Talk Credit Radio With Gerri Detweiler

Are you looking for some different ways to save money – or easy ways to make more money? Gail Perry Mason’s got both! She starts by explaining how to become the CEO of your household and make a few layoffs if you need to. Then she shares all kinds of great websites for earning extra cash, including: • How to never pay for movies again, • Great ways to help your kids get free stuff by being product testers, • How she earns extra cash by testing products, • The way she earned over $500 just by cleaning out her closet, • The websites she loves for looking glamorous without breaking the bank, • How to teach your kids to be smart about money and avoid the mistakes you make. Gail shares so many great websites with different ways to save money in this podcast, you’ll want to take notes. I promise you’ll love Gail’s tips and her down-to-earth style of sharing them. This episode aired live November 17, 2012.

FHA loans can be great if you need a low down payment mortgage or if your credit isn't so hot. But they are going to get more expensive. Find out what's happening and what you need to do right now as I talk with Joe Kelly from ArcLoan.com. This episode aired live March 5, 2013.

What is a short sale and how do they work? Eric Greenstein, aka "Doctor Short Sale" joins me to share his knowledge about short sales. A real estate professional in Sarasota Florida, he has helped many homeowners sell their homes successfully this way. We discuss: - 3 reasons why it can be dangerous just to walk away from your home; - How short sales work and how long it takes to complete one; - What you can do if you need to sell but also need a little more time in your home; - The process and what kinds of documentation you'll need; - Short sale incentives, or how you may be able to leave with money in your pocket; and - How deep pocket investors can help the process move quickly. We also discuss buying a home in a short sale, including the difference between an REO property and a short sale; and how you can buy one of these homes for at a discount. This episode aired live March 5, 2013.

Can you really improve your credit score in just 90 days? Yes! says my guest Jeanne Kelly, a credit coach and author of The 90 Day Credit Challenge. She's helped hundreds of people around the country understand their credit scores and, here, she explains how they work and what steps many people can take to raise their credit scores. This isn't "credit repair" - just smart strategies for better credit. This episode aired live March 11, 2013.

Are you a small business owner who needs help with debt? Then you won't want to miss this interview with Emily Chase Smith, the Entrepreneur's Money Expert who shares her insights from helping many entrepreneurs through financial challenges. She explains why every small business owner needs to build enough runway; how to handle ups and downs in cash flow: why some creditors are like puffer fish and others are skunks (and how to handle them accordingly). If you own a small business, or hope to, you'll won't want to miss this! This interview aired February 25, 2013.

Deacon Hayes and his wife paid off $52,000 in debt in 18 months. He's since been able to quit his job and work on this blog Well Kept Wallet full time. - The most important thing Deacon and his wife did to get out of debt; - A tool they used to tackle their debt and how you can get the same tool for free - The method they chose to pay off debt, and which ones they paid off first - How they used a combination of earning more, spending less, and selling things to pay off debt faster - What they did to rein in the “urge to splurge.” This episode aired live February 25, 2013.

The truth about college scholarships and grants is just one of the topics I cover in this encore interview with college financing expert Lynn O'Shaughnessy author of The College Solution. She explains some of the biggest mistakes parents and students make when it comes to paying for college; three free resources that can help you find an affordable and excellent higher education; and one of the most dangerous types of student loans. This episode aired live February 18, 2013.

It's a database most people have never heard of. Yet it may have information about your job and salary history - and that information is for sale to employers, lenders, debt collectors and more. Learn about The Work Number - what type of information it contains, who has access to it and how you can find out what it knows about you. Bob Sullivan from NBCNews.com's Red Tape Chronicles shares how it works and what you need to know to protect yourself. This episode aired live February 11, 2013.

Women marrying for money? It's tongue in cheek but in this episode Ginger from GirlsJustWannaHaveFunds.com covers an important topic: why women should make sure their partner is financially compatible. We also take up a serious topic; financial abuse and the signs it could be happening to you or someone you love. This episode aired live February 18, 2013.

