Open Source Blogging

Article by Leo Babauta. (Follow me on Twitter.)

Like many people, I tend to overeat during the holidays, from Thanksgiving through New Year’s. It’s kinda part of the tradition to consume huge amounts of food, you know?

And like many others, I also tend to gain weight during the holidays — some people can gain 5 or more pounds (though for most it’s usually only a couple pounds).

Not this time around.

On Thanksgiving, while I enjoyed time with my family, and while everyone else pigged out, I ate moderately and wisely. And I felt great about it. I also got … Continue Reading

Every other Sunday, The Simple Dollar reviews a personal finance book.

As many of you know, I’m a big fan of PaperBackSwap. I use it all the time to trade books - I request ones I’d like to read and send out ones that I’ve finished reading so that others can enjoy it. It almost functions like a giant online library for me, except with no late fees - I can keep the books I get from there for as long as I wish.

One thing I use PaperBackSwap … Continue Reading

Pam wrote to me through the GetOutOfDebt.org site and asked the following question. If you have a credit or debt question you’d like to ask just use the online form. I’m happy to help you totally for free.

Income from the GetOutOfDebt.org site advertising is used to help alleviate poverty. If you would like to help me to help others, there are easy and free things you can do, click here to learn how you can help.

“Dear Steve,

I am a single mom, my daughter is 17 and trying to get a job, but even for her … Continue Reading

Many of you out there reading this are hurting.

The economic news is grim, and even though I believe the only thing we have to fear is fear itself, that doesn’t change the stark reality of things.

Most of us have lost a large swath of our retirement savings in the last year. My overall retirement savings has gone down about 30% over the past thirteen months, even with late 2007 and 2008 contributions.

Some of us have lost our jobs. I have at least three friends who have been downsized in the past calendar year.

All of us are uncertain … Continue Reading

Lynn wrote to me through the GetOutOfDebt.org site and asked the following question. If you have a credit or debt question you’d like to ask just use the online form. I’m happy to help you totally for free.

Income from the GetOutOfDebt.org site advertising is used to help alleviate poverty. If you would like to help me to help others, there are easy and free things you can do, click here to learn how you can help.

“Dear Steve,

I am with a debt negotiation company for over a year and i am being sued for one of … Continue Reading

Kim wrote to me through the GetOutOfDebt.org site and asked the following question. If you have a credit or debt question you’d like to ask just use the online form. I’m happy to help you totally for free.

Income from the GetOutOfDebt.org site advertising is used to help alleviate poverty. If you would like to help me to help others, there are easy and free things you can do, click here to learn how you can help.

“Dear Steve,

I’m paying credit debt on time not getting anywhere with minimum payments. Husband laid off from work 15 months. … Continue Reading

If you have a mortgage with one of the lenders below you can use the contact information to reach the person at the lender that should be able to direct you to the special terms or programs available to help you avoid foreclosure or to come to a solution regarding your delinquent mortgage.

The contacts should be able to handle Short Sales, Foreclosures, Forebearances, Loan Modifications, Repayments, Deed-in-Lieu of Foreclosure arrangements, etc.

Altegra Credit Co. Loan Services Loss Mitigation Department
(Home Loan Services)
Gary Fedoronko
Gary_Fedoronko@HLS.ML.com
412-918-7552

American Home Mortgage Servicing fka Option One Loss Mitigation Department… Continue Reading

The sagging home values are drawing attention to a gaping hole in bankruptcy protection, the ability for U.S. bankruptcy judges to be able to modify the terms of a mortgage to keep people in their homes that want to pay.

A couple of recent article really caught my eye, “Delahunt: Empower judges to modify mortgages” and “A Win-Win Bankruptcy Reform“.

Bankruptcy judges have the power to change the term of loans for vacation retreats, business and car loans, but no authority to keep you in your home. Silly.

Homeowners facing trouble today or headed to foreclosure … Continue Reading

On November 24, 2008 a class action lawsuit was filed against Bank of America, for deliberately engaging in a course of action that led to credit card customers to be intentionally penalized even though payments were made by the due date.

The suit cites, as an example, the case of Bruce Trombley who received a credit card statement with a closing date of October 2, 2007 that indicated that a minimum payment of $248.00 was due by Saturday, October 27, 2007. Mr. Trombley went into a Bank of America branch on Saturday, October 27, 2007 at 11:44 am and … Continue Reading

Carolyn wrote to me through the GetOutOfDebt.org site and asked the following question. If you have a credit or debt question you’d like to ask just use the online form. I’m happy to help you totally for free.

Income from the GetOutOfDebt.org site advertising is used to help alleviate poverty. If you would like to help me to help others, there are easy and free things you can do, click here to learn how you can help.

“Dear Steve,

I built a new home using credit card cash advances. I now have $85,000 in credit card debt and … Continue Reading