Staff Writer
Max Fay
Max Fay has been writing about personal finance for Debt.org for the past five years. His expertise is in student loans, credit cards and mortgages. Max inherited a genetic predisposition to being tight with his money and free with financial advice. He was published in every major newspaper in Florida while working his way through Florida State University. He can be reached at [email protected].
When the federal government handed out the first student loans in 1958, the message was simple: This money is to be used for education purposes, meaning tuition, books, fees, supplies…
Where to live in college is annually one of fiercest arguments in every household, but if you think you’re going to win a debate between dorms and apartments based on…
Complete reliance on a laptop is one of the most common shared experiences among college students. You stay up late in the library, pounding on your keyboard and thinking to…
The federal bankruptcy system could see a drastic overhaul if a bill proposed by two Congressional Democrats becomes law. Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Ma.) say their…
If the size and complexity of your debt is bothering you, trust your instincts. Yes, you ought to consider consolidating that debt to make it more manageable. There is good…
The COVID-19 pandemic has drained millions of bank accounts and destroyed thousands of businesses. But it’s expected to be good for one business: bankruptcy. When stimulus payments and forbearance measures…
If you’re a Texas first-time homebuyer, the process can seem overwhelming and intimidating. The challenges include a tight supply of homes and rising prices. But there’s help available that can…
Medical treatment gets people well. Medical bills make a lot of people sick. Healthcare costs in the U.S. are skyrocketing toward $4 trillion a year. Paying them is so difficult…
While much of the way forward remains murky, this much is certain: Small businesses will be among the casualties of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. Despite Washington spreading hundreds of billions…
Deciding to declare bankruptcy may be the most important choice of your financial life. But it’s only the first choice. Picking the chapter of bankruptcy that best suits your situation…
When in need of quick cash to pay a bill or an emergency expense, a payday loan is often the easiest place to turn. It is also often the most…
Financial problems, it turns out, are bigger stressors among military families than deployment, moving, and separation from family. Service members and their spouses ranked financial stress as their biggest concern…
People normally enter credit counseling when they are struggling with burdensome debt and need help working through it. In most cases, buying a home and taking on a mortgage isn’t…
Advertiser Disclosure Debt.org wants to help those in debt understand their finances and equip themselves with the tools to manage debt. Our information is available for free, however the services…
Traditionally, few achievements are more cherished in America than homeownership. We regard the home as castle, shrine, gathering place, and refuge, the bricks, mortar, and timber symbol of our liberty…
For generations, the 30-year fixed mortgage has reigned, like hot dogs and apple pie, as America’s gold standard. We love it for it’s predictability and affordability. A 30-year fixed mortgage…
Congratulations, you’ve bought a timeshare! If you are like a lot of people, your next move will be trying to get rid of it. Buyer’s remorse grips a lot of…
When you’ve reached the end of your rope, goes the maxim, tie a knot and hang on. Good advice if you have rope left. If not, and if what little…
Credit counseling agencies are a dime a dozen, but choosing the right agency can feel like a game of Russian Roulette. How do you know who to trust? What can…
Medical emergencies, job losses and even divorces can turn a solid financial base into mush, forcing you to make gut-wrenching decisions that come with lasting consequences. Get to know your…
You don’t have to catch the virus to get harmed by COVID-19. As soon as the pandemic hit, scams arose to take advantage of people’s fears. In 2020, Americans have…
A pink slip can be a traumatic experience but losing your employer-provided health insurance is nothing short of devastating. Since the coronavirus pandemic erupted in early 2020, tens of millions…
The gap between the presidential candidates on tax programs is Grand Canyon-esque. And that may understate it. President Donald Trump wants to continue the 2017 tax cut, which his campaign…
Many American businesses are disregarding President Trump’s order allowing them to temporarily stop withholding Social Security taxes from their employees’ paychecks. The plan, they say, is confusing and won’t produce…
If you’re considering a consolidation loan to sweep away credit card debt and lower your monthly interest payments, do it! There couldn’t be a better time. All you need is…
If you’ve lost your job due to the coronavirus crisis, your unemployment benefits are likely to decrease very soon. It’s just a question of how much. That will be decided…
Teens see a driver’s license as a ticket to adulthood and adventure while their parents likely view it as a torpedo aimed at their household budget. The cost of adding…
“You deserve hazard pay for that job!” All of us probably have either said that or someone said it to us, and it’s almost always a tongue-in-cheek expression of sympathy…
For most, a credit score is background noise in a busy life of more pleasant pursuits. Then we want to acquire something important and expensive — a house, a car,…
Paying credit card bills can feel like fighting a fire. You put out one flame and another pops up. Eventually, you just want to get away from the flames. A…
It’s impossible not to notice that student loan debt has emerged as a big issue in the campaigns for the 2020 Democratic Party presidential nominations. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren brought…
About 55 million Americans don’t have emergency savings, so it follows that when emergencies happen, they turn to payday loans. Approximately 12 million consumers use payday loans and typically pay…
Another month, another budget-crippling cable bill. When will it ever stop? The average cable bill is now $103.15 a month and is increasing year after year, despite more competition. What…
If you’re looking for a way out of debt, chances are good you’ve come across the term “debt consolidation” and chances are just as good that everyone you talk to…
President Trump’s latest budget proposal to Congress calls, once again, for the elimination of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. This is the second time Trump has recommended eliminating…
In the words of rapper/philosopher Jay Z: “You can’t knock the hustle.” Millennials are having to hustle to pay their student loan debt. Over 44 million American have student loan…
We can drive a car at 16, vote at 18, drink at 21, but until recently, we couldn’t rent a car until 25. Fortunately for the 25-and-under crowd, those rules…
Credit cards are a hot topic for Millennials. Half of the world tells us that credit cards are pure evil and the other half constantly brags about the “rewards” they…
We’ve heard all about your roommate nightmares. There’s the guy who walks around in his boxers eating all your leftovers, or the girl blasting Beyoncé at two in the morning…
Data shows that homeownership among millennials is down, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t interested in buying a home. In the last two decades, homeownership in the U.S. has declined…