new report finds that American consumers are breaking records with past due debt payments, while businesses are managing to keep up. If the economy is strong, then why are some many families facing collection accounts and credit damage?

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Aldi supermarkets are the newest target of credit card skimmers

Credit Card Skimmers Hidden in Plain Sight at Aldi Supermarkets

Posted on February 12, 2018 by | Meghan Alard (3-minute read)

Discount grocer Aldi is the latest company to be targeted by identity thieves. Credit card skimmers were camouflaged on top of payment terminals, storing card numbers and PINs for Aldi customers. We offer tips on how to protect your identity in a technology-driven world.

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Check to see how much is taken out of your paycheck this month to adjust your withholding

Check Your Paychecks This Month

Posted on February 5, 2018 by | Meghan Alard (4-minute read)

The Republican tax bill won’t affect your filing this year, but you may see tax benefits as soon as February 2018. According to the U.S. Treasury, about 90% of people will see more take-home income this month as the reform reduces how much is taken out of your paycheck. Here’s what you need to know…

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Good Debt vs Bad Debt

Posted on February 2, 2018 by | Meghan Alard (4-minute read)

A new study finds that 2 out of 3 consumers believe they will never be debt free, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing when you consider the difference between good debt vs bad debt. We explain the difference so you can get the right financing for your needs.

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Who is Most Likely to Default on Student Loans?

Posted on January 12, 2018 by | Meghan Alard (3-minute read)

Student loan debt problems don’t affect all demographics equally. Learn who is most likely to default on student loans and what you can do if you’ve defaulted on student debt yourself.

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Freezing your credit cards can support debt free living in 2018

4 Essential Steps for Debt Free Living in 2018

Posted on January 5, 2018 by | Meghan Alard (6-minute read)

If you’ve resolved to live debt free this year, Consolidated Credit has four essential tips for avoiding debt this year. You can also sign up for our Debt Free Living 2018 webinar

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Starbucks may soon offer coffee rewards through a co-branded Visa Chase credit card

Cash Back or Coffee Rewards?

Posted on November 14, 2017 by | Meghan Alard (4-minute read)

Coffee giant Starbucks announces a new credit card with coffee rewards for java fanatics, but is this is the right choices for caffeine addicts on a budget?

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Do You Have the Right Credit Score to Buy a House?

Posted on November 3, 2017 by | Meghan Alard (3-minute read)

A new survey reveals how much credit is a barrier to first time homebuyers. But what's the right credit score to buy a house and how do you achieve it?

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Shuffling a credit card balance from one card to another is an easy way to get turned around with debt

Don’t Play the Credit Card Balance Shuffle

Posted on October 23, 2017 by | Meghan Alard (4-minute read)

Trying to game the credit system to achieve a higher score can seem like a great idea, but one wrong move could land you in a heap of credit card debt.

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Seniors hold on to more unpaid credit card debt for longer

What is Unpaid Credit Card Debt Costing You?

Posted on October 16, 2017 by | Meghan Alard (3-minute read)

Nearly half of Americans carry unpaid credit card balances for more than two years. We calculate the cost of credit card interest charges over two years.

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