Blaine D. Koehn

Author: Blaine Koehn

Blaine Koehn is a former small business manager, long-time educator, and seasoned consultant. He’s worked in both the public and private sectors while riding the ups-and-downs of self-employment and independent contracting for nearly two decades. His self-published resources have been utilized by thousands of educators as he’s shared his experiences and ideas in workshops across the Midwest. Blaine writes about money management and decision-making for those new to the world of finance or anyone simply sorting through their fiscal options in complicated times.

Debt Consolidation Loans

Is Debt Consolidation Better than a Balance Transfer Card?

July 21, 2020August 4, 2020 Blaine Koehn

“We owe, we owe, but off to work we can’t go…” (I could never do the whistling right.) The debt game may be changing, thanks to the recent outbreak of Covid-19, the first coronavirus for which most of us have learned a specific name. Unemployment may skyrocket, and no one’s entirely sure what the economy ...

Credit Cards

Difference Between Debit Cards and Credit Cards Explained

July 14, 2020August 4, 2020 Blaine Koehn

At first glance, it may seem like a silly question. Debit cards allow you to, you know… debit stuff. Credit cards, on the other hand, offer you, um… credit. Yeah, it’s not such a silly question after all – especially if you’re trying to decide when to use which option. So we’re going to take ...

Mortgage Loans

Everything You Need to Know About Collateral Loans

July 6, 2020August 4, 2020 Blaine Koehn

You’re probably familiar with several types of collateral loans without being aware that’s what they’re called. If you’ve ever paid for a home over time or financed an automobile, you’ve probably used a collateral loan. In a typical mortgage, the home itself acts as security for the loan; if you don’t make your house payments, ...

Auto Loans

How to Drive Away With A Car Loan After Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?

June 10, 2020June 16, 2020 Blaine Koehn

Chapter 7 bankruptcy is embarrassing. It feels horrible, you lose so many things important to you, and we’ve been culturally indoctrinated to treat it as some sort of massive “failure.” What’s almost worse is that it TAKES so long. The paperwork, the meetings, the reworking how you live your life – like you’ve committed a ...

Repair Loans

How to Get A Loan to Repair Your Deck? Sit Here.

May 1, 2020May 26, 2020 Blaine Koehn

When Life Hands You Lemons… I don’t want to get too topical here. These articles are intended as easy-to-understand financial explanations, how-to guides, and references for anything related to your personal or small business finances. We’re timely, but not meant to be tied specifically to the news of the day. So, rather than address anything ...

Student Loan

Your Educational Guide On How to Pay for College

April 1, 2020July 28, 2020 Blaine Koehn

So you’re thinking about going to school – or going BACK to school – or helping someone you love to go to school. Whether it’s you, your partner, or one of your kids, it’s always exciting to think about the possibilities of post-secondary education. Sometimes that means living on campus and taking on the full ...

RV Loans

How To Finance A Mobile Home: Park or Drive Here

March 8, 2020May 1, 2020 Blaine Koehn

The RV industry is growing, despite complicated economic times. From Trade Only (March 1st, 2020): The recreational vehicle industry broke records both in dollars spent on new RVs and units sold in 2018, following a record 2017. Perhaps not coincidentally, many RV segments saw price drops between 2014 and 2019, according to the Recreational Vehicle ...

How to Use A Personal Loan for A Major Purchase

March 3, 2020May 2, 2020 Blaine Koehn

OK, I’ll admit it. This probably sounds like a silly question. Why would we even open with something so… obvious?! I’m glad you asked. Too many times, we dive into new debt without fully thinking through what we’re committing to. If we don’t fully understand what we’re applying for, we can’t properly determine whether or ...

Auto Loans

A Motorcycle Loan to Help Get You On the Open Road

December 21, 2019May 23, 2020 Blaine Koehn

Two Wheels, One Engine If I weren’t doing what I’m doing today… I’d be traveling around the world on the back of a motorcycle. (Donna Karan, Fashion Designer and founder of DKNY Clothing) As someone once observed, there are two kinds of people in the world – those who ride motorcycles, and those who wish ...

Personal Loans

Construction Loans Can Be a Constructive Wealth Building Tool

December 7, 2019May 24, 2020 Blaine Koehn

Construction loans are a different creature than many other sorts of real estate or small business loans. Basically, they’re short-term arrangements you use to finance the construction (or major restoration) of a home, business, or other physical property. Unlike a traditional home loan, the property which would otherwise naturally operate as collateral for the loan ...