Finance


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Finance (Full Question and Answer Listing) I have a son who is 16 and we went out yesterday and bought a car that is obviously not worth what he paid for it, what can I do? Where can I find information about current interest rates? Where should I keep my important papers? Budgeting How do I set up a budget? How much does it cost to raise a child? If I decide to move, how can I find out information on cost of living comparison? What methods could I use to track my expenses on a daily basis? How do I make sure I can afford to pay for school expenses in the fall, or for holiday shopping in December? What do I do when big expenses are due at the same time? (e.g., insurance, property taxes, school shopping, etc.)? How can I build up an emergency fund when money is tight? How can I cut costs to save money? How do I set up a good filing system so I don’t spend so much time looking for things? How long should I keep certain documents and tax forms? I have recently lost my job. Can you point me to some materials to help me with the adjustment? Credit/Debt Where can I get help in repaying my debt? How can I build a positive credit rating? How do I decide which creditors to pay first? What do I do if I cannot pay my utility bill? Credit Cards Where can I find information about current interest rates? If I don’t have a credit card, do I have a credit history? How can I get my name off prescreened credit card solicitation lists? How do I stop getting all these credit card offers? What cards offer the best rates? What is a secured credit card, and how does it work? Credit Reports If I don’t have a credit card, do I have a credit history? What is in a credit report? What information is NOT in my credit report? How long does information stay on a credit report? Forever? Can anyone look at my credit report? What kinds of things can affect my good credit? How can identity theft affect my credit report? What if I find a mistake on my credit report? How can I get a copy of my credit report? What do I do if I suspect fraud? How can I build a positive credit rating? What is a “credit score?” Debt Consolidation Where can I get help in repaying my debt? What is debt consolidation and how can I decide whether to get one? Payday Loans What are the pros and cons of payday loans? Rent to Own What happens if I default on my rent-to-own contract? Student Loans What do I do about my student loan payment if I’ve had a layoff or reduction in income? Home Ownership What do I do if I can’t pay my mortgage? Should I refinance my home loan? Where can I find information about current interest rates? What should I do to prepare for home ownership? What percent of my monthly income should I spend on housing? Where can I get a loan to buy a home? What are points and how are they figured? Loss of Income I have recently lost my job. Can you point me to some materials to help me with the adjustment? Privacy/Fraud When do I have to give my Social Security number, and when don’t I? Why wouldn’t I want my Social Security number as my driver’s license? What if my Social Security number is on my medical card? Should I have my Social Security card in my billfold? Who do I call if my credit card is lost or stolen? What’s my liability if someone uses my lost or stolen credit card? How do I get my name off mailing lists? How can I stop my financial institution from selling my name and personal information? What is “identity theft?” What do I do if I suspect fraud?
Date last updated: GENDATE Technical issues contact: jvohsman@iastate.edu