Blogs

Americans Still Paying Last Year’s Holiday Spending

Grafton Weinacker Head ShotWith Thanksgiving over and Christmas just around the corner, it’s time for many Americans to start thinking about holiday shopping.  The holidays are a time to gather with friends and family and enjoy great food, relax by the fire, and hopefully exchange a few gifts.

The Breakdown: Refund Anticipation Loans

As we all know, the holiday season can be one of the most stressful times of the year.  The added pressure of trying to buy gifts for family and friends can push an already strained budget to the breaking point.  With the tax filing season fast approaching, it can be tempting to consider taking out a tax refund loan, but there are some important points to keep in min

How to Pay for Christmas on a Budget

Mary Conner PoolChristmas time is here again, and with that comes the stresses of gift giving.  Getting wrapped up in the season makes it easy to overspend.  I put together Christmas shopping tips to help with shopping on a budget!

1. Set a Spending Limit.

Take a look at your finances and figure out exactly the amount you are going to spend in all.

Beware of the Check-Cashing Scam

gadsden attorney Carla HandyWorking as a secret shopper, being paid to have your car wrapped with a company logo, and winning the lottery all have one thing in common—they are all tactics scammers are using to try to steal your hard-earned money.

Beware of Lottery & Sweepstakes Scams

Gail DonaldsonWe have all dreamed of hitting the Power Ball and thought of all the ways we would use the money IF we won. We’d pay off our debt, go on elaborate vacations, and buy a new house and cars. However, lottery and sweepstakes scams rank among the most common consumer frauds.

Student Loan Servicer Navient Criticized For Practices

Attorney Ed WoodsNavient is a publicly-traded student loan servicer familiar to many Americans with student loan debt. The company formally split off from Sallie Mae and contracts with the U.S. Department of Education to service and collect upon student loan accounts.

This Thanksgiving, Think About Food Deserts

heather-ellis-banksOn this Thanksgiving Day, we are thankful for the things we have.  We generally celebrate Thanksgiving by eating a large meal to include meat and vegetables.  Our local radio station had a radio program on this week and discussed what are called Food Deserts prompting me to research it a little.

A Thankful Bankruptcy Attorney

bankruptcy-attorney-brad-botesIt is almost 7:00 PM and I am still in my office.  Today has been a busy today and it doesn’t look likes things will let up tomorrow.  I have a lot of work to do and seemingly not enough time to get it all done.  Challenges exist both at work and at home.

How to Save Money on Grocery & Household Expenses

With a toddler in the household, my grocery and household trips with her can end up costing me an extra $100 or even more.  As a busy Mom, I am always looking for ways to save time and money.  This year, I have discovered some apps that allow me to save BOTH that I am going to share with you:

Bradford W. Botes and Ronald C. Sykstus Recognized by Super Lawyers as Top Attorneys

Bankruptcy Decatur Amy TannerThomson Reuters Super Lawyers Magazine annually publishes a list of the top attorneys in Alabama. Super Lawyers rates outstanding attorneys from seventy or more practice areas based on peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process is multi-phased and the lawyers are chosen by considering a combination of peer nominations, independent research, and peer examinations.