Staff Writer
Bill Fay
Bill “No Pay” Fay has lived a meager financial existence his entire life. He started writing/bragging about it in 2012, helping birth Debt.org into existence as the site’s original “Frugal Man.” Prior to that, he spent more than 30 years covering the high finance world of college and professional sports for major publications, including the Associated Press, New York Times and Sports Illustrated. His interest in sports has waned some, but he is as passionate as ever about not reaching for his wallet.
Debt trouble does not discriminate. It comes to every demographic. However, because of their service to the nation, military veterans often travel a financial path unique among Americans. The transition…
If you need money in a hurry, you can get cash through your credit card or a payday loan. It’s quick and convenient, but don’t be fooled. It can be…
The answer to the question posed here — Should I pay my credit card bill early? — is frustratingly vague: It depends. Whether it’s wiser to pay early or wait…
Military members and veterans often struggle to make ends meet. That leads to bad credit scores, which makes them prime targets for predatory lenders. The base pay for new military…
You can have as many credit cards as you want. That doesn’t mean you should get as many as you want. What is the right number for you? That depends…
The average American has about four credit cards. If you’re an average American, you might want to get rid of at least one of them, thinking it will help you…
Few concepts are more rooted in the ideal of the American dream than owning and operating your own business. But making the dream a reality demands more than a great…
When the federal government shuts down, the first question millions of federal employees ask is: Who still has to work, and who gets paid? Shutdowns happen when Congress fails to…
Among the myriad wonders of medical care in the United States, medical debt stands stubbornly as the one incurable malady. And like any lingering condition, it can quietly weaken your…
A lot of people would rather inherit a doghouse than a timeshare. At least the doghouse won’t require a $1,000 annual maintenance fee. If someone dies and leaves you a…
If you can’t pay your credit card bills, you’re probably losing sleep. But there is at least one thing you don’t have to worry about – you can’t be thrown…
Bankruptcies are increasing in the U.S., which means financial dishonesty is also on the rise. The legal term is “fraud,” which is an all-purpose word for lying, cheating, or other…
Divorce does more than end a marital contract. It also severs most of the couple’s financial entanglements — most being the keyword. Debt is stubborn; as surely as it dogs…
Collections — the process of pressing a borrower to repay money owed to a business or organization — can present a thorny patch in the road to your financial goals.…
You’ve bought a house. You’ve locked down all the details, signed all the papers, and are set to make a monthly payment for at least 15 years. Then one month,…
Anyone new to bankruptcy can’t be blamed for thinking the whole process equals doom, gloom, and forfeiture. After all, filing bankruptcy is not going to look good on your resumé…
Credit card debt has skyrocketed to more than $1.1 trillion. So has looking for ways to avoid paying interest on that mountain of money. For millions of Americans, the search…
Borrowers who’ve gotten themselves tangled in a charge-off situation face difficult choices. Pay the debt in full? Try to settle for a lesser amount? Run away and hide? “The world…
For those seeking a fresh financial start, Chapter 7 bankruptcy has plenty of upsides. It’s the cleanest, most straightforward, least time-consuming, and least expensive of the various bankruptcy options. The…
When people get married, they often vow to take each other through thick and thin. Bankruptcy can get pretty thick for a husband and wife. Bankruptcy is when a person…
Just as Americans were saying their emotional goodbyes to a cultural icon, the Twinkie, Hostess Brands Inc. made an encouraging announcement: More than 100 potential buyers are interested in purchasing…
Unemployment rates fell this week, and analysts are predicting a further decline as more businesses reopen in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. Weekly unemployment benefit applications fell by 23,000 to…
The new book about Warren Buffett is called “Tap Dancing To Work,” but what the billionaire investor is saying during promotional appearances this week feels much more like clogging than…
In the first round of budget negotiations between President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner, the congressman blinked first. The day after Obama was re-elected, Boehner said that “revenue was…
Pity poor Grover Norquist. The creator and enforcer of “the Pledge” – an agreement signed by 258 Republican members of the U.S. House and Senate never to vote for a…
The election might be over, but the urge to campaign still burns inside President Obama. Obama, who received a tepid response from congressional leaders about his ideas on solving the…
With Mary Schapiro, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chairman, stepping down next month, industry leaders said the choice of Commissioner Elisse Walter (pictured at right) to take her…
According to the Bible (Leviticus 25:10), every 50th year – known as the Jubilee year – is sacred: “It is a time of freedom and of celebration when everyone will…
‘Tis the season to begin holiday shopping. With the promise of amazing deals on Black Friday just two days away and the opportunity for online shopping on Cyber Monday, this…
After a monumental post-election slide, the Dow Jones industrial average started to creep back up this week. Seizing onto hope that Washington will reach a deal on the so-called “fiscal…
As the holiday season quickly approaches, so does the fervor to track down the latest and greatest in gifts. Countless fans waited in a line three blocks long at the…
Superstorm Sandy left more than wreckage and debris. It left thousands out of work. The number of people seeking unemployment benefits last week shot up to an 18-month high as…
While some economic indicators suggest America is inching toward steady fiscal growth, a growing number of layoffs from companies that range from mom-and-pops to large corporations suggests more problems may…
Here’s an image you no doubt remember from your TV watching childhood: Wile E. Coyote chases the Road Runner across the animated desert terrain. Legs churning frantically, the hungry carnivore…
An enormous shift toward energy independence is on the horizon for the United States, according to the latest International Energy Agency (IEA) report. The forecast, officially released November 12 in…
As the destructive flood waters slowly recede and power is gradually restored along the East Coast following Superstorm Sandy last week, thousands of victims are currently being offered a financial…
The war on drugs suffered a frontline defeat on Tuesday as two states, Colorado and Washington, became the first ones to legalize marijuana use. In as a stunning rejection of…
With Americans casting ballots on the final day of the 2012 presidential campaign, some financial analysts are leaning toward Republican candidate Mitt Romney as the candidate who will boost the…
As millions of Americans head to the polls tomorrow to exercise their democratic right to vote, a host of issues will be on the forefront. Riddled with facts and figures…
With only four days remaining before the 2012 presidential election, President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney, along with many economists, have been anxiously awaiting the November 2012 release of…