I'm getting a law degree but I hate being adversarial. Any ideas for something fun to do with this degree? [more inside]
posted on Jul 18, 2008 - 22 answers

Bridesmaid stress: My friend's wedding is costing ME a huge amount of money (it'll be over a 1000$ all said and done) and I do not have that kind of money to spend on anything. How do I explain this to her? [more inside]
posted on Jul 15, 2008 - 81 answers

How much credit card debt is too much? [more inside]
posted on Jul 13, 2008 - 34 answers

A noobie question on credit scores! I know raising your score is partly done by reliable monthly payments on credit cards and loans - and people who are just starting out to build their scores, are often advised to get a card and begin to responsibly pay it off, to catch the notice of the reporting agencies. Would that mean that if you can pay off a large credit loan (e.g., in the realm of $2k) immediately instead of sticking to a monthly payment system, you're missing out on chances to further raise your score? Or does being able to pay off such an amount in full give you an equivalent gold star sticker? [more inside]
posted on Jul 1, 2008 - 6 answers

UK phone fraud: Someone stole my phone and rang up £3000 of calls to Nigeria. The phone company says it's my fault for not keeping tabs on the phone and I have to pay it. Is there anything I can do? [more inside]
posted on Jun 27, 2008 - 24 answers

Has my friend found a way to make free money? [more inside]
posted on Jun 15, 2008 - 25 answers

What's the best way to go about reporting a case of harassment from creditors for debts I don't owe? [more inside]
posted on Jun 11, 2008 - 6 answers

I'm in a financial pickle due to a bad choice of roommates two years ago. What are my options? [more inside]
posted on Jun 10, 2008 - 6 answers

I want to close out my 401k (and pay the necessary taxes) so I can pay off some debt. My 401k says I'm not allowed. Why not? Can I change anyone's mind? [more inside]
posted on Jun 9, 2008 - 13 answers

How to go about paying for a college education? [more inside]
posted on Jun 5, 2008 - 17 answers

Should my friend dip into her 401k to pay off credit card debt? [more inside]
posted on May 24, 2008 - 12 answers

How do I make medical school affordable? [more inside]
posted on May 18, 2008 - 7 answers

Very old parking tickets/fines and US immigration... do I have to pay up when I come home? [more inside]
posted on May 14, 2008 - 9 answers

Seeking hard stats on how much of the wealthy population is genuinely rich (owns outright solid assets, stocks, cash, gold, real estate) as opposed to living rich (owns much of above but with borrowed money). I'm curious as to how many people living on, say, Fifth Avenue or in Atherton or Greenwich can actually afford it and how many are simply spinning plates on borrowed time, borrowed money, and a (for now) high income. (Time will tell, of course, and perhaps sooner rather than later, but I'm curious now.) Many thanks.
posted on Apr 25, 2008 - 18 answers

Do debt collectors have to pay a fee if they call you after you have had an attorney contact them? [more inside]
posted on Apr 24, 2008 - 5 answers

My friend was served by a collection agency. She owes the money but doesn't have it. What's she do now? [more inside]
posted on Apr 23, 2008 - 3 answers

I have a business idea. For the last 8 month I have day-dreamed about making it happen. I find myself ironing out all the details that would make the business run, but I lack the funding and experience of running a business. There are also personal issues that I keep me from moving on to the next step (not that I know what the next step is). Come on in for the rest… [more inside]
posted on Apr 15, 2008 - 10 answers

Is it possible Sallie Mae is scamming me? [more inside]
posted on Apr 12, 2008 - 5 answers

If you're enrolled in a debt management plan through Consumer Credit Services but can no longer make your agreed upon payment, how can you get it lowered? [more inside]
posted on Apr 11, 2008 - 4 answers

How do I avoid excessive credit card/ATM fees when traveling in Europe this summer? [more inside]
posted on Mar 19, 2008 - 23 answers

I am having some serious financial issues. Who, in Eastern Canada, can I talk to about this kind of thing? [more inside]
posted on Mar 18, 2008 - 1 answers

Do I have to pay $1000+ the insurance co. won't cover? [more inside]
posted on Mar 17, 2008 - 16 answers

FinanceFilter: Is the money supply contracting, or expanding, after netting all the Fed action, bank closures, mortgage defaults, etc? The dollar falling seems to signal a net increase of money supply, but this is inconsistent with the thesis of a credit or liquidity crunch. If the money supply is growing at a slower rate due to tighter lending practices, shouldn't the dollar be rising, even in the face of Fed-rate cutting? Do we know the net expansion or contraction of the money supply due to the combination of rate cuts and mortgage defaults? [more inside]
posted on Mar 17, 2008 - 8 answers

I have really bad credit and need professional help, who should I talk to? [more inside]
posted on Mar 15, 2008 - 5 answers

