Philadelphia Weekly

REAL ESTATE

3 money lessons from US credit downgrade

Mood of the Market

By Inman News Feed

Add Comment | Comments: 0 | Posted Aug. 15, 2011

If you are the type who has a dozen credit cards that stay at or near their limits at all times, you should take that as a warning sign that you need to realign your spending with your income or otherwise work on healing your relationship with money. Start a program of tracking what you spend every month, as a jumpstart to a debt reduction plan and a commitment to live within your income, after your savings and investments come off the top.

Tara-Nicholle Nelson is author of "The Savvy Woman's Homebuying Handbook" and "Trillion Dollar Women: Use Your Power to Make Buying and Remodeling Decisions." Tara is also the Consumer Ambassador and Educator for real estate listings search site Trulia.com. Ask her a real estate question online or visit her website, www.rethinkrealestate.com.