Atlanta Bankruptcy Attorney Blog

What's the difference between a real rebate and an advertising gimmick? The answer lies in the fine print.

Retailers are making it harder than ever for Atlanta consumers to get money back on purchases, thanks to early expiration dates and fees for inactivity on rebates. In tough economic times, making sure you take advantage of every opportunity to save can be the difference between drowning in debt and doing away with debt to find a fresh financial start, say Atlanta bankruptcy attorneys. Fortunately, with a little detective work, you can make sure you get the discount you deserve.

Continue reading "Rebate Cards Don't Always Offer Advertised Savings to Atlanta Consumers" »

Most folks think of summer vacation as a time to be lazy and spontaneous - basically, the opposite of work.

But putting a little work into planning your vacation can actually make it all the more relaxing because you won't have to worry about busting your budget - and going into debt (or, if you're like most people, adding to the debt you already have). By mapping out your trip ahead of time, you can take advantage of the cheapest locations and the best travel deals.

Continue reading "Give Yourself a Permanent Summer Vacation By Lowering Debt With Bankruptcy" »

Most folks today don't think picking up a penny is worth the effort. After all, it's only one-hundredth of a dollar, right?

But over time, one percent adds up - especially when you've been slacking in the saving department thanks to a lot of debt, too little pay and overall financial fallout from the recession.

Don't believe me? Just check out a new calculator tool from the New York Times. A few more dollars saved today can become a lot more tomorrow. Let's look at an example.

Continue reading "A Little Savings Today Can Add Up to a Big Nest Egg Tomorrow for Atlanta Residents" »

If proposals in a new finance bill passed by the Senate come true, the finance industry could get a lot easier to navigate for Atlanta consumers.

We're talking free credit scores, a reduction in mortgage penalties and the creation of a new oversight agency to protect consumers. Watch out, lenders - the game might be played differently when consumers actually have a fair shot.

Here's a quick summary of some of the bill's most intriguing possibilities. But first, a disclaimer: this is all still speculation. We don't know when the bill will be finalized, or what will be left in it when it is. If you're looking to lower debt and improve your finances, you can't afford to wait for the government to hold your hand - not when there are effective ways to take matters into your own hands, like bankruptcy.

Continue reading "Proposals in Finance Bill Could Help Atlanta Consumers Save Money and Improve Credit" »

Forget the old question, "What came first, the chicken or the egg?" The new riddle is, "What came first, the spending or the debt?"

Millions of Americans currently spend more than they earn, say Atlanta bankruptcy attorneys. Sometimes it's because they have too much debt. But other times, they have too much debt because of their spending. In order to free up your finances once and for all, it's important to identify whether your shortfall is caused by circumstances beyond your control - or a spending addiction.

If your paycheck just isn't cutting it, maybe it's time you asked yourself a few questions.

Continue reading "Shopping Addictions Are Keeping Some Atlanta Consumers in Debt" »

Would you go back to school if Uncle Sam promised to foot the bill?

A lot of Americans are saying yes to scholarships. Unfortunately, they might also be saying yes to scam artists - and debt.

Scams have been popping up with ever-increasing frequency since the economy took a major nosedive in 2008. And one of the most common scams promises college scholarships and grants to certain demographic groups - for instance, those making less than $30,000 a year (give or take), stay-at-home moms or for the recently unemployed.

Problem is, the offers are often traps. Scam artists ask for a processing fee - or your personal information - and when you comply, they take your money and disappear, leaving you in more financial trouble than before.

Continue reading "College Scholarship Scams Land Atlanta Students in Even More Debt" »

Most of us would agree that 50% interest is way too much to pay for a credit card. Yet many Atlanta residents are paying annual rates of 500% or more - we just don't realize it.

How? Payday loans. Maybe you know the drill. For whatever reason, you come up short on the bills one month and payday is still a week away. A short-term loan seems like a quick, easy way to get the cash you need upfront -you figure you can worry about the fees later.

