e-lifeandwork: Learn New Skills Online | Online Courses & Real-World

Student debt can make buying a home feel impossible. Here are your options Half of people who haven't yet purchased a home point to their student debt as a reason for the delay. That's the finding from a new report by the National Association of Realtors, which partnered with Morning Consult to conduct an online poll in June of 1,995 student loan borrowers. Millennials were the most likely (60%) to say their student debt was making them put off homeownership, although more than a third of baby boomers said the same. "Housing affordability is worsening, leaving future home buyers with student debt at a severe disadvantage," said Charlie Oppler, president of the NAR. Outstanding student loan debt in the U.S. has surpassed $1.7 trillion and burdens Americans more than credit card and auto debt. Around a third of borrowers are in delinquency or default. More from Personal Finance: Here's how to prioritize your financial goals. Here are some tips for bea...

Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, consumer debt was at an all-time high according to the Federal Reserve. So if you have credit card debt, you’re not alone. What may surprise you is that you are uniquely situated to negotiate your credit card debt on your own. We tend to rely on professionals to address challenges—car mechanics, lawyers, trainers. But it doesn’t take a finance degree to successfully develop a payment plan with your credit card provider. Being proactive about your debt can help you avoid a charge off and protect your current credit score. More importantly, taking control of your debt could reduce the stress you feel without a plan. By contacting your creditors you could create a plan that puts you in the know. Why Should You Negotiate Your Credit Card Debt? If you carry a high credit card balance or have missed payments, you may have heard from a debt settlement company. Often these organizations promise to resolve your debt for pennies on the dollar. It ca...

Here’s how to figure it out. Manhattan Institute fellow argues that college diversity studies have created a profitable 'growth industry' in the corporate consulting world. Borrowing for college is considered a given by many families.  Fifty-five percent of families said they plan to take out student loans this year, according to a recent survey by College Ave Student Loans, a provider of private student loans. Of those families, slightly more than half say they expect to borrow $10,000 to $40,000 in loans, while 23% say they plan to borrow $75,000 or more, according to the study.  But how much is too much? There is no one answer, of course. It depends on several things, including: how long the student takes to graduate; how much he or she stands to make after graduation; and what resources a family has. Each family needs to determine the number they can afford to avoid becoming unduly burdened by education loans. "I often hear from families, ‘We got in, we’re...

Whether big or small, all businesses go through change. In an unpredictable marketplace, the ability to adapt separates success stories from cautionary tales. In defining how businesses adapt to change, Eric Ries ("The Lean Startup") coined a concept that he named "pivoting." According to Ries, and many experts agree, every business reaches a point where it must make a choice to pivot, persist, or just pull the plug! When you choose to pivot, you position yourself to take advantage of market trends and respond to customer feedback. Yet, despite the benefits of pivoting, it can be tough to know when you need to take your dream business in a new direction. Read on to discover the tell-tale signs that it's time to take a fresh approach in your business operations. Competition is too stiff No industry is immune to competition, and if you feel that you are struggling against stronger rivals, maybe it's time you pivot. When you started your business...

August 17, 2021 6 min read This story originally appeared on MarketBeat You know the long list of investment regrets: Not starting to invest soon enough, selling at the wrong time, going for the safe option, et cetera, et cetera.  However, the only path forward can sometimes involve… well, simply moving forward. Here's how to deal with the investment regrets you sometimes encounter at any point during your investing life and future. Tip 1: Keep your goals top of mind. What goals do you have for your financial future? Do you want to save enough money to retire by 60? Have money to send your kids to college?  Whatever missteps you made in the past, you can wipe them out by becoming completely goal-oriented. Figure out how much you need to invest using MarketBeat's retirement calculator, then break that amount down into monthly contributions. Let's say that in order to retire by 60, you need to save $40,000 per year. Break that into a monthly contribution. In t...