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.
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…
Growing older never was for the fainthearted, but it takes exceptional courage to navigate those Golden Years with dents on your credit report and a need for cash. Chins up,…
Choosing to declare personal bankruptcy can be among the most difficult decisions ever to confront an individual. Tougher still: Having to pick, under unmatched duress, which type of bankruptcy best…
There are plenty of reasons to consider making car loan payments with a credit card — everything from piling up rewards points or cash back, to scoring a bit of…
With President Biden declaring an end to pandemic emergency provisions effective May 11, and states and companies already having rescinded most of their debt collections suspensions, debt collectors are totally…
A bankruptcy discharge is the legal holy grail for anyone who files for bankruptcy. A discharge means there’s a court order in the bankrupt’s case that erases all qualifying debts.…
Debt Relief Programs in South Carolina Those who are struggling to pay off debt in South Carolina can find programs to help through banks, credit unions, online lenders, and for-profit…
Debt Relief Programs in Missouri Missouri residents struggling to pay off debt can find assistance programs at banks, credit unions, online lenders, and for-profit and nonprofit debt relief companies. These…
If you have so much debt that you’re considering filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you have enough debt to qualify. The U.S. bankruptcy code doesn’t specify a minimum dollar amount…
Debt Relief Programs in Minnesota There are banks, credit unions, online lenders, and debt-relief companies (for-profit and nonprofit) in Minnesota that specializes in helping consumers pay off credit card debt. These companies…
A rare silver lining to the Covid pandemic was Americans managed to pay down billions of dollars in credit card debt. Those days have screeched to a halt. Credit card…
Debt Relief Programs in Indiana There are banks, credit unions, online lenders and debt-relief companies (for profit and nonprofit) in Indiana that specialize in helping consumers pay off credit card debt.…
Debt Relief Programs in Wisconsin Wisconsin residents struggling to pay off debt can find assistance programs at banks, credit unions, online lenders, and for profit and nonprofit debt relief companies.…
Debt Relief Programs in Washington There are a number of resources available for residents of the Evergreen State who find themselves in financial peril. Banks, credit unions, online lenders, for…
Debt Relief Programs in Tennessee Tennessee has a number of companies that specialize in helping consumers pay off credit card debt including banks, credit unions, online lenders, and both for…
Debt Relief Programs in Colorado Colorado has a number of companies that specialize in helping consumers pay off credit card debt including banks, credit unions, online lenders, and both for…
Bankruptcy is a legal proceeding that could provide relief when a person can’t repay debts. Consider bankruptcy a legal life preserver for those drowning in debt. Chapter 7 bankruptcy is…
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which prides itself on being the watchdog for U.S. consumers, has been snarling at America’s three major credit bureaus for a while and finally decided…
The Frugal Man has never in his life bragged about throwing money around, but that 60-year silence on silly spending is over. I just dropped a boatload of money on…
American consumers say they are having an easier time paying bills and are feeling much less stress over their financial situation than they were in 2009… unless they happen to…
During Alan Greenspan’s nearly 20-year reign as Chairman of the Federal Reserve, commentators used to look at the heft of the briefcase he carried to meetings to guess whether interest…
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has proposed new rules aimed at putting more responsibility on payday loan lenders and their crippling triple-digit interest rates. The CFPB proposals would require lenders…
The latest trends in spending and debt indicate that America already has forgotten any lessons we might have learned when the bubble burst on the U.S. economy in 2008. The…
If you’re wondering whether a summer vacation is worth it, ask your doctor, not your accountant. Every medical study ever done on the subject concludes that summer vacations – especially…
Analysts predict record-setting sales for the automobile industry over the next year, though feuding between government leaders over whether discrimination exists in car financing could slow things down. WardsAuto Dealer…
America’s holiday season has begun, which means excessive consumption is not only allowed, it’s encouraged. At least until it’s your turn to pick up the bill. There is no reason…
The United States government is opening the door to retirement savings for the millions of Americans who have nothing invested there, but a word of caution if you go inside:…
The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) announced it was imposing regulations to prevent colleges from steering students to specific debit and prepaid cards for use with federal grant and loan…
There is a new twist on the ages old discussion about how much is needed for retirement savings: Employers – not employees! – are taking the initiative. The Vanguard Group,…
American workers have found another escape hatch to avoid contributing to their retirement savings and at least 33 percent of them say they would voluntarily take it. The LIMRA Secure…
While most retailers in the United States struggle to catch up to the new EMV chip technology for credit cards, Walmart has been ready for nearly a decade. The nation’s…
The 77 million Americans pursued and often harassed by debt collection agencies won a moment of relief when the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ordered the nation’s two largest debt…
There aren’t many words in the English language less understood and more avoided than bankruptcy. “There definitely is a stigma attached to it,” Jeff Badgley said. “When people hear it,…
Father’s Day is just around the corner and I think it’s time to change the way we celebrate the occasion at the Frugal Man’s house. I think I will do…
There are approximately 2.8 million college graduates this year and 75 percent of them – 2.1 million people – borrowed an average of $35,000 to pay for that diploma. That…
Advertisers have teased American consumers forever with deals too good to be true and today’s boasts are more enticing than ever: Zero-percent financing on a new car and some credit…
If money is causing stress and anxiety in your house, take it easy. You’ve got company. The same thing is happening in the house next door. And the one across…