CESI Debt Solutions

Medical Debt Tax Deductions Guide

Alex — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:04:35 +0000

Medical debt is often one of the largest debts people face. While there’s no way to avoid paying back the debt, you may qualify for a tax deduction while dealing with your medical debt. Below is a guide to knowing if you qualify for the tax deductions and what counts as a medical expense. [...]

Men vs. Women: Debt and Spending

Alex — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:08:52 +0000

Men and women are united in their struggle to stay out of debt and be responsible with money, but there are gender differences in how they handle debt and spending. While there is a lack of research on gender differences in debt and why those differences occur, there is some research that may provide [...]

CESI’s Neil Ellington Talks with NY Times About Race Bias in Bankruptcy

Tracy — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:17:20 +0000

The New York Times recently published an article about the race bias in bankruptcy filing. According to the article, a recent study reports that: Blacks are about twice as likely as whites to wind up in the more onerous and costly form of consumer bankruptcy as they try to dig out from their debts, a [...]

Dating: When to Split the Check?

Alex — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:05:54 +0000

In these modern times, women and men are equal and often share the financial responsibilities with each other. I’m all for equality and financial independence, but where is the line between gentlemen and jerk? When is it appropriate to split the check on a date? If I insist on paying, am I insulting my [...]

Average Credit Card Debt Drops 11% in 2011

Alex — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:56:03 +0000

The average consumer had $6,576 in credit card debt in 2011, down 11% from 2010. These figures come from a report on CreditKarma.com based on data from 300,000 users. The downward trend continues from 2010, when credit card debt decreased 7%. However, the decreases may not continue as the economy recovers. Improving consumer confidence and [...]

Financial Lessons from Call of Duty

Alex — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:22:32 +0000

Call of Duty is one of the biggest game franchises of all-time, with the latest release in the series (Modern Warfare 3) reaching $1 billion in sales a month after its release. I’ll be the first to admit I’ve wasted too much time playing Call of Duty, but I’ve realized there’s a few great [...]

It’s All About the Little Things: Easy Saving

Alex — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:23:56 +0000

I learned a long time ago not to open new credit cards for fun or buy a TV on a whim, but it’s taken much long to learn that changing my everyday small habits can lead to huge savings. My new year’s resolution was to focus on the details to save money, and it’s [...]

Tips to Be Frugal in 2012

Alex — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 20:34:55 +0000

My New Year’s resolution is to do all the little things I can to be frugal and save money year-round. Much like my past resolutions such as losing weight or getting a promotion, I believe this resolution is destined to fail without focus on the details. Instead of trying to say ‘Be frugal’ over [...]

CESI In The News: How to save $5,000 in 2012

Tracy — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:27:34 +0000

Are you wondering how you can save a chunk of money in the New Year? MSN Money recently posted an outstanding article on How to save $5000 in 2012 linking to CESI’s site following an interview with CESI’s Director of Outreach – Tracy East. Some of the ideas you might want to try: Analyze your [...]

Spending With Friends

Alex — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 01:24:55 +0000

Most of us tend to overindulge around our friends. Some eat too much. Others have one too many drinks. I like to compulsively shop with my friends. Spending with friends seems mostly harmless- I’m not abusing my health or putting myself in any danger. But, the real pain is felt by my bank account. [...]