Who can check your credit reports? Can someone spy on you by pulling your credit report? What about your ex or a debt collector - can they get your credit reports? In this episode I explain who can legally access your credit reports, and what happens if someone who shouldn't have access to your credit reports gets a copy. This episode aired live January 28, 2013.

If you need a little help paying off credit card debt you won't want to miss this podcast where I interview Thomas Fox, community director for Cambridge Credit Counseling. He'll explain what happens when you reach out to a counseling agency for credit card debt help, including what kind of relief you can expect in terms of lower interest rates and lower payments. This episode aired live February 11, 2013.

You've heard about FICO scores and probably know at least somewhat how they work. But what about FICO scores? Do you know what they are and how they are different? If not, then listen in as Credit.com's Barry Paperno explains the difference between FICO and Vantage Score credit scores. Plus, learn how to see your credit score for free and compare the two! This episode aired live February 11, 2013.

Imagine this: It's after your foreclosure and you thought you were done with your home. But you discover you still own it - and you're responsible for anything that happens at the property. What's worse, you can't get rid of it if you try! That's what a zombie deed is and bankruptcy attorney Eugene Melchionne is here to share his advice for protecting yourself. If you are walking away from your home, or if you have lost a home to foreclosure, you won't want to miss this important episode. It aired live on February 4, 2013.

It’s tax time again, and that means it’s time to bring back Lisa Greene-Lewis from TurboTax to share tips for saving money when you file your 2012 taxes. She’ll share some of the main tax deductions taxpayers miss. Even if you don't make a lot of money, you may still be entitled to a bigger refund than you realized so don't miss out! This episode aired live January 28, 2013.

Are you just starting out and need a car loan, but don’t have a credit rating? Before you ask someone to cosign, join me as Steve Ely describes a unique program that may help you qualify for your first car loan! This program can also be helpful for recent immigrants who want to build credit, as well as for those with bad credit who are working hard to rebuild credit. Before you let a dealer talk you into a really high cost car loan, check out this program to see if it can help you. This episode aired live January 28, 2013.

If you use a smartphone you may be doing some dumb things that put your personal and financial information at risk. Adam Levin, chairman of Credit.com and IdentityTheft911.com offers an easy way to help protect your smartphone, explains how Bluetooth use can expose you to fraud, the safer way to shop using your phone and more! This episode aired live January 28, 2013.

Looking for the best tax preparation software program? Kari Botkin from MoneyCrasher.com did her taxes multiple times in order to test the most popular ones. She shares her findings, including which ones are easiest for those who aren't familiar with tax jargon, which one netted her the biggest refund, and which one is fastest. If you haven't done your taxes yet, you'll want to make sure you listen to this! This episode aired live February 4, 2013.

Can refinancing your car loan save you money? What's the best way to find a good car loan rate? Edmunds.com's Phil Reed joins me to share smart strategies for refinancing vehicles. He'll explain why you may be a higher rate than you need to, the danger in telling a dealer to "get it done," and the one thing you can do to help save money when you finance a car or truck. This episode aired live February 4, 2013.

In the first part of this podcast, I share important warnings about how to protect yourself against identity theft if you are a snowbird. In the second part, I explain how different debt consolidation methods affect your credit: consolidation loans, DMPs and the credit card shuffle. Debt consolidation starts at 6:25. This episode aired live January 21, 2013.

Are you trying to go paperless like I am? One of your essential tools will be a great scanner. I am using a Doxie One thanks to the folks at the Apparent Corporation. Amanda Rhode joins me to share strategies for successfully getting rid of all those piles of papers around the house and office! She'll share: - The number one reason for ditching all those paper files and copies. - How to find the records you need in seconds. - Her super simple method for avoiding paper clutter. Join the paperless party and make this the year you get organized. I'm finally doing it and I know you can too! This episode aired live January 21, 2013.