4 Better Ways to Use Your Tax Refund
Dear Chuck, Procrastinators Unite! This weekend, my husband and I will be crashing on our tax returns, due Monday, April 18th, and we’re hoping to receive a return. What do you suggest we do with the money? Procrastinator Dear Procrastinator, It is never best to wait until the last minute to do your income […]
6 Basic Financial Moves Everyone Can Make
I am often asked to share basic financial moves. Here are my top six: 1. Make giving to the Lord’s work your top financial priority. The Bible calls us to honor the Lord with the first fruits of our wealth. I believe 10 percent of our gross annual income is the starting goal. 2. Have […]
Credit Cards Are Not Evil!
This may surprise you, but I carry a credit card. I never fail to pay off my balance at the end of the month, and I never pay late fees. For that, Ann and I take advantage of the convenience the card allows, earn airline miles, and enjoy 30 days of interest-free money. I have […]
The Bad News About America’s Debt Limit
The Daily Treasury Statement for March 13, 2015 was the first to show the federal debt closing the day at $18,112,975,000,000. Listen carefully. Every Daily Treasury Statement since then has reported the same thing: the debt closing the day at $18,112,975,000,000. That is about $25 million below the current legal debt limit set by Congress. In other […]
Be wary of “add-on” credit card services
By Chuck Bentley Citigroup will issue refunds to 8.8 million consumers totaling $700 million for worthless add-on credit card products or services. In one allegation, Citi telemarketers were said to have sold consumers identity theft protection services with a 30-day “free” trial, when no such free trial existed. Or they signed up consumers for an add-on […]
Are all your riches fake?
By Chuck Bentley A recent article in Yahoo Finance revealed that a high profile music star put on the lavish lifestyle of a rap tycoon, but he says the bling-bling in the videos is all returned to the store. The rapper, who has filed for bankruptcy, has testified in court that his ostentatious displays of wealth […]
Ever had your power turned off?
By Chuck Bentley One evening, a pastor friend of mine arrived at his house about 30 minutes before members of his church were coming over for a Friday night Bible study. When he entered his home, his wife was in tears; the electric company had just shut off all power to their home for past […]
Would you take out a 30-year mortgage to buy a pizza?
By Chuck Bentley While it sounds ridiculous, you may actually be taking out a mortgage when you use your credit card to purchase things like pizza or coffee or gasoline. Here’s why: If you use a credit card that carries a $2,000 credit balance with an 18 percent annual rate, with a minimum payment of […]
Are you losing sleep because of money?
By Chuck Bentley If you lie awake at night worrying about money, you’re not alone. According to a report by CreditCards.com, 62 percent of Americans are losing sleep over at least one financial problem. And even during the day, most Americans worry about money more than anything else. In fact, for many people, worries about […]
Paying off debt is like eating an elephant…
…it can only be done one bite at a time. Over the years, I have known thousands of folks who have become debt free. I have never met anyone who regretted it. True debt is borrowing money that you have no way of paying back. It is debt backed by nothing more than your commitment […]
