Money Fit Blog

Personal Finance Articles

Practical articles on budgeting, credit, debt, saving, housing, and everyday money decisions from a nonprofit financial education perspective.

Some readers come here to solve a specific problem. Others are trying to stay sharp, build better habits, or think more clearly about the money choices in front of them. The goal is the same: useful information that respects real life.

Budgeting and spending Credit and debt Saving and housing

Written and reviewed by the Money Fit team Featuring contributions from Rick Munster, Mae Grimmett, and Todd Christensen

Have a money question or a topic you would like us to cover? Contact Money Fit.

Good financial education can help people make steadier decisions before money pressure builds.

What Is Financial Freedom?

Todd Christensen

August 6, 2026

Financial freedom means having enough income, savings, and assets to live with more choice and less financial stress. It is not just about being rich. It is about having enough...

Homeownership

Home Equity Agreement: What “No Monthly Payment” Really Costs

Todd Christensen

July 2, 2026

A home equity agreement can sound simple: cash now, no monthly payment, and no traditional loan. But the cost often shows up later, and it may be far higher than...

Budget

The Tap-and-Spend Trap

Todd Christensen

June 19, 2026

Tap-to-pay and digital wallets have made spending so easy that it often stops feeling like spending at all. This piece looks at why that matters, what the research says about...

Personal Finance Articles & Topics

How Payday Loans Work: Understanding the Risks and Alternatives

Rick Munster

May 28, 2026

Payday loans are built for speed, not stability. They are usually small loans due in one lump sum by your next payday, and the fee structure can make a short...

Debt

Is It Bad to Have Credit Card Debt?

Rick Munster

May 3, 2026

Credit cards are useful tools, but they stop being useful when a balance turns into long-term financing. The problem is usually not having a card. The problem is carrying expensive...

Banking & Loans

How to Get the Best Deal on a Car or Truck

Rick Munster

May 1, 2026

Getting a good deal on a car has less to do with winning a dramatic negotiation and more to do with controlling the parts of the deal that quietly inflate...

Personal Finance Articles & Topics Home

Fix Your Home Buying Budgeting to Avoid Regrets

Rick Munster

April 14, 2026

Most home-buying regret does not start with the mortgage itself. It starts with the costs outside the mortgage: utilities, taxes, insurance, repairs, and the way a stretched budget reacts when...

Personal Finance Articles & Topics Credit Cards

Comparing Short-Term Hardship Programs with Debt Management Plans

Rick Munster

April 8, 2026

If you cannot keep up with your credit card payments, you generally have two realistic options before defaulting: a temporary hardship program or a long-term debt management plan. Both options...

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A practical note: Articles are useful for understanding a topic. Personal financial decisions often depend on timing, debt balances, income, household needs, account terms, and what is actually affordable.

Personal Finance Articles

Categories

What Is Financial Freedom?

Home Equity Agreement: What “No Monthly Payment” Really Costs

The Tap-and-Spend Trap

How Payday Loans Work: Understanding the Risks and Alternatives

Is It Bad to Have Credit Card Debt?

How to Get the Best Deal on a Car or Truck

Fix Your Home Buying Budgeting to Avoid Regrets

Comparing Short-Term Hardship Programs with Debt Management Plans

When an article points to a bigger question

Step-by-step guides

Budget calculators

Financial education courses

Nonprofit credit counseling

Debt Solutions

Financial Education

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