Should they pay down their mortgage? [more inside]
posted by acoutu on Nov 13, 2009 - 18 answers

Our deficit and our debt are at record levels, even compared to WWII. Then, the debt was financed internally, not by other countries, so the interest we could pay was lower and the money was recycled in the U.S. Now, the debt and deficit are mostly financed by other countries through bond offerings and the like. And as they grow, those debtor countries will want higher interest rates on repayments, which drains money out of the U.S. [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind on Oct 5, 2009 - 4 answers

Need formula to calculate a lease rate factor from a %. [more inside]
posted by thinktwice on Sep 24, 2009 - 2 answers

Should I bother with a savings account? [more inside]
posted by Raze2k on Sep 22, 2009 - 31 answers

Should I reject a credit card's rate increase if I cannot pay off the balance right away? [more inside]
posted by dforemsky on Aug 14, 2009 - 13 answers

How do I calculate interest on a short term loan? [more inside]
posted by goalyeehah on Aug 8, 2009 - 8 answers

Where is the best place to put my $30,000 as I slowly withdraw from it over the next 2 years to pay for Grad School. [more inside]
posted by brenton on Jul 2, 2009 - 8 answers

How to determine how much I'm owed by someone who's not going to pay regularly ? (in Excel preferably). [more inside]
posted by southof40 on Jun 22, 2009 - 7 answers

What's the scoop on the interest rates charged by Kiva's microfinance institutions? [more inside]
posted by Salvor Hardin on Jun 21, 2009 - 10 answers

Mathematically speaking, what's the optimal amount to keep in an account that earns a high rate below below a certain sum and a very low one above it? [more inside]
posted by electric_counterpoint on May 26, 2009 - 6 answers

Upon examining my student loan payments, it appears that my "interest amt last payment" numbers sometimes increase, even when I pay the same amount (more than I need to pay) on the same day of the month. What!? [more inside]
posted by hellogoodbye on May 1, 2009 - 10 answers

I have saved up about $25,000 for school, which starts in September. I have it in a WaMu online savings account which had very high interest, but now the interest rates have plummeted so that I am barely making anything anymore. It went from getting $50 a month on $10,000 to making $17 this month on 25k. :( Where should I put my money where it will be safe, easily accessible in a fairly short term, and yet with as high of an interest return as possible. I also need to be able to continue to input money into the account every month when I get my paycheck. PS: I am planning to take loans if they are interest free and hold off paying them until I can't defer any longer. But when I quit my job, I will need to start withdrawing money for daily living expenses.
posted by brenton on Mar 13, 2009 - 21 answers

How am I suppose to decide on a major when I have no real hobbies, interest, or passions for anything. Other than sleep or a good book I don't really do anything. I'm not the greatest writer and you can't support a family with sleep so what so I do to find something I truly enjoy. Something that actually will make me look forward to the day while I'm wasting away in minimum wage jobs while I decide on a major; After 60 semester hours at my school you have no choice.
posted by isopropyl on Mar 11, 2009 - 31 answers

Will my student loan interest rate and the rate of inflation cancel one another out? [more inside]
posted by delosic on Mar 9, 2009 - 17 answers

Yesterday, I paid off Citibank for the last time. Today, I logged in to verify it had posted, and noticed my interest rate had jumped 5.5%. Has my new regime of frugality displeased the overlords? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jan 30, 2009 - 18 answers

I'm in my first year of law school and also a first-time student loan borrower. I ended up having a decent amount of loan money left in my bank account at the end of the semester. Should I pay it back or hang on to it? [more inside]
posted by SuperNova on Dec 22, 2008 - 9 answers

[EconomistFilter] Are interest based money systems fundamentally broken? [more inside]
posted by symbollocks on Dec 11, 2008 - 23 answers

Hey Financial People: The interest rate on 3 month Treasury Bills just went to -0.01%. Why would anybody, or any institution, buy them? [more inside]
posted by jsonic on Dec 9, 2008 - 10 answers

Lets say I have $20,000 that I want to become $100,000 (or more) by the year 2024. What (if any) lower risk options do I have to make this dream a reality? Assume for a moment that I really don't want to put this in the stock market because I can't afford the risk of a major loss.
posted by anastasiav on Dec 3, 2008 - 26 answers

Interest rates are down, so my mortgage broker contacted me to see if I want to refinance. I'm under the impression that every time you refinance, you lose value in the house, so is this a good idea? [more inside]
posted by MtDewd on Nov 26, 2008 - 12 answers

Mortgage filter: is there any reason I shouldn't get a 5/1 ARM at a slightly lower interest rate than the 30-year fixed option? [more inside]
posted by halogen on Nov 20, 2008 - 19 answers

I'm living in BC and and have a money on a credit card that is at around 15%. Every once in a while I hear about some offer that they will transfer your debt and give you 0% or really low interest for a year or something. Any good offers out there right now??? Thank you!
posted by figTree on Oct 28, 2008 - 4 answers

I'm a girl. How to get out of the friend zone with a guy? [more inside]
posted by paperlanterns on Oct 12, 2008 - 30 answers

How can I lower my interest rates on my credit card and mortgage? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 8, 2008 - 8 answers

Investing 201: Given the economic news of late, If the value of my mutual funds drop and the interest rate of my debts go up would it be prudent to liquidate the mutual funds to pay off my debts or should I "stay the course" despite this? Financial details inside... [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 29, 2008 - 8 answers

