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.
How to Get a Zero Interest Home Remodeling Loan

How to Get a Zero Interest Home Remodeling Loan

    You’ve probably heard that necessity is the mother of invention. In some cases, it’s also the inspiration for solutions which seem so obvious in retrospect. But most of us would simply not have considered even a year ago: Some homeowners are looking to their backyards for additional space, adding customizable sheds to use […]

Read More
A Leak Proof Guide on How to Finance a Roof Repair

A Leak Proof Guide on How to Finance a Roof Repair

You may remember this Beatles’ classic: I’m fixing a hole where the rain gets in and stops my mind from wandering where it will go… I’m filling the cracks that ran through the door and kept my mind from wandering where it will go… (“Fixing A Hole,” The Beatles) It’s so bouncy and positive (that’s […]

Read More
Is Debt Consolidation Better than a Balance Transfer Card?

Is Debt Consolidation Better than a Balance Transfer Card?

“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 […]

Read More
Difference Between Debit Cards and Credit Cards Explained

Difference Between Debit Cards and Credit Cards Explained

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 […]

Read More
Everything You Need to Know About Collateral Loans

Everything You Need to Know About Collateral Loans

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, […]

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

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

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 […]

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

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

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 […]

Read More
Your Educational Guide On How to Pay for College

Your Educational Guide On How to Pay for College

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 […]

Read More
How To Finance A Mobile Home: Park or Drive Here

How To Finance A Mobile Home: Park or Drive Here

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 […]

Read More
How to Use A Personal Loan for A Major Purchase

How to Use A Personal Loan for A Major Purchase

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 […]

Read More