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. Bill can be reached at [email protected].
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Biden declaring an end to pandemic emergency provisions effective May 11, and states and companies already having rescinded most of their debt collections suspensions, debt collectors are totally…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…
Debt Relief Programs in Maryland Debt relief in Maryland can come from several entities, among them, banks, credit unions, credit counseling agencies (nonprofit and for-profit), and online lenders. The goal:…
Americans are taking out more loans than ever to pay for college and defaulting on them in record numbers. Politicians, most notably U.S. senators Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Jack Reed, D-R.I.…
Christmas, as you might imagine, is a tough holiday for people like me. The premise of the holiday is no longer about giving or even receiving. It’s about spending. We…
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) sounded the alarm about online loan services, filing a lawsuit against CashCall Inc., for collecting exorbitant amounts of money the bureau says consumers didn’t…
It’s hardly a surprise that loan consolidation is a popular option for people looking to lessen the burden of their student loan debt. Too many students today graduate with too…
Democrats finally scored a victory in the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday, joining Republicans to pass the Bipartisan Budget Act by a stunning margin of 332-94. The unanticipated truce…
The inevitable collision between year-end spending and budget restrictions is making this an uncomfortable holiday season for two vital groups in the American economy: Consumers and the federal government. American…
The millions of Americans facing problems with the companies servicing their student loans now have an angel looking over their backs. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a government watchdog…
A new government report shows the U.S. Department of Education generated $41.3 billion from federal student loans in the 2013 fiscal year, making it the third most profitable industry in…
JPMorgan Chase Bank agreed to pay a $13 billion fine to the U.S. government for its role in the disastrous mortgage lending practices that landed more than 15 million American…
We don’t have ESPN at my house, which is a little like a minister saying he doesn’t have a Bible at home. I was a sports writer for 25 years…
The cloud of financial ruin threatening the U.S. and world economy floated away Wednesday, but it will be back. President Barack Obama and Congress made sure of that when they…
Congress haggled over lowering the rates on federal student loans for months until reaching a final decision that President Barack Obama signed into law in early August. While the compromise…
I have just discovered that I am part of America’s 1 percent. Not trying to brag too much here, but actually, I’m even more elite than that. I’m in the…
I have a vivid picture of my first night at college 40 years ago and I’m sure it doesn’t differ much from yours. When I walked into my dorm room…
The Department of Education is nearing completion of its transfer of millions of federal student loans to a new set of loan servicers, but the process did not come without…
I like surprises. Whether you’re aware of it or not, you do too, or at least your brain does. Neuroscientists from Emory University and Baylor University conducted research that proves…
Being a frugal family is a team sport. Everyone has to agree in practice, if not in principle, that saving money is a really good idea. The principle part is…
The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday ended a prolonged debate in Congress with an overwhelming 392-31 vote supporting the Senate’s plan to rework student loan interest rates. The Bipartisan…
When I was growing up, I thought starting out with limited means made you an ideal candidate for becoming frugal. It turns out the exact opposite is true, at least…
I took my wife out for dinner at a local burger joint last night and was a little annoyed on the drive home as I contemplated the bill: $10.81. I…