I still vividly remember the days sitting across Faraz Jaka playing a friendly game of poker. It was about 10 years ago and he typically wore a Chicago Bulls jersey usually accompanied with a stone cold poker face. He took poker seriously and it paid off.

Who could've known...

It's about that time of the year again. One of the biggest shopping days is just a few weeks ahead of us: Black Friday and Cyber Monday. As the holiday season comes around the corner, it's easy to lose track of your finances when we see bright red sale signs...

There's a reason why consumers fresh out of bankruptcy begin to receive credit card offers in the mail after they're discharged. Credit card companies have a deep understanding of consumer spending behavior, and they realize that it takes a drastic lifestyle change to reduce your spending habits.

It's a...

The credit card industry can be tricky and the lack of financial literacy can create a financial nightmare. There's tons of great information out there that you can research, but there's always the "fine print" details that most consumers overlook. How many of these were you aware of?

1) We...

I'm a sucker when it comes to new technology geared towards helping consumers save money (especially free ones). When we're browsing around the web for tips to save money, you'll frequently come across personal finance bloggers telling you to look at Craigslist.

I've been using Craigslist since 2007 ever...

The National Foundation for Credit Counseling recently polled approximately 2,220 respondents to figure out what their greatest financial regrets were. Fifty-three percent of the respondents indicated that overspending was their greatest regrets. The other choices were: inadequate savings (18%), haven't bought a house (10%), bought a house( 5%),...

Whether you realize it or not, noticing early warning signs of financial distress can make or break your future. I've been in your shoes, and I know what it feels like.

It's daunting to face the truth: the fact that you're on the brink of financial disaster. You've worked...

Everyone's looking to save money in this economy, and the purchase of a used car or truck is one of the single biggest expense consumers will face this year. Cars would be one of the items on my list never to buy new. So how do you know if you're...

It's frustrating when you're receiving multiple phone calls a day from debt collection agencies. It doesn't have to be that way. Debt collection agencies are used to being yelled and cursed at, so why not take the opposite approach and try to be their friends?

Most people...

The other day I had a quick chat with a client who was contemplating enrolling in a debt settlement program. The debt settlement industry has a bad reputation due to unscrupulous companies who were not delivering on their services, overpromising, and charging outrageous fees. This was one of the main...

In a recent report from Assets and Opportunity, studies show that 27 percent of all households don't have enough savings to cover basic living expenses for just three months if they suffer a financial setback. Industry experts recommend having a six month cushion, so I can only imagine...