Author: Mark Foster

Credit card debt is once again on the rise. In fact, it’s greatly increasing, perhaps largely due to the sharp increase in inflation which has been greatly hurting family budgets.  Using a credit card is fine, of course. However, accumulating debt and …

Taking on more and more debt, while still paying on-time monthly payments, is not a healthy situation. It’s actually referred to as a “Debt Spiral.” Sometimes people add to their credit card debt because of an emergency which they don’t have the …

Gasoline prices continue to hurt a lot of people at the pump as it continues skyrocketing. With gasoline currently averaging $4.126 a gallon in Arkansas (as of today, 5-19-22), it’s an enormous financial strain on many households. Add to that the worst inflation …

Gasoline prices are presently hurting a lot of people at the pump. With gasoline currently averaging around $3.70 a gallon in Arkansas and $4.32 nationally, it’s a strain on many households. Additionally, the worst inflation in 40 years makes it a double …

April is Financial Literacy Month. Financial literacy is simply having the knowledge and skills that allows you to make your best, most informed financial decisions. There are two free, but incredibly valuable, things that you can do to increase your financial literacy …

Buying a vehicle can be a very expensive experience. It is often the second or third most expensive purchase someone will make, behind a home purchase and possibly a college education.  The purchase of a vehicle is a top priority for most …

It’s not too late to create some debt management strategies for 2022. Did you know that one-third of Americans have debt in collections and half of Americans say the amount of debt they have causes them stress? Create a simple game plan …

People don’t often really know exactly what to expect with credit counseling and they may have some anxiety at the thought of doing it. But what is credit counseling? At CCOA, a credit counseling session includes a caring financial professional with an …

A good credit score can make the difference between qualifying for a loan or credit card or not. It can also mean the difference between getting a low interest rate, or a high one. A common question we hear is, “How can …