Should I sign up for a credit card right now? If so, from where? [more inside]
posted on Mar 14, 2008 - 32 answers

How do I pay for grad school? [more inside]
posted on Mar 13, 2008 - 28 answers

How do I negotiate with a collection agency and make them notify the original creditor right away? [more inside]
posted on Mar 10, 2008 - 10 answers

How can I reduce my debt? Does anyone have experience with debt reduction companies? [more inside]
posted on Mar 8, 2008 - 10 answers

I just moved 4,000 miles to Washington, DC and took a job with far less salary than I am worth in a new industry for the fringe benefits. I have about $18,000 in CC debt and have a modicum of a plan but need real financial help to sort out how to pay off this debt while in the meantime making something in the mid-30's. [more inside]
posted on Mar 2, 2008 - 5 answers

Asking for my fiancé: What recourse does one have once you have been screwed over by PayPal? Lots of details inside. [more inside]
posted on Feb 29, 2008 - 7 answers

Should I cancel my life insurance policy and use it to pay off most or all of my consumer debt? [more inside]
posted on Feb 29, 2008 - 8 answers

Creditors are starting to harass me again for old debt that I don't believe I'm responsible for. [more inside]
posted on Feb 29, 2008 - 9 answers

Does a student loan in deferment count as debt for the purposes of figuring debt to income ratios in an FHA loan? [more inside]
posted on Feb 27, 2008 - 3 answers

Paying US back-taxes: should I go for an installment plan or pay it all now, and pay off the credit card companies instead? [more inside]
posted on Feb 26, 2008 - 8 answers

My sister and her husband are in serious debt. My wife and I are going to act as their financial advisors to help them get it together. Can anyone recommend any programs/products we can look into? [more inside]
posted on Feb 19, 2008 - 39 answers

Debt/collection agency help: I want to pay off my $1600 debt. What is the best way to go about doing this? [more inside]
posted on Feb 15, 2008 - 4 answers

How do I get someone to give me money? [more inside]
posted on Feb 6, 2008 - 8 answers

Background: I am in a serious relationship. The woman I am dating currently has what I would consider significant financial problems. What are her best options? [more inside]
posted on Feb 4, 2008 - 22 answers

I have managed to run my once-great credit into the ground. What now? How screwed am I, and for how long? [more inside]
posted on Jan 30, 2008 - 10 answers

Debt collectors are calling about a bill from 6-7 years ago. The bill actually belongs to my father whom I have redirected their inquiries. They keep calling and the billing information they gave to me is my fathers old address but for some reason they have my social security number attached to the bill. [more inside]
posted on Jan 28, 2008 - 11 answers

Is a company required to make a good faith effort to collect on a debt before reporting it as charged off? Do I have any recourse for my credit report? [more inside]
posted on Jan 7, 2008 - 4 answers

I've owed someone some money for many years. I keep forgetting to repay it and then I remember later. Repeat cycle ad infinitum for almost 18 years. Help me figure out how to repay it. [more inside]
posted on Jan 4, 2008 - 32 answers

I want to pay off my credit card debt once and for all. Is selling mutual funds the best strategy to do this? [more inside]
posted on Jan 3, 2008 - 15 answers

Has anyone used a collections agency to collect on a judgment from small claims court? [more inside]
posted on Dec 29, 2007 - 5 answers

I want to drop out of college because I'm unhappy with it. I don't think I really absolutely need a degree to do what I want. My goal is to work in a computer/network security or general (*nix) sysadmin position. Help me form a plan to a happy and successful life without a degree. [more inside]
posted on Dec 25, 2007 - 56 answers

What is a reasonable amount of debt load for someone with a chronic illness? I come from a family that doesn't accrue debt, which I realize is a luxury many people don't have, so I haven't had a model for managing debt. Specifics about my particular situation follow. [more inside]
posted on Dec 22, 2007 - 13 answers

I truly love my wife, but I am really angry at her for screwing me up financially. If you have been in a similar situation, what have you done to forgive and forget? [more inside]
posted on Dec 22, 2007 - 75 answers

So do we just stop paying our credit cards? [more inside]
posted on Dec 20, 2007 - 36 answers

I owe about $40K and just inherited $20K. Invest or pay down debt? [more inside]
posted on Dec 15, 2007 - 42 answers

Should I use a hardship withdrawal for my 401K to pay down/off my credit card revolving credit debt? The total debt is over $200K. I am 57. I do not anticipate retirement for another 10 years or so. I have approx $100k in the 401K that I can access. I know that there are IRS penalties for such a withdrawal but my thought was it is better to pay off the debt now and build the 401k back up. So, should I withdraw or not?
posted on Dec 3, 2007 - 22 answers