Don’t ignore your mortgage problem. If you are unable to pay–or haven’t paid–your mortgage, contact your lender or the company that collects your mortgage payment as soon as possible. Mortgage lenders want to work with you to resolve the problem, and you may have more options if you contact them early. Call the phone number

Travel expenses can take a big bite out of your budget, but the Michigan Association of CPAs advises that there are many ways to make your vacation dollar go further. Search for Deals Don’t miss out on the many online opportunities to find great bargains. You can use online travel sites to search for the

To be able to establish credit, you need a steady work record and continued residence at the same address.

If you're like many, you've spent the past few years scrimping and saving. These are great habits to keep, even if your financial situation has improved. If you still haven’t taken those steps, you might want to think about making these changes: Restart your finances with a thorough financial plan. If you’ve lost a job or have been struggling to get control of your debt, savings or investments, plan a visit now with a Certified Financial Planner™ professional. At the meeting you can also examine spending patterns and the emotional drivers behind many of your financial decisions. If you don’t have a planner in mind, the Financial Planning Association has a website where you can search by location and specific planning issues.

Hobbies, such as woodworking, stamp collecting and scrapbooking, are often done for pleasure but can result in a profit. But if you're lucky enough to make money from your hobby, it may have tax implications. You must report income to the IRS from almost all sources, including hobbies.

Patience and hard work aren't all you need to reach financial success. We've got some secrets from self-made millionaires to help you make your own fortune: Set some clear goals. You’ve got to dream big if you want to succeed on a large scale. Don’t be afraid of your ambitions.

You know a credit score is important when you apply for a loan or credit card – but do you know exactly what it is and how it can affect your chances in getting the financing you want? Creditors use a credit scoring system to help determine whether to give you credit, and how much

Sometimes the difference between being eternally broke and financially comfortable is just a few simple things you shouldn’t do. Avoid these basic money mistakes: Not tracking your spending – Pay attention to where your money goes. Your credit card statement will help you do this, but don’t forget all the incidentals you pay cash for.

Has this ever happened to you? You go to the store to buy something — like a printer — and you find just the one you want. But right next to it is a printer that’s around the same price but has a rebate that knocks $50 off of it. You buy it, promising yourself

Financial prudence dictates that we stash away enough cash to cover living expenses for three to six months in case something catastrophic comes our way—a job loss, an unexpected illness or an unpredicted home expense. Some items that also should be covered in such a fund include health and car insurance deductibles, rent or mortgage,