News roundup April 6, 2024
Credit Sesame’s personal finance news roundup April 6, 2024. Stories, news, politics and events impacting personal finance during the past week. FTC report highlights shifting challenge of impersonation scams The Federal Trade Commission put out a bulletin warning consumers about how impersonation scams are evolving. In 2023, the FTC received 330,000 reports of scams imitating […]
Impact of debt settlement vs. debt management on credit score
Credit Sesame discusses the difference between debt settlement and debt management and how each affects credit score. Credit counseling is a term for a variety of services offered to consumers who find themselves buried in credit card debt. It is often used to describe both debt settlement and debt management programs offered by legitimate not-for-profit […]
Americans feeling the impact of debtflation
Credit Sesame discusses debtflation and how consumer outlook on the economy may be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Several economic indicators suggest the economy is thriving. Unemployment is low, GDP is growing, and the stock market is booming. So why did consumer confidence fall in March 2024? Even before that, consumer outlook for the future was already […]
News roundup March 30, 2024
Credit Sesame’s personal finance news roundup March 30, 2024. Stories, news, politics and events impacting personal finance during the past week. New home sales slip in February 2024 After seasonal adjustment, US sales of newly constructed, single-family homes declined by 0.3% in February. New homes sold at an annualized pace of 662,000 units last month. […]
What NOT to do if you have large credit card debt
Credit Sesame’s ten pitfalls to avoid when dealing with large credit card debt. When faced with substantial credit card debt, it is important to navigate the situation with carefully. Here are eight common pitfalls to steer clear of as you work towards regaining financial stability. 1. Do not ignore the issue It may be tempting […]
Do you win or lose when interest rates rise?
Credit Sesame explains why many consumers lose more and gain less when interest rates rise. In theory, when interest rates rise, some consumers benefit while others suffer financially. However, a recent study found an imbalance. On average, rising interest rates have cost American consumers more than they’ve benefited. Net interest earnings dropped as interest rates […]
News roundup March 23, 2024
Credit Sesame’s personal finance news roundup March 23, 2024. Stories, news, politics and events impacting personal finance during the past week. Fed leaves interest rate unchanged The Federal Reserve concluded its latest meeting by announcing it would make no immediate change in the Fed funds rate. It will maintain that rate between 5.25% and 5.5% […]
Americans are wealthier and more in debt than ever
Credit Sesame discusses U.S. wealth and borrowing and why some Americans are more in debt than ever. Conflicting financial data can be a real head-scratcher. A mid-March 2024 report from the Federal Reserve showed that household net worth had reached an all-time high. The same report showed that household debt was also at a record […]
News roundup March 16, 2024
Credit Sesame’s personal finance news roundup March 16, 2024. Stories, news, politics and events impacting personal finance during the past week. Inflation continues to rise After a lull, inflation has risen for two consecutive months. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the Consumer Price Index rose 0.4% in February 2024. While the inflation rate […]
10 reasons for mortgage rejection
Credit Sesame on mortgage rejection and 10 reasons you can’t buy a house. In spring 2024, the desire for homeownership remains strong, and mortgage applications are up. However, securing that dream home can be a complex process, even with a substantial down payment. Financial preparedness goes beyond just the initial investment, and navigating the mortgage […]
Employment growth may make the Fed’s job easier
Credit Sesame on how employment growth impacts Fed decisions, at least in the short term. The latest US employment numbers showed continued robust growth. That may have clinched the Fed’s decision about interest rates in its mid-March meeting. However, while the recent data saves the Fed from agonizing over whether to favor fighting inflation over […]
News roundup March 9, 2024
Credit Sesame’s personal finance news roundup March 9, 2024. Stories, news, politics and events impacting personal finance during the past week. Job growth continues, with some question marks The US economy added 275,000 new jobs in February 2024. That was the 38th consecutive month of job growth and is above the average monthly job gain […]
Handy tax preparation checklist
Credit Sesame’s handy tax preparation checklist so you are ready for Mon Apr 15, tax day 2024. Filing your taxes doesn’t have to be a headache. Just make sure have everything you need for a smooth and potentially credit-score-boosting tax season 2024. Gather information Plan your tax preparation Manage your time Make sure yo have […]
Inflation is up or inflation is down, which is it?
Credit Sesame on the latest economic news: inflation is up, or maybe it’s down, depending on how you interpret the data. The end of February 2024 brought news of an upturn in the inflation rate. It also featured stories saying that the inflation rate was slowing. Both perspectives referenced the same data. How the data […]
News roundup March 2, 2024
Credit Sesame’s personal finance news roundup March 2, 2024. Stories, news, politics and events impacting personal finance during the past week. 2023’s home price rally faded late in the year S&P Global reported that US home prices rose by 5.5% last year. However, prices declined in both November and December. While this may be partially […]
