The Latest Debt & Finance Blog

U.S. House Passes Budget Deal; Senate Likely to Follow Suit

By Bill Fay | December 13, 2013

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…

Holidays a Tough Time to Reduce Debt

By Bill Fay | December 10, 2013

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…

Department of Education Nets $41.3B Profit in 2013 from Student Loans

By Bill Fay | November 27, 2013

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 Accepts $13 Billion Fine For Lending Practices

By Bill Fay | November 20, 2013

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…

Frugal Man Pulls Plug on Cable, Saves $1,200 a Year

By Bill Fay | November 6, 2013

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…

Federal Government Reopens, Cloud of Uncertainty Passes for Now

By Bill Fay | October 17, 2013

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…

Consumer Financial Services Affected by Government Shutdown

By Alanna Ritchie | October 4, 2013

The continued U.S. government shutdown, now entering its fourth day, means that myriad services for consumers remain at a standstill. The Small Business Administration (SBA), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC),…

Frugal Man Rides His Bike to Work for ‘The Exercise’

By Bill Fay | August 30, 2013

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…

Frugal Man’s Flashback: Sharing Costs on College Parties, Food

By Bill Fay | August 23, 2013

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…

Frugal Man ‘Turned On’ by Discounted Flooring, Free Installation

By Bill Fay | August 16, 2013

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…

Sources:

  1. Kane, P., O’Keefe, E. (2013, December 12). Boehner attacks tea party groups as House approves budget deal. Washington Post. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/boehner-escalates-feud-with-conservative-groups-as-vote-on-budget-bill-looms/2013/12/12/3986871c-634f-11e3-91b3-f2bb96304e34_story.html?hpid=z1
  2. Walsh, D., Bash, D., Cohen, T. (2013, December 12). House approves budget deal aimed t averting shutdown. CNN.com. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/12/politics/congress-budget/
  3. Weisman, J., Peters, J. (2013, December 12). House Passes Budget Pact and Military Abuse Protections, but Not Farm Bill. New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/13/us/politics/house-budget-vote.html