Tips before buying a used car

A young man sitting inside of used car and holding car keys smiling happily because he just bought a great used car

In most parts of the US, having a car is a must. For most families, it is also one of their biggest expenses, along with housing and health insurance. That’s why it is important to invest time in researching all of your options, both online and in your general area, to find the best deal,… Continue Reading

3 Questions to ask yourself before applying for a loan

Woman's feet with 3 question marks in front of her legs painted on the grey sidewalk

Life is full of surprises, and some of them require extra cash. You may have the opportunity to move into a bigger and better rental apartment, but need cash for the security deposit. Or your car might break down and need repairs. Or perhaps you need money to help a loved one with a health… Continue Reading

Tips to save money in your back-to-school budget

A studios piggy bank wearing glasses and stack of books, to inspire people to consider the best ways to save money when their kids go back to school.

We hope you enjoyed at least a few days of relaxation this summer! But now…let’s get back to reality and schedules. We know it can be tough, but it does not have to be tough on your pocket with this back-to-school budget plan. Planning, planning, planning Notebook and pen (or a cool budgeting app on… Continue Reading

What is a FICO® credit score and what goes into it

Credit score (puntaje de crédito) scale represents the range of scores people can have

We are used to seeing scores on sports channels. However, when we refer to a credit score, we are talking about a very different type of game: The personal finance game where getting a good “score” represents how likely we are to be reliable borrowers and re-payers. That is exactly what a FICO® score tries to… Continue Reading

What is an installment loan and how does it work?

Calendar with every other Thursday circled on the calendar to show an example of a repayment schedule for an installment loan (préstamo a plazos).

If you’ve ever had to shop for a loan, you know that the vocabulary can be confusing. In this post, we will do our best to explain how an installment loan works. Let’s first consider a situation: It’s summer time, the temperatures are hitting triple digits, and the air conditioner in your car is broken.… Continue Reading

Manage your Budget with Free, Simple Apps

Close up image of hands holding a mobile phone with dollar signs indicating that the woman is using an app to manage her budget (gasto)

How well do you understand your monthly budget? Do you know how much money you spend on food each month? What about recurring expenses like car insurance? Do you know how long will it take you to save money for that new sofa or dishwasher? Thankfully, tracking expenses and managing your… Continue Reading