When I was a boy one local department store had a jingle that featured the repeated chorus of "low overhead, low overhead". They claimed to offer lower prices because they kept their 'overhead' down. If they spent less on rent and other fixed expenses they could make a reasonable profit at a lower price. I was too young to remember which store...

Each fall we join the other throng of Knoxvillians, who come out and stand in line for a free flu shot. Why do we do this? It's not because it's fun or painless. Then for the next couples of days we drag around. Pleasant experience? Not in our top ten, so why do we do this year after year? It's because of what we don't get the rest of the year and...

Much as we'd like to, we can't marry just part of someone. We marry all of them. That includes their good and bad points. Also their assets and liabilities. Amber has great credit and she's worked hard to keep it that way. The man she is about to marry is not good at paying bills on time and his credit has suffered. Will his previous debts affect...

Surveys show that 80% of undergraduate students have at least one credit card in their own name without anyone else being responsible for payment. And almost every study shows that more students are carrying higher unpaid balances on their accounts each year. One report from Nelliemae.com indicates that the average balance in 2000 was over $2,700....

Can you explain all the hype and offers having to do with transferring amounts from one card to another or using checks at a very low interest rate? I get so many offers I figure there's a reason these credit card companies are pushing people to do it. I just don't know what that reason is. ~ Ellen Ellen is wise to ask why the credit card...

My husband and I have accumulated some credit card debt, a personal loan from my mom, and a home equity line of credit.Recently getting married, purchasing our first home, and some medical bills have really put a hurting on our budget. Some advice that I have read says that one should pay off the debt with the highest interest rate first. Other...

A couple of months ago I read an article about getting finances under control. According to the article, you can double the minimum monthly payment on a revolving charge and that account will be paid in full in 36 months regardless of the amount. How could that be possible? Especially considering how "minimum" most minimum monthly payments are....