Personal Finance

Dos and don'ts of improving credit scores

Few things have a larger impact on borrowing and purchasing power than a positive credit score. A person who wants to make a purchase that involves a line of credit, such as buying furniture or financing a new car, must be aware of how his or her credit rating can affect the proceedings.
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How to improve your next loan application

Few people go a lifetime without applying for some type of loan. Whether the money will be used to finance an education or purchase a home, loans are an integral part of our economy.
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Things to consider before becoming a guarantor

Agreeing to be someone's guarantor on a loan is a selfless act. Men and women might seek a guarantor because their credit histories are short or nonexistent or because lending institutions view them as too risky to deserve a loan. However, the presence of a guarantor, a person who guarantees the loan will be paid should the borrower fail to live up to the loan's terms and conditions, can make the lending institution less skittish about loaning the applicant money and more likely to approve the application.
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Breaking down life insurance

Life insurance is widely considered a necessity for adults with dependents. Married men and women typically purchase a life insurance policy before or shortly after walking down the aisle, though some defer that purchase until they have children. Life insurance can be a significant and important investment, so it's wise for men and women of all ages to consider the following points about life insurance to determine if it's the right move for them.
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Financial lessons can begin during childhood

Money may not buy happiness, but money does make people feel more secure. Although money is not a way to measure self-worth, understanding its role in society can help mold a child into a responsible adult.

Many parents fail to recognize the significance of teaching children about finances, but it is never too early to impart lessons about money. Although some concepts may be difficult for younger kids to grasp, understanding money can help set youngsters on a positive financial path. Raising a responsible person is not only about advising him to avoid drugs and alcohol or to get a good education. It also is about how to manage money and save for the future.
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How to keep healthcare costs manageable

The cost of living is on the rise. Gas, groceries and even healthcare continue to become more expensive.

Healthcare, in particular, has become a burden to many people. The rising costs of medical care and prescriptions is making it difficult for many people to afford adequate healthcare. It's hard not to be impacted by the cost of healthcare, which is on the rise for a variety of reasons:
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Signs you may be heading for substantial debt

Many men and women with heavy debt are vague when asked to describe how they got there, often expressing a notion that the debt seemingly piled up overnight. Though it's possible to incur a substantial amount of debt in a short period of time, many debtors witness their financial pitfalls gradually increase, with interest rates adding up over time.
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Make early retirement a reality

Retirement is a goal for nearly every working adult. Long considered a time to enjoy the fruits of a life's worth of labors, retirement has become something else entirely over the last several years, when the struggling economy has convinced many aging workers that their opportunity to safely retire may never present itself.
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