Brett’s Story: The Price of Debt
Meet Brett, a full-time student living in Indiana, Pennsylvania who’s pursuing his PhD degree. What do you do? I’m in the second year of my program at Indiana University, pursuing a degree in Literature and Criticism. It’s the study of literature but using theories and criticism to discuss different pieces. What did your upbringing teach…
Read MoreWhat is a good interest rate?
You may have heard that there are only two kinds of people: those who pay interest and those who earn it. In reality, we all likely end up occupying both sides of that equation. The first thing to know about borrowing money and paying interest is that how much you pay depends on your credit…
Read MoreMeet Jonquille, a $1,000 Winner!
Jonquille lives in Florissant, Missouri with her two sons and works as a billing supervisor. Earlier this year, she pledged to save her 2018 tax refund with SaverLife, then submitted her story about what motivates her to save. We called Jonquille to surprise her with the news that she won $1,000. Check out her reaction!…
Read MoreHow can I get a loan for a cheap used car?
Hello, Saundra! How do I go about finding and choosing a certain type of loan (if one exists) that would enable me to quickly buy a cheap used car (around a couple thousand) that I could be able to pay back (with no job/income) with only the money I have saved from last semester’s student…
Read MoreI just completed a chapter 13 bankruptcy. Can I apply for a personal loan?
“Hi, I just completed a chapter 13 bankruptcy and would like to know if I can apply for a personal loan. Thank you.” Submitted by David N. Thanks for your question about life (and credit) after bankruptcy. This is a common situation and the good news is that getting Chapter 13 debt relief is not…
Read MoreWhat Is Interest?
The good, the bad, and the confusing! Interest can be your best friend (if you are earning it) or your worst enemy (if you are paying it). Interest is “the cost of money” you pay when you borrow (debt), or you earn when you lend (deposit money in a bank) money. Of course, our deposits…
Read MoreWhat Is APR?
Your Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is the interest you will pay over the course of a year. This doesn’t tell you how much you will actually pay if your interest is compounded in shorter increments. Our loans are usually compounded monthly, or for most credit cards, daily! YIKES! If you really want to know how…
Read More5 Things to Keep in Mind When Selecting a Savings Account
A savings account is one of the simplest bank accounts you can get. Nearly all U.S banks and credit unions offer savings accounts. It’s worth it to shop around because accounts have varying fees, minimum balances, and interest rates. Keep the following things in mind when selecting an account. FDIC Deposit Insurance You should only…
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