Those who get themselves into financially turbulent waters will sometimes seek a life preserver wherever they can. Sometimes, they reach out to a debt counselor. That can definitely be a wise move.
A skilled debt counselor can offer specialized knowledge gained through experience about which programs are effective and which are bogus. They have seen a [...]

Because the actual calculation, and sometimes even the discussions, of volatility involve some fearsome mathematics, novice options traders often forgo learning about it. Those traders are at a disadvantage compared to their more intrepid competitors. And unnecessarily so, since the concept is not only useful but simple to understand.
In essence, volatility is a measure of [...]

One very important element in your overall credit worthiness package is your FICO score. But what exactly is that and how does it affect your debt management choices?
FICO is an acronym formed from the letters of its founder, the Fair Isaac Corporation. It is a number between 400 and 800 that ranks credit worthiness according [...]

It might seem that developing a budget should be an elementary task. But many people are simply not inclined to use spreadsheets, balance checkbooks or lay out a formal budget. Whether by nature, or as a result of a reaction to public school mathematics training, some people just aren’t ‘number people’.
But everyone will find it [...]

Obtaining a home equity loan is a common method of refinancing debt and it has several advantages. But there are a few potential ‘gotchas’ that are worth considering before taking the plunge.
First, what is a ‘home equity loan’? The basic idea is simple: obtain a line of credit, secured by the equity in your home. [...]

The first step to handling any problem, and excessive debt is no exception, is to focus on facts. Here, that means finding out how much you actually owe and what the monthly payments and interest costs.
It’s surprising, though maybe it shouldn’t be, how many people that are troubled by debt problems, don’t actually know how [...]

Debt is closely tied to savings - the more you do the first, the less you have left over for the latter. Conversely, the more savings you have, the less you (usually) need or want to borrow. Since you’re paying out interest by borrowing, and (in some cases) simultaneously not getting interest by saving instead, [...]

There are several interlocking reasons to consider refinancing your mortgage. When rates are low, you can lower your monthly payment and/or the total amount of interest you will pay over the life of the loan. You may also want to take out some equity to finance home improvement projects or pay off other debts.
But as [...]

Inflation makes tomorrow’s dollars worth less than today’s. That makes borrowing more attractive to borrowers, but lending less attractive to lenders. In order to compensate, lenders raise interest rates, since (among other things) they too know that the dollars they will be repaid next month are worth less than the ones they loan out today.
So, [...]

It’s great to be able to trade a commodity where you wouldn’t mind actually taking delivery.
Coffee prices have been rising for the last two years, after a substantial dip. Producers haven’t completely recovered, but for the first time in several years optimism is on the rise.
Prices fell from around 129 to 113 cents per pound [...]