Atlanta Bankruptcy Attorney Blog

What's the scariest thing about Halloween night? For some folks, it's the realization that there are still two more major holidays to go before the season of spending is over.

A Halloween costume and a bucket of candy probably won't bust your budget. But between food and drinks, parties and presents, what's supposed to be a time of family and fun can quickly evolve into a pile of debt that follows you well into the New Year. But there are ways to enjoy the holiday festivities - and the rest of the year - without winding up in the poorhouse or having to go without, say Atlanta bankruptcy attorneys. In short, it's all about the freebies.

Continue reading "Atlanta Shoppers Can Save Money With Freebies This Holiday Season" »

What's the scariest thing about the month of October? If you're a homeowner, it isn't Halloween - it's (gulp) your property tax bill.

But there might be a silver lining - property tax season is the one time when having the worth of your home decrease is a good thing. According to the National Taxpayers Union, up to 60 percent of homeowners could be overcharged because their home isn't valued correctly. With most of us struggling to just pay the mortgage, let alone a too-high tax bill, it's time to take action, say Atlanta bankruptcy attorneys.

Continue reading "There's More Than One Way for Atlanta Homeowners to Lower Property Tax Bill" »

Tired of paying 15% or more annual interest on your credit cards? If you've been taking care of your credit, you might be able to do something about it.

After a couple years' hiatus, the coveted 0% introductory rate credit card is back, according to a story in Smart Money. If you've got good credit - something you can achieve by paying your bills on time and carrying a low balance in relation to your credit limit - you're probably already receiving the applications and preapprovals in your mailbox. If not, look at the opportunity as yet another incentive to improve your credit rating, say Atlanta bankruptcy attorneys.

Continue reading "Rise of Zero Percent Introductory Rate Cards Motivates Atlanta Consumers to Improve Credit" »

At first glance, prepaid cards might look like a dream come true for those of us with growing credit card debt, according to a recent MSNBC.com story.

By loading one of the many prepaid debit cards available at the local drugstore or supermarket with a certain amount of money, we can swipe it like a regular credit card, but without the risk of exceeding our credit limit, hurting our credit score or busting our budget. Unfortunately, it turns out that prepaid cards come with costs of their own, say Atlanta bankruptcy attorneys.

Continue reading "How Prepaid Debit Cards Might Be Costing Budget-Conscious Atlanta Consumers" »

If it seems like you always wind up with one too many bags of Halloween candy in your house, your credit card habit might be to blame.

It turns out that paying with plastic can encourage consumers to buy unhealthy food, according to a recent study by the Journal of Consumer Research. Fortunately, shoppers can avoid eating too much junk - or accumulating too much debt - by modifying the way they use credit and debit cards, say Atlanta bankruptcy attorneys.

Continue reading "Using Credit And Debit Encourages Atlanta Consumers to Make Unnecessary Purchases " »

When it comes to paperless billing, sometimes it's easy to forget businesses don't have our best interest in mind.

Credit card issuers, phone and cable companies, even our city's garbage collector like to tell us that online bill pay is green, fast, cheap and simple. And it is - for them. Big companies stand to save potentially millions by reducing paper and postage costs. As for us? It depends, according to Atlanta bankruptcy attorneys. While there are definitely benefits, it's can be all too easy for the costs (which businesses conveniently forget to warn you about) to cancel them out - especially if you've already got a problem with debt.

Continue reading "Online Bill Pay Can Mean Savings and Costs for Atlanta Bill Payers" »

Nobody likes to make mistakes. But making a blunder now and then - or taking note of someone else's - can actually help improve your finances.

At Money Talk News, author Stacy Johnson recently talked about the lessons she learned from her many money mistakes - including one particularly relevant to the recession. Like many folks, she once panicked and sold her investments during an economic downturn - and lost money in the process. When this latest recession rolled around, however, Johnson did the opposite of what most of us are doing - and it paid off.

Continue reading "Atlanta Residents Can Lower Debt By Learning From Money Mistakes" »

It seems nothing has been able to slow the tidal wave of recession-related foreclosures - that is, until now.

State officials across the U.S. are joining forces to investigate illegal activities that could have led to thousands of unfair foreclosures over the past few years, according to the AP Press. Allegedly, lenders have been allowing foreclosure documents to be signed without required witnesses, without proper analysis and - in some cases - without even being read. It's a victory for millions of consumers who may be struggling to pay the bills - but are still following the rules, say Atlanta bankruptcy attorneys.

Continue reading "Foreclosure Process Comes Under Fire in All 50 States" »

Forget the Headless Horseman and the Grim Reaper - the scariest character for many Americans this Halloween is none other than the overly aggressive debt collector.

Bill collectors today are pulling out all the stops - calling us at work, calling us names and threatening to take our house, car and wages or even toss us in jail. Talk about being haunted. But thanks to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you don't have to put up with it - even if you can't afford to pay back debt. This kind of harassment is illegal, and you can put a stop to it, according to Atlanta bankruptcy attorneys.

Continue reading "Aggressive Debt Collectors Make Illegal Threats Against Atlanta Debtors" »

Credit cards have their pros and cons. On the one hand, credit is convenient. You don't need exact change, you don't have to stop at the ATM and you get a written record of all your credit purchases at the end of the month, no tracking tools necessary. On the other hand, as many of us know too well, credit cards can be the fast track to too much debt.

So how can Atlanta credit users find middle ground? According to CreditCards.com, it's all about watching out for a few key warning signs.

Continue reading "Warning Signs That Atlanta Credit Card Users Should Watch for When Paying With Plastic" »

In today's tough economic times, it seems everyone is on the lookout for a golden opportunity - but surprisingly, selling your gold may not be one.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for making money off stuff you don't need or want - for instance, by hocking clothes, electronics and such on eBay and Craigslist. It reduces clutter, helps pay the bills, and puts your unwanted things in the hands of someone who appreciates them. In short, everyone wins. But when it comes to selling gold jewelry - made extra appealing by today's high gold prices - there's a good chance you'll lose, according to a recent investigative report by TODAY.

Continue reading "Why Selling Gold for Cash Might Not Be a Good Deal" »

It might be the new Halloween mantra: IRAs, 401ks and HSAs, oh my!

As if dealing with debt and house payments weren't enough, Americans must also consider ways to invest for the future - including Health Savings Accounts, a new type of investment that can cover medical expenses as well as retirement. And though HSAs can be a little confusing, they have the ability to make your life - and finances - easier, say Atlanta bankruptcy attorneys.

Continue reading "Why Atlanta Insurance Customers Shouldn't Be Intimidated by Health Savings Accounts" »

You know that credit card applications can take a toll on your credit score, but what about other types of credit inquiries?

With most Americans grappling to pay the mortgage and manage debt, it's a common belief that it's best not to take any chances with inquiries - even if it means going without checking our credit score, say Atlanta bankruptcy attorneys. Unfortunately, our caution may be doing more damage than good.

Continue reading "Why Not All Credit Inquiries Are Created Equal" »