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If you buy a new or used car, and a few days later the dealer tells you there’s been a problem with your financing, alarm bells should go off. You might be the victim of a “yo-yo” financing scam – so called because you’re pulled back into the dealership to renegotiate the deal at a higher interest rate and worse loan terms.

While many people fear getting a raw deal from a car salesperson, the real damage can be done when the finance manager sets up your loan. But getting preapproved for a loan before you go shopping can protect you against this financial sleight of hand.

Auto financing is the last pocket of consumer finance that’s truly opaque, and it’s opaque for good reasons. The more confusing the process is, the more consumers can be taken advantage of.

Nationally, 62% of parents plan to begin back-to-school shopping before August, according to the Deloitte survey. But the study also shows that planning ahead might not be the best strategy, as parents who begin shopping early tend to spend an average of $100 more than shoppers who get a later start.

So, how do you save money on buying much needed school supplies for your little ones? Take some time this summer to reassess your financial picture. It’s important to realize that shopping for the new school season doesn’t necessarily mean spending outside your means.

Many Millennials, who graduated during a time of job scarcity and enormous student debt, are more than a little skittish about financial matters. After all, in addition to their own challenges, many saw their parents’ generation struggle with layoffs, stock market losses, and the housing crisis. Still, there’s a lot that today’s 20-somethings can do to build a brighter financial future.

With home prices stabilizing and even rising in some cities, many people are wondering if now might be the right time to take the plunge into homeownership. Real estate conditions and individual personal financial situations vary dramatically, so there’s no simple yes or no answer. But here are some issues to consider that can help you decide whether buying or renting is best for you:

Your debt-to-income ratio is an important metric when it comes to determining whether you qualify for certain types of loans. It’s typically associated with mortgage loans, but lenders may use it to determine eligibility for auto loans, personal loans or other types of credit.

It’s one of those key financial metrics lenders use to evaluate you as a credit risk, so understanding what it is, how it relates to creditworthiness, and how to improve it is essential.

Americans, it seems, are spenders. Personal savings rates are low, and many people spend beyond their means.

If you’re among those Americans who can’t seem to save, it might be time to create a budget. A budget allows you to understand where the money goes and may help you free up cash for important savings goals, such as college and retirement.

When trying to pick up the pieces after a calamity, you’ll be asked by your insurance company to provide an inventory of lost or damaged items. Recalling the exact contents of your home under any condition would be challenging, but perhaps more so under the stress of a fire or theft. However, creating an inventory before disaster strikes can make it much easier to make a claim.

Everything you’ve tried never seems to work… Trying to tie it to more chores as they get older, but then they do some of the chores, and they wouldn’t do others. Every week is a struggle.

This struggle is real. And one shared by many. Here are a few simple tips for setting up an allowance you can implement immediately.

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