Articles written by Maxwell Payne in Personal Finance

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About me - Maxwell Payne

I'm a freelance writer and as you can see my pen name is Maxwell Payne, which some of you may see as a play on a name of a popular video game character, but I assure you that it was chosen for reasons which may never be known. I write a variety of articles

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Personal Finance > Credit Cards When to pay cash and when to use a credit card: 2 of 55
Knowing when to pay cash and when to use a credit card can save you money, maximize your ability to evaluate your spending habits, an even make you a few extra dollars. I'm a huge supporter of using a credit card to pay for nearly every purchase as it allows me to earn some interest on my money in the bank, get cash back rew... More..
Personal Finance > Budgets & Saving 7 tips on saving money: 6 of 151
Here are 7 quick and easy tips to help you save money. No matter what your financial situation is, it is possible to save at least a little money with some of these tips. There are literally hundreds of ways to save money, these 7 tricks and tips pull from a variety of areas of spending and saving. 1.) Start a savings accoun... More..
Personal Finance > Credit Cards Getting the most out of cash back credit cards: 1 of 18
Cash back credit cards are some of the most popular rewards credit cards out there today. And with good reason, everyone loves cash because it can be spent anywhere, it never expires, and there are few restrictions on what it can be used for. But of course not all cash back credit cards are the same. Some are perfect if you ... More..
Personal Finance > Managing Credit Guide to free credit reports: 1 of 12
Everyone is entitled to a free annual credit report. There are plenty of advertisements online and on TV touting free ways to get your credit report; just look a the 2008 commercial in which a young character claims his identity got stolen and now he sings bad songs at a seafood restaurant because he didn't access his credit... More..
Personal Finance > Managing Debt How to prioritize your debt payments: 1 of 11
Debt can be a financial tool to building your credit history and becoming more financially savvy. Of course for most people debt can also add stress, anxiety, and less money in their pockets to the equation. Many people become overwhelmed with debt and either try to frantically pay it down in a way that ends up costing them ... More..
Personal Finance > Credit Cards Student credit cards: Taking the plunge: 3 of 32
Having a credit card and using it responsibly can help build excellent credit and even make you a few extra dollars along the way. However the keyword here is 'responsible' and those who fall into the credit card debt trap may end up hurting their credit score, paying thousands in interest, and certainly not benefiting from ... More..
Personal Finance > Managing Debt Debt payments dos and don'ts: 4 of 39
Sometimes debt is unavoidable; other times it is perfectly avoidable yet we still find ourselves trapped in it's grip. No matter how you ended up in debt, there are some simple rules to abide by in order to live with your debt and more importantly to eventually escape your debt. Some choices you make in regards to your debt ... More..
Personal Finance > Managing Debt Why debt consolidation doesn't work: 1 of 8
Reasons why debt consolidation does not usually work. I'll be clear to start out. Debt consolidation does not work well for the majority of people and their debt. Debt consolidation as it applies to this article does not include federal student loan debt consolidation which is generally a good move if possible for students r... More..
Personal Finance > Managing Debt How to calculate your debt-to-income ratio: 1 of 8
Money is honestly what makes the world go around in our daily lives. If you have it you can live well, if you don't; well then you may struggle and seek ways to make more. With that said one of the most critical, and yet very simply, formulas that every person should know is that of the debt-to-income ratio. This simple form... More..
Personal Finance > Personal Loans The total cost of borrowing money: 1 of 8
Borrowing money or taking out that loan may cost more than you think. When people borrow money or take out a loan, whether it be a personal loan, student loan, or car loan they often overlook the total cost of borrowing money. Most of the time we only consider interest in terms of the cost of borrowing money. With a loan you... More..