The lawyer for the estate is also the lawyer for the negligent executor. Conflict of interest? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 4, 2008 - 5 answers

A family member loaned me money a few years ago. I would like to pay it back with interest. How much interest should I pay it back with? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jul 17, 2008 - 21 answers

When the Citibank e-savings account started (I think about 18 months ago) the interest rate was 3.5%, so I moved all my spare cash there; but now it's 1.5%. Capital One & HSBC are currently offering 3.5% e-savings accounts - is this the same deal? Are these only introductory rates which I should expect to fall dramatically in due course? [more inside]
posted by forallmankind on Jul 5, 2008 - 9 answers

How to get a new credit card with a high limit to transfer a bunch of smaller balances to when your FICO score looks more like your bowling score? [more inside]
posted by cellphone on Jun 17, 2008 - 17 answers

Bought a piece of land and only paying interest. Why would I do that? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on May 22, 2008 - 11 answers

Should I choose a private student loan based on the 1-month LIBOR or the Prime Rate? [more inside]
posted by Asherah on Apr 8, 2008 - 4 answers

What's the safest possible thing that I can do with my money? [more inside]
posted by Afroblanco on Mar 20, 2008 - 28 answers

How do you figure out daily interest from an APR on student loans due monthly? [more inside]
posted by johnofjack on Feb 28, 2008 - 8 answers

Posting for a friend: My friend was bad about paying bills on time for a credit card over a long period of time (multiple years). It's one of the major blemishes on their credit score right now and the issuer has just decided to cancel their card. The question is, how much will the issuer canceling the credit card be on my friend's credit score, and what can they do? [more inside]
posted by Eldritch on Jan 22, 2008 - 4 answers

[ConversationFilter] Me no speaky so good no more. Please help! [more inside]
posted by willie11 on Jan 19, 2008 - 26 answers

Blue Gamer Needs Help Badly: Please Deposit 2 Cents [more inside]
posted by aftermarketradio on Jan 10, 2008 - 19 answers

Excel/OpenOffice: How can I use XIRR to show an estimated percentage return based on account deposits/withdrawals/balances? [more inside]
posted by spacewrench on Dec 16, 2007 - 3 answers

I read in the Wall Street Journal this weekend that Iceland's Central Bank raised interest rates...to 13.75 percent! Can I move my money to Reykjavik? [more inside]
posted by tomwheeler on Nov 6, 2007 - 9 answers

Random strangers of the internet, please recommend a hobby to me. [more inside]
posted by Solomon on Aug 28, 2007 - 38 answers

I have just spent the afternoon watching stocks around the world decline partially based on sub prime market fallout. My question is how can things be so great when the Fed is handing out stacks of cash to keep things stable (34 Billion USD and counting, not including the international bail out)?
posted by Funmonkey1 on Aug 10, 2007 - 25 answers

How can I use my focus for good (either directing it towards something useful, or to maintain interest) ? [more inside]
posted by drezdn on Aug 8, 2007 - 6 answers

ok, i know this is crazy. but is it possible to: --set up a cross-generational US bank account (say, not to be accessed for say, 200+ years) -- aquire a substantial gain, using the factors of TIME/INTEREST to build a sizable amount money to accessible a distant relative yet to be born. (don't think this would be a Dynasty Trust, since I would be starting out with some nominal amount, say $1000.)
posted by mrmarley on Jul 12, 2007 - 7 answers

What makes people interested in each other, friendship-wise and hanging-out-wise? [more inside]
posted by DarkForest on Jul 10, 2007 - 31 answers

Economist filter: How exactly does the fed set interest rates? [more inside]
posted by BigBrownBear on Jun 29, 2007 - 9 answers

Do most people try negotiating near the end of a teaser rate? [more inside]
posted by acoutu on Jun 18, 2007 - 4 answers

I find it nearly impossible to do any real work, unless I happen to feel like it. But I don't want to end up drifting through life, settling for mediocrity. If you managed to get your act together and are now able work hard on things you aren't interested in, as we all should be able to do from time to time, then my question is: how did you do it? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 5, 2007 - 26 answers

I am going to hire a landscaper to do some major renovations to my backyard. Since I don’t have all the cash on hand right now, I was planning on paying with a 0% interest credit card (and I would easily be able to pay it off in less than a year). The problem is that the landscaper (who we like much more than the others) does not accept credit cards. [more inside]
posted by toddst on May 17, 2007 - 21 answers

A local homeowners association with a lake adjoining a major state highway on one side and a public Audubon wildlife sanctuary on another has prohibited dog walkers access to trails without payment of a $50 annual fee. Previously there were no restrictions to public access to this area—going back 50 years or more. An aggressive warden in need of anger management education threatens to call police and file trespassing charges even for walking with a dog on what must be a right of way area nearest the highway. What kind of lawyer or public interest group should we try to find to help us challenge this situation.?
posted by NorthCoastCafe on Apr 29, 2007 - 14 answers

Interest rates and Inflation, does anyone actually understand it? [more inside]
posted by complience on Mar 21, 2007 - 26 answers

I'd welcome hearing of Mefites who have had experiences with the Prosper website as a borrower. (Or, if no one can help me on that, recommendations for Chicago or national credit unions accessible to most anyone.) [more inside]
posted by WCityMike on Mar 7, 2007 - 6 answers