While many consumers are working diligently to reduce debt and get their finances under control, one type of credit many consumers are adding in large quantities these days is student loan debt.

Student loan borrowing has increased for nearly every consumer age group, but none moreso than for those between the ages of 35 and 49, according to a report from Reuters. The credit tracking website Credit Karma recently found that the amount of student loan debt carried by those in this age group has risen 47 percent in the last three years.

“More and more people are going back to school,” Credit Karma CEO Kenneth Lin told the news service. “High unemployment, rising tuition costs, artificially low interest rates from the government, and increased for-profit school advertising… Read more…

During a recession, the only items we dont cut back on as a nation are typically those that are the most important to our daily lives. Necessities unaffected by an economic downturn include healthcare, groceries, rent/mortgage payments, Dracula face paint and candy corn sales. Just the staples.
If the amount one is willing to spend on something truly reflects its value to the person, its safe to say Americans love Halloween.
This year, the National Retail Federation predicts Americans will spend $6.9 billion on Halloweenmore than double what we spent in 2005.  The largest chunk will go to costumes (female witch costumes coming in first with male pirate get-ups close behind), followed by candy, decorations, pumpkins and greeting cards. Read more…

The last twelve months have seen the biggest squeeze in people budgets for 60 years. This Christmas many are looking at ways to cut costs and make the festive season more affordable.

Research by American Express recently found that many people are set to change their spending this Christmas to keep the costs down, with one in four planning Secret Santa within their family or group of friends.

68% of people are expected to set a spending limit with 25% of parents set to spend in excess of 100 on their children and 20% of adults planning to spend over 100 on their partners.

Despite the changes to peoples spending habits we look set to spend an average of 364 on gifts for our loved ones. This has increased from 307 in 2009 and 260 in 2007.

If you have gone through a bankruptcy, you are probably having problems getting finance and not being able to get finance when almost everything inmerce is based on credit, can turn out to be very stressful. Nevertheless, if you are a homeowner, you can get finance by refinancing your home loan while at the same time helping you raise your credit score.

Time Is Essential

You need to be very careful when ites to timing. It is highly improbable that you will get approved for a refinance home loan unless at least six months since your bankruptcy has been dismissed have passed. There is no way round this waiting period and you should be very aware of this because applying for a loan and getting declined will affect your credit negatively. Even if the lender does not report the decline to credit agencies the sole credit report pull will affect your credit score negatively.

Credit Requirements

Searching For The Right Lender

Finding the right lender is not an easy task, but can be achieved with patience and proper research.

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A faction of the Occupy Wall Street Empowerment and Education working group has called for one million people to join a pledge to default on their student loans.

The Occupy Student Debt Campaign, which is comprised of students, alumni and current faculty from schools across the country, aims to challenge the rising crisis of student debt and make people aware of the injustices of the current higher education infrastructure to the public, according to a statement from the group.

Supporters of the campaign may sign one of three available pledges: one for people who currently owe student loans, another for current faculty members and one more for people without debt who still advocate the cause, according to their official website.

The campaign’s four main principles include: federal funding for all public educational institutions, interest-free student loans, the ability of students to know where their tuition dollars are a promise to refuse payment of their student loans.

“I’m concerned about the privatization of public schools and the strain it puts on faculty members and students,” said Hillary Goodfriend, a founding member of the campaign and current NYU student. “But th

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