Consumer Finance Blog

Advice, tips, and insights for the average consumer
How do creditors and collectors find debtors? CollectionsDebt Relief ProgramsDebt SettlementFinancial AdviceFinancial TipsGet Out of DebtUnsecured Debt

How Do Creditors Find You? The Tricks of the Collections Industry.

I changed my contact information, how do creditors find me? In today's digital age, creditors and collectors are increasingly turning to sophisticated technologies to locate debtors and collect unpaid debts. With advancements in skip tracing software, automated dialing systems, location tracking tools, and social media monitoring, these collection agencies are…
Consumer First Financial
March 24, 2023
How to calculate your debt-to-income ratio. BudgetBuying PowercreditDebt Relief ProgramsFinancial AdviceFinancial TipsGet Out of DebtPersonal FinanceUnsecured Debt

Debt-to-Income: Is it as important as a credit score?

What is debt-to-income, and how do I calculate it? Debt-to-income (DTI) ratio is a financial metric that compares an individual's total monthly debt payments to their gross monthly income. It is used to evaluate an individual's ability to manage their debt and is an important factor that lenders consider when…
Consumer First Financial
December 29, 2022
How to dispute an error on your credit report Consumer CreditcreditFinancial AdviceFinancial TipsGet Out of DebtPersonal Finance

How to dispute an error on your credit report.

Your credit matters, learn how to dispute and error. Your credit report reflects vital information about… well, you. And, this isn’t limited to credit specific information. A credit report is a window into your past and present that lenders use to determine creditworthiness. Your credit report contains other information, too,…
Consumer First Financial
October 20, 2022
Minimum credit card payments. Credit CardsCredit ScoreDebt Relief ProgramsDebt SettlementFinancial TipsGet Out of DebtPersonal FinanceUnsecured Debt

Making minimum payments on your credit card is like treading water.

The Real Cost of Making Minimum Payments on Your Credit Cards Like any rational consumer, minimizing loss and maximizing gains is the ultimate goal for your finances. A credit card can easily give you a false sense of security, emboldening you to spend when you should be saving. A creditor…
Consumer First Financial
March 10, 2020
Mange your money with these 10 simple tips. BudgetFinancial AdviceFinancial TipsGet Out of DebtMoney ManagementPersonal FinanceSaving Money

Manage Your Money With These 10 Simple Tips.

Manage your money, before your money manages you. For many, the thought of mastering money management invokes fears of math, organization, and responsibility. When we’re children, there’s no concern about how to manage our money. But as our lives grow, so do our responsibilities. With each new year comes new…
Consumer First Financial
September 16, 2019
7 ways to get your credit card debt under control BankruptcyConsumer CreditCredit CardsCredit ScoreDebt Relief ProgramsFinancial AdviceFinancial TipsGet Out of DebtUnsecured Debt

Get Your Credit Card Debt Under Control With These 7 tips.

How do you know when your credit card debt is out of control? Some consumers consider their credit cards disposable income. In other cases, we put our basic necessities on credit cards just to get by. There’s a variety of reasons why we find ourselves stuck in high interest debt.…
Consumer First Financial
August 26, 2019