By Charlestien Harris It’s that time again, tax preparation season.  The IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program offers free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals.  The VITA program has operated for over 50 years, offering free tax help...

By Charlestien Harris Few people realize that nursing home residents are eligible to receive the Economic Impact Payment or the stimulus payment commonly known as EIP.  During the first round of EIP checks, payments were issued to the taxpayers who filed a 2019...

By Charlestien Harris As a HUD certified housing counselor, I try to stay informed on current issues that could directly affect numerous consumers facing mounting debt and other issues related to housing and finances.  Last month, the Federal Housing Finance Agency...

By Charlestien Harris Gift cards are a popular and convenient way to give someone a gift. They’re also a popular way for scammers to steal money from you, because gift cards are like cash. If you buy a gift card and someone it wasn’t intended for uses it, you probably...

By Charlestien Harris I have been getting numerous inquiries about next steps when it comes to the pandemic and mortgage solutions available to homeowners as they navigate this difficult time. Therefore, I have provided the five steps that should be taken below. This...

By Charlestien Harris During this time of year, everyone is gearing up for a busy online shopping season, especially scammers. Risks of getting scammed are higher during the holidays, but you can keep your money safe by following these simple online shopping tips....

By Charlestien Harris Covid-19 has forced many of us to take a closer look at our finances and estate planning.  Often overlooked, finances are a big part of the survival of family members after the death of a loved one. It is a subject that most people don’t like to...

By Charlestien Harris Since the pandemic, more people are having to deal with debt collectors.  Therefore, I thought it would be helpful to know what rights you have as a consumer and the law that was created to protect you from abusive debt practices.  In...

By Charlestien Harris The average consumer knows very little about this law enacted by congress in 1970.  The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) was enacted to promote accuracy, fairness, and the privacy of personal information assembled by credit reporting agencies. ...