Staff Writer
Max Fay
Max Fay is an entrepreneurial Millennial whose thoughtful writing shows he has a keen eye on both. Max has a genetic predisposition to being tight with his money and free with financial advice. At 25, he not only knows what an “emergency fund” is, he already has one. He wrote high school and college sports for every major newspaper in Florida while working his way through Florida State University. That experience was motivation to find another way to succeed financially and he has at Debt.org. Max can be reached at mfay@debt.org.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is an independent agency under the Federal Reserve System. It was created in 2010 to protect and educate consumers about their dealings with financial…
If you don’t qualify for a traditional credit card because you have no credit history, secured credit cards are a great way to get your toes wet and learn…
There was a time when paying down a mortgage or refinancing a 30-year-loan to 15-years was an automatic decision. It was almost always worth it. But … that was back…
The debt collection industry generates $11 billion a year from the 70 million Americans who haven’t or can’t pay their bills. Debt collectors get most of their revenue from people…
If you are struggling to make payments on credit accounts, receiving a message like this – “Your account has been charged off!” – might sound like the answer to your dreams. It…
Before you get too excited about the latest, greatest new car you gotta buy, take a deep breath and put away your checkbook, at least for a moment. There’s a…
Wage garnishment is a subject people want to avoid talking about, but if your wages are being garnished that is exactly what you should be talking about. Wage garnishment is…
Student loans are meant to help individuals reach their higher education goals. Because of this, they typically carry lower interest rates than other types of loans and debts. Still, your…
Move over 401(k) and health insurance plans, there’s a new company benefit tailored to the millennial workforce. The “Student Loan Repayment Benefit” is the name, and it is being offered…
The college years typically are a student’s first steps into adulthood and if you don’t want to stumble directly into debt as you work toward a diploma, learn how…
Everyone knows the price tag for college rises every year, but even soaring tuition costs can’t keep up with the skyrocketing price of college textbooks. According to data from the…
While banks and other lenders have the right and responsibility to gauge the financial fitness of any person that applies for a loan, several federal laws prohibit them from engaging…
The college financial aid process is long and it’s boring, but it can be a long and boring road to riches. The federal government handed out $125.7 billion in…
Merit-based scholarships could be the most misunderstood aspect of college financial aid, based on the common misconceptions that: Only straight-A students qualify Only a few of the straight-A students actually get…
Unsecured debt is any debt that is not tied to an asset, like a home or automobile. This most commonly means credit card debt, but can also refer to items…
Need-based scholarships and grants are exactly what their title indicates: money for students with a financial need. More than 85% of college students receive some form of financial aid so there is…
When an 18 year old is concerned about budgeting, you know the cost of college tuition is getting out of hand. A new survey conducted by the Princeton Review says…
Finding a decent solution to paying off student loan debt is becoming almost as difficult for college graduates as finding a decent job. The federal government defaults every student loan…
Gambling is essentially anything that starts with the phrase “I bet…” It’s a wager. You bet something of value – usually money – on an event with an uncertain outcome…
End-of-life decisions are among the most difficult to make. They can affect the patient’s family for years to come, both financially and emotionally. Still, decisions involving end-of-life care are…
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…
There has been much talk this campaign year about a “Wealth Tax” and whether it would impact the wallets of middle and lower-income America, even if its name doesn’t. Rest…
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…
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…
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…