News roundup January 27, 2024
Credit Sesame’s personal finance news roundup January 27, 2024. Stories, news, politics and events impacting personal finance during the past week. GDP shows solid growth in 4th quarter of 2023 The US economy grew at an inflation-adjusted annual rate of 3.3% in the final quarter of 2023. While this is a slowdown from the growth […]
An A to Z of credit terminology
Credit Sesame’s A to Z of credit terminology. While not exhaustive, this A to Z of credit terminology is a solid starting point for understanding key concepts in the world of credit. Whether navigating credit reports, considering loans, or aiming to boost your credit score, familiarizing yourself with the language of credit is a valuable […]
Americans say they would prioritize saving and debt reduction
Credit Sesame discusses the news that Americans would prioritize saving and debt reduction in 2024. At least, that’s what they would do hypothetically if they received a hypothetical pay raise. A recent survey suggests that some consumers are starting to get the message that rising debt, late payments, defaults and low saving rates cannot continue. […]
News roundup January 20, 2024
Credit Sesame’s personal finance news roundup January 20, 2024. Stories, news, politics and events impacting personal finance during the past week. Producer prices fell in December 2023 The Producer Price Index (PPI) declined by 0.1% in December. This gives hope that the surprisingly high Consumer Price Index increase during the month was just a one-time […]
Where to start? Credit cards for beginners
Credit Sesame with a few basic suggestions on where to start with credit cards for beginners. If you are new to credit cards and perhaps building credit, you may benefit from a nudge in the right direction. Even consumers who are well-versed in credit need reminders from time to time. We’re here to help you […]
Consumer overspending planned by households in 2024
Credit Sesame discusses possible consumer overspending in 2024 and what that means for households. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s monthly Survey of Consumer Expectations asks people questions about how they expect economic developments to affect them in the year ahead. Beyond what the responses say about the overall economy, analyzing the survey results […]
News roundup January 13, 2024
Credit Sesame’s personal finance news roundup January 13, 2024. Stories, news, politics and events impacting personal finance during the past week. Consumer advocate flags problems with student loan servicers The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a report highlighting several problems with many private companies responsible for servicing government student loans. The heart of the […]
You are financially more than your credit score
Credit Sesame asked six regular contributors to Sesame Speaks, the Credit Sesame blog, to comment on the statement, “You are financially more than your credit score.” Your credit score is just one piece of information that lenders use Your credit score is a snapshot of your credit history and how you have managed debt in […]
U.S. national debt in the spotlight in January 2024
Credit Sesame discusses US national debt after the latest Treasury announcement on January 2, 2024. On January 2, the US Treasury Department announced that federal government debt had reached $34 trillion for the first time. This comes as the government approaches new deadlines for resolving the funding shortfall that it postponed temporarily in fall 2023. […]
News roundup January 6, 2024
Credit Sesame’s personal finance news roundup January 6, 2024. Stories, news, politics and events impacting personal finance during the past week. 1. Employment grew every month in 2023 The US economy added a net total of 216,000 jobs in December. That was above expectation but slightly below the average of 225,000 jobs per month for […]
Are your personal finances ready for 2024? 9 ways to prepare
Credit Sesame with nine ways to prepare your personal finances for 2024. There may not be much you personally can do about the economy, but you can be ready to adjust your personal finances to changing events. Here are nine things to prepare for in 2024: 1. Interest rates disappoint The stock market staged a […]
2024 credit conditions worsening for consumers
Credit Sesame discusses the impact of worsening 2024 credit conditions for consumers. Often, the worst enemy of financial responsibility is denial. People compound financial problems by ignoring them for as long as possible. This is like ignoring a flashing red warning light on your car’s dashboard. Failure to deal with it can lead to a […]
7 credit management resolutions for 2024
Credit Sesame’s 7-point list of credit management resolutions to consider for 2024. The New Year is commonly associated with hope. It’s a fresh start and a time to set goals for the year ahead. The idea is that this year can be better than the last. That’s all well and good, but a brighter 2024 […]
News roundup December 30, 2023
Credit Sesame’s personal finance news roundup December 30, 2023. Stories, news, politics and events impacting personal finance during the past week. 1. New home sales drop to lowest level of 2023 In November, sales of newly constructed homes fell to their lowest level of 2023. Sales dropped by 12.2% during the month, down to a […]
Consumer finances 2023 year in review
Credit Sesame’s consumer finances 2023 year in review list ten factors influencing overall financial health in 2023. 2023 had more plot twists than a Knives Out movie. Some problems were resolved, some got worse, and others sprang up unexpectedly. Many of the past year’s developments affected consumer finances, creating an odd mix of good and […]
