Credit Cards: Train Your Teens Early
Want your teen to learn to use credit without risking a debt dilemma? Get a credit card with training wheels. Stacy Johnson explains in this short (1:38) video.
Have any experience with teens getting into credit card debt? How about a teen who has wrecked havoc with YOUR debt structure. We'd love to hear about your experiences in this. Just use the "Comment" link below to sound off about training your teens early how to use credit cards properly.
Consumer Confidence: Worst Since '92
A key measure of consumer confidence dropped in May to the lowest level in 16 years, as Americans grew more concerned about their jobs and more pessimistic about business conditions. The index has now declined for five months in a row.
The Consumer Confidence Index is a weighted average of where consumers feel the economy is right now, and where it is headed - or the Present Situation Index and the Expectations Index.
We'd love to know your opinion.. your "consumer confidence level." Tell us what you think by clicking the comment link below.. and sounding off about YOUR Confidence Level in the current economy. Don't worry, your privacy is 100% protected. Although an email address is required to post a comment, your email address will never be published here. We'd love to hear from you.
Can Friends Cause Your Debt to Deepen?
Most of us have friends who make more money then we do, and it can put you in situations that are hard to handle. In fact, sometimes it can be downright stressful trying to balance your friendship … and if you're not careful, those friends could cause you to lose your home, or not qualify for one in the future. Money Talks editor Stacy Johnson has a few suggestions if you've ever run in to the "Trying to Keep Up With the Jones' " situation. Video runs only 1:30….
Have any comments? Post them using the "Comment" link below…
Housing Inventory Up Again in April
The number of homes for sale was on the rise again in April. Nationally, inventories expanded 3.5% last month overall and were up 6% over the same period last year.
Even some markets that used to be considered bulletproof have seen inventories grow and these bloated inventories have put pressure on home sellers to slash prices that have already been on a steep decline.
A National Association of Realtors study shows house sales remained soft in March, but the organization is forecasting sales will begin to improve over the summer.
The NAR's Pending Home Sales Index dropped 1 percent to 83 in March and was 20.1 percent lower than the March 2007 index of 103.9.
Existing-home sales are projected to rise from an annual pace of 4.95 million in the first quarter to 5.82 million in the fourth quarter. NAR projects a median sales price of $213,700 and a 4.1 percent jump to $222,600 in 2009.
Cutting Debt: Tips from the Pros
Was one of your resolutions this year to pay off some debt? Finding it harder and harder to pay down debt today? Money Stacy Johnson has a few tips for secrets to paying down that debt. (Video runs 1:32)
What about you? Any ideas you have for cutting down on the debt that wasn't mentioned in this video? We'd love to hear them. Just use the comment link below to tell us your thoughts.