Problem is, these are no ordinary fees. In the payday loan world, fee is code for interest. And with interest rates like these, you might end up in debt - and more strapped for cash than you were in the first place.

Continue reading "Payday Loan Centers Are Leaving Atlanta Workers In Debt" »

The days of sticker shock at your cell phone bill may be coming to an end, say Atlanta bankruptcy attorneys.

On Tuesday, the Federal Communications Commission announced it's considering a plan to alert wireless customers of unusually large cell phone bills - for instance, if one month you take a vacation and accumulate roaming charges that aren't covered by your regular plan, your provider will need to let you know before your bill arrives.

It's a move that could certainly save cell customers some change. But why wait? You have the power to keep track of - and prevent - such high bills. All you have to do is keep closer tabs on your account.

Continue reading "Tracking Wireless Charges Can Help Customers Lower Cell Phone Bills" »

If your mailbox seems a little fuller lately, it's probably not your imagination.

After all but drying up during the recession, credit card offers are making a comeback. Banks are feeling optimistic that consumers are ready to spend, and to take advantage they're stuffing mailboxes with advertisements, say Atlanta bankruptcy attorneys.

It's a bittersweet milestone. On the one hand, credit card offers indicate the economy - and consumer confidence - is finally improving. On the other, it means new opportunities for us to damage our credit and add to our debt.

Continue reading "After Months of Tight Credit, Banks Begin to Mail Credit Card Offers to Atlanta Consumers" »

Believe it or not, owing zero dollars on your credit card bill isn't always a good thing.

With Atlanta consumers getting the message that too much debt is dangerous, many folks are leaving some of their cards in their wallet, cutting up credit cards with scissors - or even canceling their accounts, according to Atlanta bankruptcy attorneys.

It's a move in the right direction. But unfortunately, it's a move that can backfire.

Continue reading "Cutting Up Credit Cards Isn't Always the Best Solution for Atlanta Cardholders" »

In tough economic times, it's good to have tight purse strings - but if you keep them pulled too tight, they might snap.

Not literally, of course, but figuratively. If all of your money is going to the bills, the house payment, your savings, etc, you probably don't have much left for yourself. And all work and no play means that you're either leading a very dull life or that you're slowly increasing the odds that you'll go on a massive spending binge and hurt your credit.

So what's your best option? Allow yourself a splurge now and then to take the edge off. Just make sure to do it in moderation lest you end up with even more debt problems, caution Atlanta bankruptcy attorneys.

Continue reading "Improving Economy Triggers Small Shopping Splurges for Frugal Atlanta Consumers " »

There's a benefit to tough economic times: you might emerge financially stronger - and smarter.

It was announced recently that coupon usage increased last year for the first time in, well, a long time. Before the recession, most folks had renounced scanning the newspaper for coupons and sales as a hobby better suited for Grandma. As it turns out, our grandmas must have finally taught us a thing or two. Clipping coupons is a quick, easy way to start saving -- and maybe even lowering debt.

Coupons take almost no time to collect. They come right to you in your paper, your mailbox or your inbox. And yet they can make your everyday life cheaper. Look at them as free money - under the right circumstances, anyway.

Continue reading "Clipping Coupons Regains Popularity Among Atlanta Shoppers Looking to Save Cash" »

Sometimes the easiest way to save money is simply to ask, according to Atlanta bankruptcy attorneys.

Take your cable bill, for instance. Most cable or satellite companies offer hundreds of channels - a seemingly good deal, right? But the truth is, you'll never have time to watch them all - and probably wouldn't want to. Most folks focus on a few favorite shows on a few favorite channels. And for that, we typically pay upwards of $100 a month. That's more than $1,000 a year! Not really such a great deal.

But did you realize you could decrease your cable bill without missing your must-watch shows?

Continue reading "Lowering the Cable Bill Can Free Up More Money for Atlanta Residents Each Month" »