Budgeting apps
Check out these budgeting apps: mint.com (free) smartaboutmoney.com (free) bankrate.com (free) pocketmoney ($5) envelopes ($1) youneedabudget.com ($60)
Credit Reports
What is in your Credit Report? Credit reports contain: Personal Information such as: Current and Past Names Current and Former addresses Birth Date Social Security Number Phone numbers Credit Accounts Collection Items Public Records Where can you get your Credit Report? Federal law allow you to: Get a free copy of your credit report every [...]
What is a Credit Score?
Basically one of the most important numbers you will ever have any say in creating. A credit score helps creditors gauge your credit worthiness. Are you a risk to them (a low score) or are you worthy of giving more credit to (a high score). Credit scores range from 300 to 850. The higher the [...]
How to Reach a Million – part 3
Money Magazine's September issue focused on taking a page from the millionaires out there to reach your own financial goals. So how do you save money for the future when making ends meet today seems impossible? Per Money.com magazine, to free up money to save you should concentrate on your big spends - Home, Food, and [...]
How to Reach a Million – part 2
Money Magazine's September issue focused on taking a page from the millionaires out there to reach your own financial goals. So how do you save money for the future when making ends meet today seems impossible? Per Money.com magazine, to free up money to save you should concentrate on your big spends - Home, Food, and [...]
New Series: How to Reach a Million part 1
Wouldn't it be great to have some money to save? Or even to have some financial freedom? These days it is hard to do that right now, let alone think about being financially secure in the future. Yeah retirement. Experts say most people would need a million dollars to live with financial freedom after retirement. Money [...]
Wisconsin Means Testing
Bankruptcy laws enacted in 2005 required debtors to "pass" a means test before filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The means test is based upon your family size, geographical location, and income as determined by standards set by the IRS. The first part of the means test (currently Form 122A-1) looks solely upon the last six [...]
Federal Exemption Laws v. Wisconsin Exemption Laws
Bankruptcy Myth - You will lose all of your property when you file bankruptcy Short Answer - Not likely. The Bankruptcy Code requires the debtor to disclose all of their assets to the Court and the Trustee. This disclosure must accurately describe and give a reasonable value for their assets/property. Your assets include everything from [...]
Credit Counseling and Debtor Education
Every debtor filing for bankruptcy relief must complete credit counseling with an approved credit counseling agency prior to filing bankruptcy. Each debtor that completes this credit counseling will receive a certificate which then must be filed with the Bankruptcy Court at the time of filing of the bankruptcy schedules. In addition, every debtor must also [...]
Bankruptcy Hearings – Not as scary as you think
In most consumer bankruptcies (i.e. Chapter 7 and Chapter 13) you will only have one four-minute hearing your case. The hearing will be approximately 30 to 45 days after the date you file your bankruptcy. The hearing, which is mandatory, is called the 341 meeting of creditors and will be held in front of the [...]